| The Honorable Peter Welch |
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|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's At-large district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Bernie Sanders |
| State Senator | |
| In office 2001–2006 |
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| State Senator | |
| In office 1980–1988 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 2, 1947 Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Smith (dec.)
Margaret Cheney |
| Residence | Hartland, Vermont |
| Alma mater | College of the Holy Cross, University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Peter F. Welch (born May 2, 1947) is the U.S. Representative for Vermont's At-large congressional district, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Vermont Senate where he was the Minority Leader and President pro tempore.
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Welch was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1947. He attended local Catholic schools there (Holy Name Grammar School and Cathedral High School). Welch attended College of the Holy Cross, graduating magna cum laude in 1969. In 1973 he earned a law degree from Boalt Hall, the law school of the University of California, Berkeley.[1]
He is a partner in the personal injury law firm Welch, Graham & Manby, White River Junction, Vermont.[1]
Welch married Joan Smith, a mother of five children, in 1976. Smith died of cancer in 2004. In 2009, Welch remarried, this time to Margaret Cheney. She has three children from a previous marriage.
In 1980, Welch was elected to the Vermont Senate as a representative from Windsor County. In his second term, Welch was chosen as the Minority Leader, and after Democrats gained control of the Senate, Welch was chosen as President pro tempore.[1]
In 1988, Welch left the Vermont Senate to make an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Vermont's at-large congressional district.
In 1990, Welch won the Democratic nomination for governor of Vermont, but lost in the general election to the former Vermont Governor Richard Snelling, the Republican nominee.[1]
Welch did not run for another office for more than a decade, but in 2001 was appointed by then-Governor Howard Dean to fill a vacant Vermont Senate seat in Windsor County. He was elected to the seat in 2002 and reelected in 2004, again serving as president pro tempore.[1]
A September, 2007 search of the Library of Congress Thomas congressional bill search engine revealed Welch’s sponsorship of amendments on the following topics (among others):
9.29.08 - Welch votes against Wall Street bailout Washington, D.C. - Rep. Peter Welch issued the following statement in opposition to the Wall Street bailout. Welch voted no on H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008:
"The economic crisis we face is real. However, I voted against the bailout because it isn't paid for and because I don't believe it will work.
Welch later voted in favor of a new version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act numbered H.R. 1424.
According to Ontheissues.org, Welch voted YES, as follows on key issues:
As of September 2007, Welch’s congressional website depicted his stand on issues and legislation, as follows:
One website that tracks congressional votes, Ontheissues.org, reported in September 2007 that Welch believes that an abortion decision should be between a woman and her doctor. His campaign website for 2006 claimed that he had a “100 percent National [Rifle] Association record.”
In his first term, Welch has attracted attention for his partnership with Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) in challenging colleges and universities with enormous endowments to spend more of those funds for operating expenses (including, perhaps, lower tuition.)[2]
One area where Welch has been at odds with vocal constituents is the matter of impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Welch has expressed the opinion that ending the war in Iraq is a top priority, and impeachment would distract the Congress from addressing that outcome. Advocates of impeachment have protested in Welch's Vermont offices.[3]
On the Iraq War, the Vermont Guardian quoted Welch as saying, "If we’re going to end the war we’re going to have to move beyond the 218 votes (the number of Democrats, and two Republicans, who voted recently for a war funding bill that includes a withdrawal timetable). There is united Democratic opposition to the war and only two Republicans voted for accountability, no blank check, and a timetable. There are some folks who believe impeachment is a way to end the war, but my major reservation is that impeachment is one approach guaranteed to solidify Republican opposition."
On impeachment, the Vermont Guardian quoted Welch as saying, "My hat is off to the citizen activists in Vermont for bringing their case to the Legislature; they are representative of the proud tradition we have in Vermont to speaking out. .... People are expressing broad outrage about this president’s handling of the war, his treatment of civil liberties, and the use of bogus intelligence, and there is a lot of common ground here on holding the president and vice president accountable. The major question is the best way to make that happen.... My fundamental concern is ending this war."
Welch supports a Progressive Democratic position on most issues, as evidenced by his high ratings by Progressive interest groups and low ratings by conservative ones.[4]
On the issue of Abortion, Welch was given a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America. However, the National Right to Life Committee gave him a rating of 0.[4] Welch voted no on the November, 07, 2009 amendment to President Obama's health care bill that prohibited federally funded abortions.[5] On the issue of gay rights, PFLAG and the Human Rights campaign rated Welch as 100% supportive of their position.[4] Welch has sustained a liberal stance on the issues of abortion and gay rights despite his identification as a Roman Catholic.[6]
Several organizations such as Americans for Fair Taxation and the National Taxpayers Union gave Welch 0 percent or F ratings. Though these organizations state they are nonpartisan, their pressure for a flatter tax rate has garnered them support from mostly Republican politicians.[7] Welch also voted no on the 2009-2010 Defense Spending Appropriations bill.[5]
Despite Welch’s Progressive positions on social issues and his low ratings from traditionally conservative interest groups, Welch has adopted a conservative position on gun rights. Welch supported a bill to allow loaded guns in National Parks as well as a bill to repeal part of the DC firearms ban.[5] He received an A from the National Rifle Association, while the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gave him 0 percent.[4]
Welch stresses the importance of Veteran's support on his website and in his voting record. In July, 2009, Welch supported legislation to help disabled veterans.[8] He also frequently introduces and supports legislation to help Vermont veterans, such as the April, 2009 resolution to honor Captain Richard Phillips, a navy captain from Underhill Vermont, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates but returned safely.[9] Welch also received an "A" rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization.[4]
In addition, on his website, Peter Welch states he believes in affordable access to quality health care as a fundamental right. Three key principles he strives for in health care are that everyone should be covered, everyone should contribute based upon their ability, and coverage should be independent of employers. [10]
According to Representative Welch’s May 5th, 2010 entry on the Hill's Congress Blog,[11] he believes in the importance in energy efficiency. Welch said he supports putting effort into creating energy efficiency and alternative energy sources,which will create more jobs for those in need and will also greatly reduce the cost of energy bills, among other things.
As of late, Welch has been pushing for Congress to pass legislation allowing Vermont to receive federal funding to repair highways and roads damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. He has joined a coalition of 50 Democratic and Republican House members from states affected by Irene in order to make his case in Congress. He has advocated for the Republicans and Democrats to work together on many of the key issues plaguing our country today.[12]
When Vermont's lone U.S. House member Bernie Sanders decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Welch chose to run for Sanders' seat. He defeated Republican Martha Rainville in the November 7, 2006 general election 53% to 45% in a race where both candidates pledged to be entirely positive.[13] Welch is only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the House since 1854.
He was reelected in 2008 with no major-party opposition.
Welch endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
Welch won against Republican nominee Paul Beaudry, Liberty Union nominee Jane Newton, Working Families nominee Sheila Coniff, and Independent candidate Gus Jaccaci.
D Peter Welch* 64% 149,483
R Paul Beaudry 32% 73,982
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bernie Sanders |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's At-large congressional district January 3, 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Tim Walz D-Minnesota |
United States Representatives by seniority 289th |
Succeeded by John Yarmuth D-Kentucky |