Mark Green (Wisconsin politician)
Mark Green | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's Eighth district | |
| In office January 1999–present | |
| Preceded by | Jay Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sue Green |
Mark Andrew Green (born June 1 1960) is an American politician and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing the Eighth Congressional District of Wisconsin (map). His term ends in January 2007 and he is not seeking re-election because he is running for Governor.
Green and his wife, Susan, live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They have three children. He likes U2. 90% of the time he agrees with George Bush.
Early life, education, and career
Green was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His family moved often, and as a child he lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, Cincinnati, Ohio, England, South Africa and Australia.[1] He attended Abbot Pennings High School in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Green received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1983. He joined the Navy, but dropped out after five days. [2] In 1987, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Green was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1992, where he served for six years and rose to the position of Director of the Republican Caucus.
U.S. House
Green first ran for a House seat in 1998. During the campaign, he signed a pledge he would serve only six years. [3]. That year, he ran the only Congressional campaign to defeat an incumbent Democrat. He defeated first-term Representative Jay Johnson, winning 54% of the vote. Green won the next three elections with 70% or more of the vote.
Green has been an unwavering supporter of the war in Iraq, founding the Victory in Iraq caucus and has supported President Bush's faith-based initiative. He opposes abortion in all cases [4] and supports the death penalty. He has pushed for subsidies for milk producers and fought a proposed tax on them in President Bush's 2006 budget.[5]
In January 1999, Green was selected as an Assistant Majority Whip [6] by indicted House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, a position that Green still holds. Green accepted several donations from ARMPAC, the political action committee run by Delay. Wisconsin Radio Network has reported that these donations have since been returned.
2006 Campaign for Governor
Green is running for Governor of Wisconsin against current Governor Jim Doyle, a Democrat. Green had crisscrossed the state for years plotting a run for governor. He announced his candidacy in 2005, and transferred $1.3 million from his federal campaign account to a state account for the 2006 campaign.
Green has no major opponent in the Republican primary. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker dropped out of the GOP primary on March 24, 2006, citing lack of campaign funds.[7] There was also brief speculation that former Governor Tommy Thompson would enter the race, but he too declined, making Green the Republican nominee. [8]
It is thought that the 2006 campaign will be the most expensive in state history. [9]
Committee memberships
- House Committee on International Relations
- House Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
- Subcommittee on the Constitution
- Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
- Full Committee Task Force on Antitrust