Bruce Poliquin

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Bruce Poliquin
File:CongressmanPoliquin.jpg
Member of the
United States House of Representatives
from Maine's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Mike Michaud
49th Maine State Treasurer
In office
2010–2012
Governor Paul LePage
Preceded by David Lemoine
Succeeded by Neria Douglass
Personal details
Born (1953-11-01) November 1, 1953 (age 71)
Waterville, Maine, U.S.
Political party Republican
Residence Oakland, Maine
Alma mater Harvard University
Religion Roman Catholic[1]
Website U.S. House website

Bruce Lee Poliquin (born November 1, 1953) is an American businessman and politician. A Republican, he represents Maine's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Poliquin was elected to his seat in the 2014 general election.[2] From 2010 to 2012, he was the Maine State Treasurer.[3] He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2012, finishing second in the primary election.

Early life

Poliquin was born and raised in Waterville, Maine. He grew up in a family of French-Canadian ancestry. His father was a school principal and his mother was a nurse.[4] He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and later received a scholarship to attend Harvard University, where he studied economics, graduating in 1976.[5] After college, Poliquin worked in the investment management industry in Chicago and New York City.[6] At Avatar Investors Associates Corporation, a fund management company, Poliquin helped manage nearly $5 billion in worker pension funds.[7]

Gubernatorial campaign

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Main article: Maine gubernatorial election, 2010

In 2010, Poliquin sought the Maine Republican Party's nomination for Governor of Maine. He spent $711,000 of his own money on the campaign, finishing sixth of the seven candidates behind winner Paul LePage. Poliquin ultimately endorsed LePage.[8] Following the election of Republican Paul LePage in November 2010, Poliquin was elected by the Maine Legislature to serve as Maine State Treasurer.[8]

State Treasurer

In 2011, Poliquin expressed concerns about the Maine State Housing Authority's plans to construct a low-income housing complex in Portland. Poliquin cited the proposed $314,000 per unit cost as an example of irresponsible government spending. Dale McCormick, the authority's director and an appointee by Democratic Governor John Baldacci, approved the proposal following a reduction in the per unit price to $265,000.[9]

In 2012, Maine Democrats accused Poliquin of violating the state Constitution by allegedly engaging in commerce while in office. The complaints against Poliquin centered around his involvement with the Popham Beach Club, a private club in Phippsburg, Maine, and Dirigo Holdings LLC, a real estate company. Maine Attorney General William Schneider advised Poliquin to disassociate himself from his business ventures but did not offer an opinion as to whether he had actually violated the Constitution. The Maine House voted unanimously to send the issue to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in order to settle the matter. The Court declined to offer a ruling, concluding that there were no circumstances in Poliquin’s case requiring immediate attention.[10]

In February 2012, Poliquin faced criticism from the left over his use of the Maine Tree Growth Tax Program, a program meant to preserve forestland from development pressures for commercial timber harvesting, with 10 acres of his oceanfront property in Georgetown. The program reduced the value of his property from the originally assessed $1.8 million to $725,500, resulting in Poliquin paying $30 a year in property taxes. A Maine Forest Service report in 2009 discussed Poliquin's property as an example of a property that may not be fully complying with the law, stating that restrictions on timber harvesting in shoreland areas would limit any commercial use of the land. They did state, however, that as long as the property was 10 acres, it could remain in the program. [11][12] Poliquin later transferred the property in question to the Open Space program, a less generous tax abatement program. Poliquin stated that the issue was a distraction for the town and was politically motivated due to Democrats' dissatisfaction with his policies as Treasurer.[11]

At the end of his term, Poliquin wrote an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News with a list of his offices' accomplishments as Treasurer. These included reforms to the state workers' pension plan, efforts to reduce the cost of affordable housing, reduced wasteful spending, and retention of the state's Aa2 bond rating, among other initiatives. [13]

Post-Treasurer career

In March 2012, Poliquin announced he would be running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Olympia Snowe.[14] He lost the Republican primary to Charlie Summers, who himself lost the general election to Independent former governor Angus King.

Poliquin stated on July 10, 2013, that he was not interested in becoming the Chairman of the Maine Republican Party, despite encouragement to do so from many Republicans, including Governor Paul LePage. [15]

U.S. House of Representatives

2014 election

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Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2014 § District 2

In August 2013, Poliquin announced that he would seek the Maine Republican Party's nomination for the Second Congressional District.[16][17]

Poliquin won the primary election against former Maine Senate President Kevin Raye and faced Democratic State Senator Emily Cain and Independent retired Navy captain Blaine Richardson in the general election.[2] Poliquin won with 47% of the vote.[18][19]

2016 election

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Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2016 § District 2

Poliquin is running for re-election in 2016. He is a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee's Patriot Program, which is designed to help protect vulnerable Republican incumbents heading into the 2016 election. Poliquin is running unopposed in the primary election. He will face Democrat Emily Cain, whom he beat in 2014, in the November 8, 2016 general election.[20]

Tenure

In January 2015, Poliquin voted for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.[21]

On February 3, 2015, Poliquin was one of three House Republicans to vote against repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.[22] His spokesman stated that while Poliquin supports repeal, the proposed bill did not offer a "free market alternative" to immediately take its place, which he feels is needed.[23] Poliquin was subsequently criticized by conservative groups seeking immediate repeal of the law, including the Republican Liberty Caucus which voted on February 5, 2015 to rescind their election endorsement of him. Poliquin responded by noting the House has voted numerous times to repeal the law without effect, and that "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."[24]

Poliquin introduced his first bill on April 29, 2015, the Child Support Assistance Act of 2015. Co-sponsored with Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), it is intended to help single parents secure child support payments by making it harder for the other parent to hide property or funds.[25] The bill was rolled into a transportation bill which passed Congress and was signed into law by President Obama on December 4, 2015.[26]

Poliquin voted against granting the President fast track authority in negotiating trade agreements on June 12, 2015, stating that Congress should be able to help shape such agreements.[27]

In September 2015, Poliquin was one of ten Republican U.S. House freshmen who composed a letter urging Republicans to avoid a government shutdown by passing a short-term spending bill a week before federal agencies were slated to out of money.[28]

In 2016, Poliquin drafted a bill that would prohibit the federal government from giving food stamps to individuals convicted of terrorism-related crimes. Poliquin said the legislation would close a loophole that allows convicted terrorists to apply for aid.[29]

In April 2016, Poliquin and Democrat Chellie Pingree proposed legislation that would allow Cuban-bound flights to make technical stops at American airports for refueling and restocking. The purpose of the bill is to prevent American airports from losing business to Canada.[30]

Poliquin and Niki Tsongas, a Democrat from Massachusetts, have pushed legislative efforts to require the U.S. Department of Defense to purchase U.S.-made sneakers.[31]

Poliquin is opposed to the creation of a National Park or National Monument in the Maine North Woods. He has called for congressional hearings in the region where the proposed park would be located, and stated that federal officials and non-local supporters are ignoring the concerns of local residents who are opposed. He has proposed a bill to limit the Antiquities Act power of the President to declare national monuments.[32]

Committee assignments

Personal life

In 1992, Poliquin's wife, Jane, drowned in a swimming accident. Poliquin's father-in-law was also killed in the accident, which occurred in Puerto Rico. Jane's death made Poliquin a single parent to his 16-month-old son.[33]

References

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External links

Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Maine
2011–2012		 Succeeded by
Neria Douglass
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 2nd congressional district
January 3, 2015 – present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
417th		 Succeeded by
John Ratcliffe
R-Texas

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114th
Senate: S. Collins • A. King
House: C. Pinigree • B. Poliquin

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