Earl Pomeroy

Earl Pomeroy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Byron Dorgan
Succeeded by	Rick Berg
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
In office 1985–1992
Preceded by	Jorris O. Wigen
Succeeded by	Glenn Pomeroy
Personal details
Born	(1952-09-02) September 2, 1952 Valley City, North Dakota
Political party	Democratic-NPL
Spouse(s)	Mary Berglund
Children	Kathryn and Scott
Residence	Mandan, North Dakota
Alma mater	Valley City State University (attended) University of North Dakota (A.B.; J.D.)
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Presbyterian

Earl Pomeroy (born September 2, 1952) is a American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district from 1993 to 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. He currently works for the health care lobbying division of Alston & Bird.^[1]

Early life, education and career

Pomeroy was born in Valley City in Barnes County in eastern North Dakota. He attended Valley City State University where he was initiated as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and later transferred to the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and went on to do graduate research in legal history at Durham University in England. Pomeroy returned to North Dakota to attend the University of North Dakota School of Law, having received his Juris Doctor law degree in 1979.

State government

Pomeroy was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1980, and became North Dakota Insurance Commissioner in 1985, a post that he held until 1992.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Trade
  • Subcommittee on Health
  • Subcommittee on Social Security(Chairman)

Caucuses and coalitions

• Co-Chair of the bipartisan Rural Health Care Coalition

Pomeroy was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.^[2]

Political positions

Iraq War

Although he supported authorizing force in Iraq in 2002, he has increasingly spoken out against the war.^[3] Earl Pomeroy supported the House resolution opposing George W. Bush's troop surge plan in February 2007. He said in a floor speech,^[4] "We take care of our soldiers over [in Iraq] by making sure their deployments are only for acceptable periods and at acceptable intervals, with enough time at home in between to heal, to rest, and to train. But beyond these things, we take care of our soldiers over there when we as a Congress make certain the mission they have sent to perform has a reasonable chance of success.

"In a war where so many tragic mistakes have been made, this Congress must not sit quietly by while additional plans are cooked up in Washington whose only certainty is to accelerate the loss of American lives, compound the already severe strain on our military capabilities, and accelerate the burn rate of American dollars spent in Iraq. ... Without the commitment between the warring parties in Iraq to stop the killing, and create a political agreement upon which a national government can exist, 20,000 more U.S. soldiers are not likely to bring about a lasting peace."

Health care

Pomeroy voted for the Affordable Health Care for America Act in November 2009, stating that the bill was far from perfect, "but so is our present system."^[5]

Adoption tax credit

Pomeroy strongly supported legislation allowing parents to deduct adoption expenses they incurred. On the day of the vote, Pomeroy brought his daughter whom he and his wife had adopted from South Korea, onto the House floor.^[6]

Political campaigns

Pomeroy was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. Until recently, he did not gain the victory margins scored by North Dakota's two Democratic Senators, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan. Until 2004, he never won more than 57 percent of the vote. However, in 2004 he was reelected with almost 60 percent.

2006

Pomeroy faced Republican Matthew Mechtel in the 2006 general election, easily winning re-election to his eighth term. He received a larger percentage of votes (65.68%) than in his previous elections.

2008

In 2008, Pomeroy easily retained his seat in the House of Representatives beating Republican Duane Sand.^[7]

2010

Pomeroy was defeated by Republican nominee State Representative Rick Berg.^[8] This marks the first time in 30 years that this seat has been held by a Republican. It has been argued that Pomeroy's "vote for the health care bill may have cost him his seat in Congress."^[9]

Post-Congressional career

"[O]n the last day of Pomeroy's 18-year stint as North Dakota's at-large congressman, K Street firm Alston & Bird announced that he was joining the firm's health care lobbying division."^[9] Pomeroy joined former Senate Majority Leader and presidential candidate Bob Dole at Alston & Bird.^[9]

Personal life

Pomeroy lives in Mandan, North Dakota; he has two children, Kathryn and Scott. On July 2, 2009, Pomeroy married Mary Berglund in a private ceremony at the site of his family's homestead in Valley City, North Dakota.

Earl was a stand out rugby player at UND in the 1970s.

See also

• United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2004
• United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2002
• United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2000

References

External links

• Earl Pomeroy for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission