Joe Barton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Barton
Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
In office February 16, 2004 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Billy Tauzin
Succeeded by	John Dingell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 6th district
In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Phil Gramm
Succeeded by	Ron Wright
Personal details
Born	Joseph Linus Barton (1949-09-15) September 15, 1949 (age 75) Waco, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Janet Winslow ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 2003)​ Terri Brasier ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2015)​
Children	4
Education	Texas A&M University (BS) Purdue University (MS)

Joseph Linus Barton (born September 15, 1949) is an American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for over 30 years. As a member of the Republican Party, he represented a district in Texas from 1985 to 2019. His district included the city of Arlington and areas south of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Barton was known for his conservative views. He supported less government control over the energy industry, especially for natural gas and electricity. He was a strong supporter of using fossil fuels. For his work defending industries from stricter pollution rules, he was sometimes called "Smokey Joe."

In 2014, Barton became the longest-serving member of the Texas group in Congress at the time. In November 2017, he announced he would not run for re-election the following year.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Barton was born in Waco, Texas. After graduating from Waco High School, he went to Texas A&M University on a scholarship. He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1972. The next year, he received a master's degree in industrial administration from Purdue University.

After college, Barton worked in private industry. In 1981, he was chosen to be a White House Fellow, a special program where people work for top government officials. He worked with the United States Secretary of Energy. Later, he worked as a consultant for an oil and gas company before he was elected to Congress in 1984.

U.S. House of Representatives

Barton's career in the U.S. House of Representatives lasted for 17 terms, from 1985 to 2019. The House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the country.

Elections

Barton meets President Ronald Reagan in 1984

Barton first ran for office in 1984 for Texas's 6th congressional district. He won the Republican primary and then defeated the Democratic candidate in the main election. He was one of six new Republican congressmen from Texas elected that year.

For most of his career, Barton won his re-election campaigns by large margins. He often received 60% or more of the vote. In 1986, he won re-election against Pete Geren, who later became a congressman for a different district.

Barton meets President George H. W. Bush in 1989

Barton with President George W. Bush

Later in his career, his elections became more competitive. In 2016, he won with 58.3% of the vote. This was the closest general election of his career.

In November 2017, Barton announced that he would not run for re-election in 2018, ending his long career in Congress.

Work in Congress

Barton speaking at the 2015 Lincoln Dinner in Fort Worth

Barton was a member of several groups in Congress, including the Freedom Caucus. He was known for his conservative political positions.

Energy and Environment

As a leader on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Barton had a big impact on U.S. energy policy. He helped write the Energy Policy Act of 2005. He also led a successful effort in 2015 to end a 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil from the United States.

Barton had different views on the causes of global warming than many scientists. He questioned whether human activity was the main cause of climate change. In 2009, he suggested that wind is a "finite resource," meaning it could be used up. He also once referred to a story from the Bible to argue that climate change is not caused by people.

In 2011, Barton introduced the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act. This bill was meant to cancel a 2007 law that required light bulbs to be more energy-efficient. This law had led to the phasing out of many traditional incandescent light bulbs. Barton said that Congress should not tell people what kind of light bulbs they can use.

BP Oil Spill Comments

In 2010, after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil company BP agreed to create a $20 billion fund to pay people who were harmed by the spill. During a hearing, Barton told BP's chief executive that he was sorry for the "shakedown" from the White House.

His comments were criticized by leaders from both political parties. Barton later said his words were misunderstood and he took back his apology to BP. He stated that he believed BP was responsible for the spill.

Other Issues

• Health Care: Barton was against the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) and voted for a plan to repeal it in 2017.
• Immigration: He supported President Donald Trump's 2017 order that temporarily banned people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
• Social Issues: Barton was known for his socially conservative views and received high ratings from groups like the Family Research Council.
• Online Poker: Barton introduced bills in 2011, 2013, and 2015 to make online poker legal and regulated by the federal government.

Committee Assignments

When he left Congress, Barton was a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. He served on several of its subcommittees, which focus on specific areas like:

• Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
• Communications and Technology
• Energy and Power
• Environment and Economy
• Health
• Oversight and Investigations

1993 U.S. Senate Election

In 1993, Barton ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate. The seat was open because Senator Lloyd Bentsen had resigned to become the United States Secretary of the Treasury.

Barton finished third in the special election. This meant he did not make it to the final runoff election. The seat was eventually won by Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Personal Life

Barton has four children and five grandchildren. In December 2005, he had a heart attack and was treated at a hospital in Washington, D.C.

Election Results