Ted Deutch

Ted Deutch
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded by Mario Diaz-Balart
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th district
In office
April 13, 2010 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Robert Wexler
Succeeded by Trey Radel
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 30th district
In office
January 2007 – April 13, 2010
Preceded by Ron Klein
Succeeded by Maria Sachs
Personal details
Born Theodore E. Deutch
May 7, 1966
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jill Weinstock
Children 3
Alma mater University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor
Religion Judaism

Theodore E. "Ted" Deutch (born May 7, 1966) is a Democratic member of the U.S. Representative for Florida's 21st congressional district. He first won election to Congress during a special election in April 2010 in Florida's 19th district. He previously served in the Florida Senate. In 2012, due to redistricting, he ran for and won re-election in Florida's 21st district.[1]

Early life, education, and law career

Deutch was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the son of Jean (née Mindlin) and the late Bernard Deutch, who earned a Purple Heart during World War II. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Lithuania and Belarus.[2] Deutch graduated from the University of Michigan, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of Consider magazine, and the University of Michigan Law School. He received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship in 1986 while attending the University of Michigan.

Before running for Congress, Deutch worked as a commercial development attorney with the Florida law firm of Broad and Cassel.

Florida Senate

In 2009, Deutch authored the "Protecting Florida’s Health Act", a public health initiative with the goal of reducing youth smoking through an increased surcharge on tobacco products. The legislation funded up to $1 billion health care programs in Florida, including $50 million per year in dedicated cancer research funding. The legislation earned him national recognition as winner of the National Distinguished Advocacy Award given by the American Cancer Society.

In the Senate, Deutch has also passed legislation which attempted to improve health care for seniors, promote public education, and protect children and the environment. In addition, he helped to secure a new senior center in Palm Beach County and provided new services for Holocaust survivors.

As a member of the National Young Leadership Cabinet of United Jewish Communities, Deutch organized over 2,500 people to march on Capitol Hill in Washington, with the intent of pressuring Congress on a slate of issues affecting children and the elderly. At the end of his tenure in the Senate, Deutch was serving as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and the Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means.[3]

U.S. House of Representatives

2010 elections

Special

In late 2009, Deutch declared himself a candidate in a special election to fill the 19th congressional district seat formerly held by Robert Wexler, who left Congress to lead the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. He won the Democratic primary with 85% of the vote, and on April 13, 2010, won the special election, defeating Republican Edward J. Lynch.[4]

Deutch's district is located on the east coast of Florida. It includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties, and the city of Coral Springs. The district trends Democratic, giving 65% of its votes to President Barack Obama in 2008.

General

Deutch was challenged by Republican nominee Joe Budd and write-in candidate Stan Smilan.[5] He won the election.

2012 elections

Redistricting

After Florida underwent redistricting in 2012, Deutch filed for re-election in Florida's 21st district.[1] Deutch easily won the November 6, 2012 general election with no major party opposition.[6]

Legislative Record

Shortly after his election, Deutch introduced the Preserving our Promise to Seniors Act, which aims to keep Social Security benefits in line with retirees' costs and gradually lifts the cap on FICA taxes over a period of seven years.[7]

During the 2011 debate over the debt ceiling, Deutch assembled and brought to the House floor an elaborate, game-show style to illustrate which government services he claimed would be endangered by a default on the U.S. national debt.[8]

In 2011, Deutch was one of several cosponsors of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), a bill that would permit copyright holders to effectively shut down websites that they believed to be directly or indirectly contributing to copyright infringement. To achieve this, the copyright holder would need to request and obtain a court order from the U.S. Department of Justice by making a statement of good-faith belief that the copyright was being violated. The Act was tabled following extensive online and offline protests.

Constitutional Amendment

On November 19, 2011, Rep. Deutch introduced a resolution[9] proposing "an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures".

Rep. Deutch’s amendment is a blend of "ideas from "Move to Amend, Free Speech for People, Public Citizen, People For the American Way, Common Cause, and the Center for Media and Democracy".[10]

"Article--

"Section 1. The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons and do not extend to for-profit corporations, limited liability companies, or other private entities established for business purposes or to promote business interests under the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state.

"Section 2. Such corporate and other private entities established under law are subject to regulation by the people through the legislative process so long as such regulations are consistent with the powers of Congress and the States and do not limit freedom of the press.

"Section 3. Such corporate and other private entities shall be prohibited from making contributions or expenditures in any election of any candidate for public office or the vote upon any ballot measure submitted to the people.

"Section 4. Congress and the States shall have the power to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own spending, and to authorize the establishment of political committees to receive, spend, and publicly disclose the sources of those contributions and expenditures."

Tenure

Deutch was sworn in as a member of the United States House of Representatives on April 15, 2010. He retained several staffers from Robert Wexler, including the former Congressman's deputy chief of staff.

Committee assignments

Creator of Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance

A new joint action committee for the Greek-Israeli alliance has been created in early 2013 by Ted Deutch and Congress member Gus Bilirakis, Republican representative from Florida. The creation and goals of the Greek-Israeli Caucus under the name Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance were announced at a special event held in the Congress.[11] The Greek-Israeli Caucus consists of powerful members of both Republican and Democratic party[12][13][14]

Personal life

He lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife of 19 years, Jill, and their three children Gabby, Serena and Cole. Gabby attends Yale University and is in Branford College. Serena attends Vanderbilt University and is in Zeta Tau Alpha; Cole, Spanish River Community High School.

Deutch is a vegan.[15]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ted Deutch.
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Robert Wexler		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th congressional district
2010–2013 		Succeeded by
Trey Radel
Preceded by
Mario Diaz-Balart		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 21st congressional district
2013–present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
John Garamendi		 United States Representatives by seniority
223rd 		Succeeded by
Tom Graves