Don Bacon (politician)

Don Bacon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded by Brad Ashford
Personal details
Born Donald John Bacon
(1963-08-16) August 16, 1963
Momence, Illinois, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Angie Bacon
Children 4
Residence Papillion, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma mater Northern Illinois University
Website House website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1985–2014
Rank Brigadier General

Donald John Bacon (born August 16, 1963) is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General and current U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district.

Background

Bacon is a native of Illinois.[1] He attended Northern Illinois University and then gained his commission through Officers' Training School. He has been stationed in Arizona, Iraq, Germany and Nebraska. Congressman Bacon has earned two Masters Degrees, from the University of Phoenix in Arizona and the National War College in Washington D.C. His last or penultimate assignment was Director of ISR Strategy, Plans, Doctrine and Force Development, AF/A2, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon July 2012-mid-2014.[2] He picked up the nickname "Bits"--a reference to his last name.[1]

In 2015, at the age of 50, Bacon retired from the Air Force.[3] He served as an aide to U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry and as an assistant professor at Bellevue University.[4]

Bacon during his time in the U.S. Air Force.

Bacon and his wife, Angie, have four children and live in Papillion, Nebraska.[1]

U.S. House of Representatives

Bacon won the Republican Party primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in the 2016 elections.[5]

The general election race was characterized as a tossup, with Democratic incumbent Brad Ashford being seen as having the edge.[6] Bacon faced and defeated Ashford in the general election on November 8, 2016.[7][8] Bacon received 49.4% of the vote to Ashford's 47.3%.[9][10] He is the only Republican who defeated an incumbent Democrat in the 2016 House elections.

Bacon was assigned to the House Agriculture Committee.[11]

Political positions

As of 1 April 2017, Bacon has voted with his party in 98.6% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 100% of votes.[12][13]

Abortion

Bacon opposes abortion.[14][15] He favors defunding Planned Parenthood.[14]

Economy

He supports a balanced budget amendment to the US constitution.[16]

Environment

In February 2017, he voted to repeal a rule that required coal companies to restore streams and mined areas to their pre-development conditions.[12] In February 2017, he voted in favor of repealing a rule that required energy companies to disclose payments to foreign governments.[12]

He opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.[15] Bacon disagreed with the statement that "Governments should pay to develop wind and solar energy solutions until they are economically feasible."[17]

Health care

He favors repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).[18] He was supportive of the March 2018 version of American Health Care Act, the GOP's replacement plan for Obamacare.[19] On May 4, 2017, Bacon voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.[20][21]

LGBT rights

He opposes same-sex marriage.[16]

Marijuana

He is a staunch opponent of the legalization of marijuana.[16]

Privacy

In March 2017, Bacon voted to reverse a Federal Communications Commission privacy rule that prevented internet service providers from to selling their customers' browsing data.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Citing military and foreign policy as priorities, retired Brig. Gen. Don Bacon announces bid for Congress". Omaha.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. "Brigadier General Donald J. Bacon". United States Air Force.
  3. "Gen. Bacon set to retire". The Daily Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. Robynn Tysver / World-Herald staff. "Don Bacon is a ‘fresh face’ in politics but hardly a political neophyte". omaha.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  5. Don Walton/Lincoln Journal Star. "Retired general bids for Ashford House seat". Fremont Tribune. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. Loizzo, Mike (September 26, 2016). "Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Race Remains a Toss-Up". Nebraska Radio Network. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  7. Williams, Jack (November 9, 2016). "Bacon ousts Ashford in Second Congressional District". netnebraska.org. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  8. "Bacon wins Nebraska House Seat After Ashford Concedes". Politico. November 9, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  9. "Nebraska U.S. House 2nd District Results: Don Bacon Wins". The New York Times. November 15, 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  10. "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  11. Morton, Joseph (January 11, 2017). "Don Bacon, who represents the mostly urban and suburban 2nd District, gets seat on House Agriculture Committee". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Bycoffe, Aaron (2017-01-30). "Tracking Don Bacon In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  13. Willis, Derek. "Represent". ProPublica. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  14. 1 2 "Don Bacon on Abortion". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  15. 1 2 "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  16. 1 2 3 OnTheIssues.org. "Don Bacon on the Issues". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  17. "Don Bacon on Energy & Oil". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  18. Bureau, Joseph Morton / World-Herald. "Affordable Care Act repeal on fast track, but GOP replacement not yet in sight". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  19. The New York Times (2017-03-20). "How House Republicans Planned to Vote on the Obamacare Replacement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  20. "How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  21. Staff, C. N. N. "How every member voted on health care bill". CNN. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Brad Ashford
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district

2017present
Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Jodey Arrington
R-Texas
United States Representatives by seniority
381st
Succeeded by
Jim Banks
R-Indiana
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