Mike Fitzpatrick

For other people named Michael Fitzpatrick, see Michael Fitzpatrick (disambiguation).

Mike Fitzpatrick
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Patrick Murphy
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Jim Greenwood
Succeeded by	Patrick Murphy
Member of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners
In office January 17, 1995[1] – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Mark Schweiker
Succeeded by	Jim Cawley
Personal details
Born	June 28, 1963 (1963-06-28) (age 48) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kathleen Fitzpatrick
Residence	Levittown, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	St. Thomas University, Dickinson School of Law
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick (born June 28, 1963) is the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was reelected to Congress in 2010, and previously represented the district from 2005 to 2007, but lost to Patrick Murphy in 2006.

Early life

Fitzpatrick was born and raised in Bucks county. He graduated from Bishop Egan High School, now Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, in Fairless Hills. Mike moved down to Florida to attend St. Thomas University with an academic scholarship where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in 1985 from the school's Honors Program. He then earned his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State University. He was named Business Manager of the Dickinson Journal of International Law.^{[citation needed]}

After graduating law school in 1988, Fitzpatrick was admitted to the practice of law at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Supreme Court of New Jersey. In 2000, he practiced at the United States Supreme Court.^{[citation needed]}

County commissioner

In January 1995, Fitzpatrick was appointed to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners by an 11-member panel of county judges. The appointment was made to fill the unexpired term of Mark Schweiker, who had been elected Lieutenant Governor. Fitzpatrick, who was an attorney at a firm active in county affairs, was the candidate preferred by county Republican Party leaders.^[2] The appointment was not without controversy, however, as some claimed the judges had acted solely on the recommendation of the county Republican Party.^[3]

First term in the U.S. House of Representatives

Fitzpatrick served on the United States House Committee on Financial Services and the United States House Committee on Small Business.

In May 2006, Fitzpatrick introduced the Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006, which requires most schools and libraries to actively restrict minors from access to "Commercial Social Networking Websites" and "Chat Rooms."

In late July, the DOPA Act overwhelmingly passed the House. Speaking before the vote was taken, Fitzpatrick said, "The social networking sites have become, in a sense, a happy hunting ground for child predators".^[4]

Career between terms

After the loss to Murphy, Fitzpatrick re-entered the practice of law, taking a position with Middletown Township law firm—and major Republican Party contributor^[5] -- Begley, Carlin, and Mandio.^[6][7] In the fall of 2007, the Bucks County Commissioners asked Fitzpatrick, along with former Commissioner Andy Warren and former Common Pleas Judge William Hart Rufe to co-chair an effort to pass a ballot initiative authorizing the county to borrow $87 million for open space preservation.^[8] The initiative, which was also endorsed by Congressman Murphy, passed by a large margin.

Return to the U.S. House of Representatives

On November 2, 2010, Fitzpatrick defeated Patrick Murphy to reclaim his old seat. He was sworn-in on January 5, 2011 and has joined the Republican Main Street Partnership. His term is scheduled to expire in January 2013.

Swearing-in

On January 5, 2011, Fitzpatrick failed to attend the swearing-in ceremony for members because he was attending an alleged fundraiser^[9] in the Capitol Building, which is against the law. As a result, two votes that he cast prior to taking the oath were nullified.^[10] The oath was administered the following day.^[11] A spokesperson for Fitzpatrick denied the event was a fundraiser and asserted that donations made went to cover the cost of campaign-provided buses to Washington.^[12] Some Congressional ethics experts contend that the reception was in fact a fundraiser and have called for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.^[13][14]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Vice Chair)

Congressional campaigns

2004

In July 2004, popular moderate Republican Jim Greenwood unexpectedly withdrew from his re-election campaign. In the party convention held to select Greenwood's replacement on the ballot, the more conservative Fitzpatrick won the nomination over Greenwood's choice, state Senator Joe Conti, thanks to the backing of Bucks County Republican Party boss Harry Fawkes. Fitzpatrick went on to face liberal activist Virginia "Ginny" Schrader (something of a "sacrificial lamb candidate," chosen before Greenwood withdrew) in the general election.^[15][16] Fitzpatrick won the general election against Schrader 55.3%-44.3%, with the remaining vote split between two minor candidates.^[17] The Pennsylvania 8th District includes all of Bucks County, a sliver of Montgomery County, and parts of two wards in Northeast Philadelphia.^[18]

2006

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2006#8th Congressional district

Fitzpatrick faced Democrat Patrick Murphy in the November general election of 2006.

In January 2006, Fitzpatrick said he had donated to charity the $21,500 he received from political action committees headed by U.S. Representatives Bob Ney (R-OH), Tom DeLay, (R-TX), and Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA).^[19]

Fitzpatrick was endorsed by several environmental groups including the Sierra Club. He was the only incumbent Republican congressman in Pennsylvania who had the support of the environmentalist lobby during this election.

The Cook Political Report rated this race as "Leans Republican". However, Congressional Quarterly rated this race as "Toss-up" (see Notable U.S. House elections, 2006 — Pennsylvania). An October 30, 2006 poll by Constituent Dynamics showed Fitzpatrick trailing Murphy 47% to 50% ([2]).

On Election night, the votes between the two candidates were within 1%, with Fitzpatrick trailing by just over 1,500 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast.

On November 8, with all precincts reporting, Murphy led by 1,521 votes. Philadelphia television station NBC 10 later reported that Fitzpatrick had conceded the election to Murphy.^[20] He along with Mike Sodrel (R-IN) and Joe Schwarz (R-MI) were the only freshman Republicans to be defeated in 2006 (the latter albeit in a primary).

2008

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2008#8th Congressional district

Throughout 2007, there was much speculation that Fitzpatrick would seek to reclaim the seat in Congress that he lost to Murphy.^[21] Fitzpatrick laid the rumors to rest in January, 2008 by announcing that he would not be running for Congress, but instead would challenge freshman state Representative Chris King in the 142nd District. Despite charges by some Democrats that he was "afraid to run against Murphy because he knows he would lose," Fitzpatrick claimed that he was interested in the job because of his "passion ... in solving local problems and serving the local community," as well as a desire to "change the way business is done in Harrisburg." ^[22]

However, family health problems forced Fitzpatrick to end his bid for state representative in early February. Fitzpatrick yielded his spot on the ballot to Republican activist Frank Farry (who went on to win the seat), and supported Doylestown pharmaceutical company executive, Thomas Manion, for the congressional seat he once held.

2010

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010#District 8

On January 23, 2010, Fitzpatrick announced he would once again run for Congress in November.^[23][24] He won the Republican nomination with 77% of the vote in the May primary.^[25] A Franklin and Marshall poll taken in mid-September 2010 suggested the race was leaning towards Fitzpatrick at that time. On November 2, Fitzpatrick defeated Murphy and was elected the Congressman for the 8th district.^[26]

Personal life

Fitzpatrick and his wife Kathleen, a former teacher, reside in Levittown in Middletown Township, along with their six children.

Fitzpatrick is involved with the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the Temple Lower Bucks Hospital Board of Directors, the Conwell-Egan Catholic Board of Advisors, the Knights of Columbus, the Levittown Bristol Kiwanis Club, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Brehon Law Society. He is also an Eagle Scout from the Bucks County Council and former president of that council. He was honored with the Silver Beaver Award for his service.^[27][28]

Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2008. He reported in November 2008 that the cancer went into remission after chemotherapy.^[29]

References

• "Michael G. Fitzpatrick Biography". fitzpatrick.house.gov. Archived from the original on 2006-08-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20060831013906/fitzpatrick.house.gov/Biography/. 

1. ^ The Morning Call
2. ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer
3. ^ The Morning Call
4. ^ "Social network sites face US ban". BBC News. July 31, 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5230506.stm. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
5. ^ Above Average Jane Blog: Mike Fitzpatrick's Political Origins
6. ^ Attorney Michael Fitzpatrick, Begley, Carlin & Mandio, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
7. ^ Pay to play not a given in Bucks (phillyBurbs.com) | Intelligencer
8. ^ Big push for open space support (phillyBurbs.com) | Outdoor
9. ^ "Bucks Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick faces ethics complaint over swearing-in snafu". Montgomery Media. January 15, 2011. http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2011/01/15/perkasie_news_herald/news/doc4d30d9886faf3245824835.txt. 
10. ^ "House nullifies votes by 2 representatives who skipped swearing-in". Cleveland.com. January 8, 2011. http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2011/01/house_nullifies_votes_by_2_rep.html. 
11. ^ "Votes for GOP members who missed oath ruled invalid". Washingtonpost.com. January 6, 2011. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/votes-of-gop-lawmakers-who-mis.html. 
12. ^ "More Accusations Leveled At Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)". CBSPhilly.com. January 8, 2011. http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/01/08/more-accusations-leveled-at-rep-mike-fitzpatrick-r-pa/. 
13. ^ "Did Rep Who Skipped Swearing In For Fundraiser Break The Law?". huffingtonpost.com. January 7, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/07/did-rep-who-skipped-swear_n_805904.html. 
14. ^ "More trouble for Fitzpatrick?". www.mcall.com. January 7, 2011. http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-dc-congressman-fitzpatrick-ethics-20110107,0,6435857.story. 
15. ^ Doylestown Patriot - Schrader responds to Greenwood's retirement
16. ^ 2006 House, Crystal Ball, U.Va
17. ^ "Election Results - CBSNews.com". CBS News. http://election.cbsnews.com/election2004/county/u_s__house_pa8.shtml. 
18. ^ "Site Unavailable". Dos.state.pa.us. http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/lib/bcel/elections/cong_reap2003.pdf. Retrieved 2010-08-23. 
19. ^ http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-01222006-601349.html
20. ^ NBC10.com. Fitzpatrick Concedes Defeat. 2006-11-08.
21. ^ Mcall.com: Pennsylvania Ave. Blog
22. ^ Fitzpatrick to run for state House (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times
23. ^ Weckselblatt, Gary (2010-01-13). "Report: Fitzpatrick in D.C. rounding up support". PhillyBurbs.com. http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/92/2010/january/13/report-fitzpatrick-in-dc-rounding-up-support.html. Retrieved 2010-08-23. 
24. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
25. ^ Walsh, Brian (2010-07-08). "2010 Race of the Day: PA-08". Townhall.com. http://townhall.com/columnists/BrianWalsh/2010/07/08/2010_race_of_the_day_pa-08. Retrieved 2010-09-18. 
26. ^ "Franklin and Marshall College Poll". http://edisk.fandm.edu/FLI/keystone/pdf/key8CDsep10_1.pdf. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
27. ^ Hasel, David E. (Spring 2002). "contests New Bucks County,Pennsylvania Boy Scouts to Launch the Essay Contest". Laws of Life. http://www.lawsoflife.org/pdf/lolnewsletters/2002_Spring.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-05. 
28. ^ "Mike Fitzpatrick for Congress2006". FitzpatrickforCongress.com. http://www.fitzpatrickforcongress.com/. Retrieved 2008-03-26. 
29. ^ John Mullane (2008-11-27). "A second chance". Bucks County Courier Times, archived at WebCite. http://www.webcitation.org/5f3whCgAu. Retrieved 2009-03-05. 

External links

• Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick official U.S. House site
• Mike Fitzpatrick for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Patrick Murphy	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district 2011–present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Jim Greenwood	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district 2005–2007	Succeeded by Patrick Murphy
Political offices
Preceded by Mark Schweiker	Member of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners 1995–2005	Succeeded by Jim Cawley
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Tom Reed R-New York	United States Representatives by seniority 340th	Succeeded by Tim Walberg R-Michigan

Persondata
Name	Fitzpatrick, Mike
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	1963-06-28
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death