Earl Pomeroy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earl Pomeroy
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Byron Dorgan |
| Succeeded by | Rick Berg |
| Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota | |
| In office January 1, 1985 – December 15, 1992 |
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| Governor | George Sinner |
| Preceded by | Jorris Wigen |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Pomeroy |
| Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1980–1985 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Earl Ralph Pomeroy III
September 2, 1952 Valley City, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (D-NPL) |
| Spouse | Mary Berglund |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Valley City State University University of North Dakota (BA, JD) |
Earl Ralph Pomeroy III (born September 2, 1952) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for North Dakota from 1993 to 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.
As of 2024, he is the last Democrat to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. After leaving Congress, he became a senior counsel for a law firm in Washington, D.C..
Contents
Early Life and Education
Earl Pomeroy was born in Valley City, North Dakota. He went to Valley City State University. Later, he transferred to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also studied legal history in England. Pomeroy then returned to North Dakota to study law. He received his law degree in 1979. In 2011, he received an honorary degree from the University of North Dakota.
State Government Work
Pomeroy began his political career in North Dakota. In 1980, he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives. This is part of the state's law-making body.
In 1985, he became the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner. This job involves overseeing insurance companies in the state. He held this position until 1992.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Earl Pomeroy was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992. He served there for 18 years, from 1993 to 2011. As a U.S. Representative, he helped make laws for the entire country.
Important Committees
While in Congress, Pomeroy worked on several important committees. These groups focus on specific topics and help create laws.
- Committee on Agriculture: This committee deals with farming, food, and rural areas.
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
- Committee on Ways and Means: This committee handles taxes, trade, and important government programs.
- Subcommittee on Trade
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Social Security (he was the chairman of this subcommittee)
Groups and Coalitions
Pomeroy was also part of different groups in Congress.
- He was a co-chair of the Rural Health Care Coalition. This group works to improve health care in rural areas.
- He was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. This was a group of Democrats who often held more moderate views.
Political Views
Views on War
In 2002, Earl Pomeroy supported the idea of using military force in Iraq. However, he later became more vocal against the war. In 2007, he spoke against a plan to send more troops to Iraq.
He believed that soldiers should not be deployed for too long. He also felt that missions should have a good chance of success. He stated that Congress should make sure military plans would not lead to more American lives lost.
Health Care
In 2009, Pomeroy voted for a major health care reform bill. He said that while the bill was not perfect, the current health care system also had problems. His vote supported making changes to how health care works in the U.S.
Adoption Tax Credit
Pomeroy strongly supported laws that helped parents deduct adoption costs. This means parents could get a tax break for expenses related to adopting a child. On the day of a vote on this issue, he brought his daughter, whom he and his wife adopted from South Korea, to the House floor.
Political Campaigns
Pomeroy was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. He won his first five elections, though often by smaller margins than other Democrats in North Dakota. In 2004, he won with nearly 60 percent of the votes.
2006 Election
In 2006, Pomeroy ran against Republican Matthew Mechtel. He easily won his eighth term in office. He received a higher percentage of votes (65.68%) than in his earlier elections.
2008 Election
Pomeroy kept his seat in the House of Representatives in 2008. He defeated Republican Duane Sand.
2010 Election
In 2010, Pomeroy was defeated by Republican Rick Berg. This was the first time in 30 years that a Republican held this seat. Many people believe his loss was due to his vote for the health care reform bill.
After Congress
After leaving Congress, Earl Pomeroy joined a law firm called Alston & Bird. He works as a lobbyist for hospitals. A lobbyist tries to influence lawmakers on behalf of a group or organization. Pomeroy quickly started this new role after leaving Congress.
Personal Life
Earl Pomeroy is a Presbyterian. He has two children, Kathryn and Scott. In 2009, he married Mary Berglund in Valley City, North Dakota.
Pomeroy played rugby when he was in college at the University of North Dakota and also while studying in England.
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
