Michele Bachmann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michele Bachmann
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 6th district |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Tom Emmer |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 2, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Gary Laidig |
| Succeeded by | Ray Vandeveer |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michele Marie Amble
April 6, 1956 Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (since 1978) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (before 1978) |
| Spouse |
Marcus Bachmann
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 5 |
| Education |
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Michele Marie Bachmann (born April 6, 1956) is an American politician. She served as a U.S. representative for Minnesota from 2007 to 2015. She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2012, she ran to become president of the United States, but she ended her campaign after the first voting event in Iowa.
Bachmann was born in Waterloo, Iowa. Her family moved to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota when she was 13. She earned several college degrees, including one in law. She worked briefly in tax law before becoming a full-time mother. She then became involved in local politics, focusing on education.
Bachmann officially entered politics when she was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2000. In 2006, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. After her presidential campaign, she was elected to another term in the House in 2012. She decided not to run for re-election in 2014.
Since January 1, 2021, Bachmann has been a dean at the Robertson School of Government at Regent University.
Early Life and Education
Michele Marie Amble was born on April 6, 1956, in Waterloo, Iowa. Her parents were David John Amble and Arlene Jean Amble. Her family moved to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, when she was 13.
She went to Anoka High School and graduated in 1974. After high school, she spent a summer working at a kibbutz in Israel. In 1978, she earned her bachelor's degree from Winona State University.
Bachmann then studied law at Oral Roberts University (ORU). She received her law degree (J.D.) from ORU in 1986. In 1988, she earned another law degree (LL.M.) in tax law from William & Mary Law School.
From 1988 to 1993, she worked as a tax lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). She left the IRS to become a full-time mother after her fourth child was born.
Early Political Work
Community Involvement
Bachmann grew up in a family that supported the Democratic Party. She became a Republican during her last year at Winona State University. She supported Jimmy Carter for president in 1976. However, she became unhappy with his policies. In the 1980 election, she voted for Ronald Reagan and worked on his campaign.
In 1993, she helped start the K–12 New Heights Charter School in Stillwater. This publicly funded school was supposed to be non-religious. However, it soon became very Christian-focused. Parents complained, and the school was warned it was breaking state law. Bachmann resigned, and the school changed its curriculum to keep its charter. She then began speaking out against new state education standards. This led her into politics.
Minnesota State Senator
Bachmann was encouraged by her family and local groups to run for office. She became a Minnesota state senator in 2000. She won against the person who held the seat before her. After new district maps were drawn in 2002, she won again in a different district.
As a state senator, she was known for her conservative views. ..... She also proposed a "Taxpayer Bill of Rights." In 2003, she and another representative suggested a change to the state constitution. This change would have stopped the state from legally recognizing same-sex marriage. She tried again in 2005, but the proposal did not pass. She served as an assistant leader for the Republican group in the Senate. She was removed from this role in 2005. She said it was because of disagreements over her anti-tax stance.
U.S. House of Representatives
From 2007 to 2015, Bachmann represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district. This district included parts of the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. She was the first Republican woman from Minnesota to be elected to the House of Representatives.
First Term in Congress
Foreign Policy
In January 2007, Bachmann voted against a resolution that opposed President George W. Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq. She said that the American people deserved to understand why more troops were needed. Later that year, she visited Iraq. She said she believed the war effort was "heading in the right direction."
Higher Education
On July 11, 2007, Bachmann voted against the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. This law aimed to help more students afford college. It increased financial aid for students and lowered interest rates on student loans. Bachmann opposed the act. She said it had "gimmicks, hidden costs and poorly targeted aid." The bill passed and became law.
Energy and Environment
In 2008, when gasoline prices were high, Bachmann supported increasing oil and natural gas drilling in the U.S. She visited Alaska to learn about energy production.
Bachmann has said that global warming is "all voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax." She has claimed that carbon dioxide is a "harmless gas" and "naturally occurring." Scientists widely disagree with these claims.
In 2008, Bachmann introduced a bill called the "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act." This bill would have canceled parts of a 2007 law that required more energy-efficient light bulbs. Her bill did not pass. She reintroduced it in 2011.
Financial Issues
Bachmann opposed the $700 billion plan to help America's financial sector in 2008. She voted against both versions of the bill. She also suggested breaking up large housing finance companies. She wanted to stop executives from getting large bonuses.
Auto Industry
In 2008, American car companies asked Congress for about $15 billion in loans. Bachmann criticized this plan. She worried that more money would be needed later without the companies making real changes. She supported a different plan. This plan would have set goals for companies to reduce debt and change labor agreements.
Comments on Barack Obama
In October 2008, Bachmann made comments about Barack Obama during a TV interview. She said she was concerned that he "may have anti-American views." She also suggested that the media should investigate if members of Congress were "pro-America, or anti-America." These comments caused a lot of discussion. Other politicians criticized her remarks. Bachmann later said she did not mean to question Obama's patriotism.
Second Term in Congress
Global Currency
In March 2009, Bachmann introduced a resolution. It called for a change to the Constitution to prevent the U.S. dollar from being replaced by a foreign currency. She was concerned about the president's power to make treaties.
2010 Census
In June 2009, Bachmann expressed concerns about the 2010 United States Census. She said the questions were "very intricate, very personal." She stated that her family would only answer how many people were in their home. She believed the Constitution did not require more information. Other Republican representatives asked her not to boycott the census.
Health Care
Bachmann strongly opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). She called for its repeal. In March 2011, she claimed that the Obama administration had hidden $105 billion in spending within the health care law. She said the money was split up to hide the total cost. Other politicians said this was not true and that the costs were public.
In a 2011 debate, Bachmann criticized Rick Perry for supporting the HPV vaccine. She claimed the vaccine was dangerous and could cause "mental retardation." Medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, said there was "absolutely no scientific validity to this statement." They confirmed the vaccine has an excellent safety record. Bachmann later said she was not a doctor or a scientist.
Muslim Brotherhood Comments
In 2012, Bachmann and other Republican lawmakers sent letters to government agencies. They claimed there was a "deep penetration" of the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S. government. Bachmann also accused Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, of having family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
These comments were widely criticized by other lawmakers and religious groups. Senator John McCain called Bachmann's charges "specious and degrading." House Speaker John Boehner called them "dangerous." Bachmann maintained that her letters aimed to raise national security concerns.
Third Term in Congress and Retirement
Investigations
In 2013, Bachmann was investigated by several groups. These included the House Ethics Committee and the Federal Election Commission. The investigations were about alleged campaign finance violations during her 2012 presidential campaign. There were claims of hidden payments to staff and illegal transfers of funds.
Retirement Announcement
On May 29, 2013, Bachmann announced she would not run for re-election in 2014. She made this announcement in a video. This led to speculation that she wanted to avoid another close election. In a June 2013 interview, she said she would remain involved in politics. When she retired from Congress, the ethics investigations against her were stopped.
Committee Roles
During her time in the House, Bachmann served on important committees:
- Committee on Financial Services
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (which oversees agencies like the CIA)
Political Views
Michele Bachmann describes herself as a "strong fiscal conservative." This means she believes in careful spending of government money. Her views are also seen as socially conservative and supportive of businesses. She was a notable leader in the Tea Party movement. She often criticized President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.
In 2010, the American Conservative Union gave her a perfect score for her conservative voting record.
Education Views
Bachmann supports teaching creationism alongside evolution in public school science classes. She believes that evolution is a theory that has not been fully proven. She co-authored a bill that would require schools to teach other ideas about the origin of life. However, most scientists agree that evolution is a fact.
Bachmann has also spoken against anti-bullying laws. In 2006, she said that there have always been bullies and always will be. She questioned how a "zero tolerance" policy would work.
Economic Views
In the Minnesota Senate, Bachmann opposed raising the minimum wage. She has suggested getting rid of the federal minimum wage entirely. She believes this would help reduce unemployment. Bachmann also supports lowering taxes.
She has said that federal policies create a very controlled economy in the U.S. She believes that education laws have promoted a "socialist, globalist worldview." She signed a pledge not to raise taxes.
Environment Views
Bachmann supports increasing oil and natural gas drilling in the U.S. She also supports developing renewable energy sources like wind and solar. She is a strong supporter of nuclear power.
She has strongly opposed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She once said that the EPA's doors should be "locked and lights turned off."
Social Security and Medicare
Bachmann has called for gradually ending Social Security and Medicare. These are government programs that provide retirement and health benefits. She believes that people already in the system should keep their benefits. However, she thinks new generations should be "weaned off" these programs.
Foreign Policy Views
Bachmann believes that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was justified. When dealing with Iran, she thinks diplomacy is an option. However, she believes other options, including a nuclear strike, should not be ruled out. She has also stated she is a "longtime supporter of Israel."
Immigration Views
Bachmann believes that stronger enforcement of immigration laws is important for American jobs. She supports changing immigration laws to only allow immediate family members of legal immigrants to get priority. She voted against the DREAM Act, which would help young undocumented immigrants. She believes current laws just need to be properly enforced.
She has said that the U.S. immigration system worked well until the mid-1960s. At that time, she believes "liberal members of Congress changed the immigration laws." She supports immigration for highly skilled professionals.
Political Campaigns
2006 Congressional Campaign
Michele Bachmann won her first election to Congress in 2006. She received 50% of the votes. She defeated Patty Wetterling and John Binkowski.
Bachmann said that "God then called me to run" for the U.S. House seat. She and her husband even fasted to be sure about the decision.
She received support from important Republican leaders. These included Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, Karl Rove, and President George W. Bush.
Later Congressional Campaigns
Bachmann was reelected in 2008, defeating Elwyn Tinklenberg. In 2010, she was challenged by Tarryl Clark and Bob Anderson. Bachmann spent more money on her campaign than any other House candidate that year. She defeated Clark with 52% of the vote.
2012 Presidential Campaign
In early 2011, Michele Bachmann announced she would run for president. She officially became a candidate on June 27, 2011, in her birth city of Waterloo, Iowa.
She won the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa in August 2011. She was the first woman to win this poll. However, she finished sixth in the Iowa Caucuses on January 3, 2012. The next day, she ended her presidential campaign.
2012 Congressional Campaign
On January 25, 2012, Bachmann announced she would run for re-election to her Congressional seat. She raised a lot of money for her campaign, almost $15 million. This was more than many Senate candidates raised that year.
Despite raising a lot of money, Bachmann won her re-election by a very small margin. She received only 4,298 more votes than her opponent, Jim Graves.
Other Work
Autobiography
In November 2011, Bachmann published her autobiography, Core of Conviction. In the book, she wrote about the events and people who shaped her beliefs. She described how she changed from supporting the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
Businesses
Bachmann and her husband own a Christian counseling practice called Bachmann & Associates. Her husband, Marcus Bachmann, runs the clinic. The clinic received money from government agencies for counselor training. Michele Bachmann said that she and her husband did not personally benefit from taxpayer money.
A former client and an investigator claimed that therapists at the clinic offered "conversion therapy." This is a controversial treatment that has been rejected by many medical groups. Marcus Bachmann did not deny that the clinic used this technique, but said it was only at a client's request.
Bachmann also reported income from a farm owned by her father-in-law. The farm received federal subsidies. Bachmann said she reported this income out of caution, but her in-laws were the ones who profited.
Nonprofit Work
According to her tax records, Bachmann has served as a director and chair of the Family Research Council. This is a group that focuses on evangelical Christian issues.
After Congress
In December 2017, Bachmann said she was thinking about running for a U.S. Senate seat. She said she was waiting for "God's counsel" before deciding.
Since January 1, 2021, Bachmann has been the dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University.
During the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, Bachmann spoke at a conference. She called for the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. She said they should be sent to Iran.
Personal Life
Family
In 1978, Michele Amble married Marcus Bachmann. He is a clinical therapist. After she finished law school in 1988, they moved to Stillwater, Minnesota. They have five children: Lucas, Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, and Sophia. Bachmann has said that she had a miscarriage after her second child was born. .....
The Bachmanns also provided foster care for 23 other children, all teenage girls. They were licensed to care for up to three foster children at a time. Their home was considered a treatment home, and they received daily payments from the state.
Citizenship
In May 2012, it was reported that Marcus Bachmann had registered for Swiss citizenship. This would have made Michele and their children Swiss citizens too. Within two days, Michele Bachmann announced that she had written to the Swiss consulate to give up her Swiss citizenship.
Religion
Bachmann was raised as a Lutheran. She was a longtime member of Salem Lutheran Church in Stillwater. She and her husband left the church in June 2011, just before she officially started her presidential campaign. They had not attended the church for over two years. In 2011, the Bachmanns began attending Rockpoint Church in Lake Elmo.
Bachmann has said that theologian Francis Schaeffer greatly influenced her life. She has also praised the book Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity.
See also
In Spanish: Michele Bachmann para niños
