Thom Tillis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thom Tillis
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Official portrait, 2022
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| United States Senator from North Carolina |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Ted Budd
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| Preceded by | Kay Hagan |
| Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office January 26, 2011 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Hackney |
| Succeeded by | Tim Moore |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 98th district |
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| In office January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | John Rhodes |
| Succeeded by | John Bradford |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Roland Tillis
August 30, 1960 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Susan Tillis |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Rick Tillis (brother) |
| Education | Chattanooga State Community College University of Maryland University College (BS) |
Thomas Roland Tillis (born August 30, 1960) is an American politician. He is a U.S. Senator for North Carolina. He has held this job since 2015. Senator Tillis is a member of the Republican Party.
Before becoming a senator, Tillis worked in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He was a representative from 2007 to 2015. From 2011 to 2015, he was the Speaker of the House. He won his Senate seat in 2014. He defeated Kay Hagan, who was the senator at the time. He was reelected in 2020.
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Early Life and Education
Thom Tillis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 30, 1960. His parents were Margie and Thomas Raymond Tillis. His father worked as a boat designer. Thom was the oldest boy among six children. He had three older sisters.
His family moved many times while he was growing up. By the time he was 17, they had moved 20 times. He never went to the same school for two years in a row. He lived in cities like New Orleans and Nashville.
After finishing high school in 1978, Tillis started working. He went to Chattanooga State Community College. Later, in 1996, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He got this degree from the University of Maryland University College.
Starting a Career in Politics
After high school, Tillis worked for an insurance company. He helped them use computers for their records. Later, he worked for a computer company called Wang Laboratories. He also worked for an accounting firm, Price Waterhouse. In 1998, he moved to Cornelius, North Carolina with his family.
Tillis began his political journey in Cornelius in 2002. He helped push for a local bike trail. He was then elected to the town's park board. In 2003, he ran for town commissioner.
Serving in the North Carolina House
After being a town commissioner for two years, Tillis ran for the General Assembly in 2006. He won the election without opposition. He was reelected in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
In 2010, Republicans won the majority in the North Carolina House. This was the first time since 1998. Tillis was chosen as the Speaker of the House. He was reelected Speaker in 2013.
As Speaker, Tillis helped change the state's tax laws. He also helped redraw the state's voting districts. His work also led to laws that limited new government rules.
During his time as Speaker, some voting laws were changed. These changes included fewer early voting days. They also required specific photo IDs to vote. A court later said these changes unfairly affected African Americans.
In 2014, some people protested in his office. They were upset about cuts to a program that helps low-income workers. They also protested his refusal to expand Medicaid.
Working in the U.S. Senate
Becoming a Senator
In 2014, Tillis decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He ran against the senator at the time, Kay Hagan. Many important Republican leaders supported him. He won the Republican primary election.
On November 4, 2014, Tillis won the Senate race. He received 48.8% of the votes. This was enough to win the election.
In 2020, Tillis ran for reelection. He won the Republican primary easily. He then faced Cal Cunningham in the general election. Tillis won the election with 48.7% of the vote.
Key Actions and Positions
Senator Tillis has worked on many important issues. He has often supported President Donald Trump's policies. He has voted with Trump's positions most of the time.
In 2016, Tillis said the next president should choose a new Supreme Court justice. But in 2020, he supported President Trump's choice for the Supreme Court. This was just before the presidential election.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tillis tested positive for the virus. He apologized for not wearing a mask at an event. He also encouraged people to get vaccinated.
Economic Policy
In 2014, Tillis did not support raising the federal minimum wage. He thought the government should not set a minimum wage. He believed it could increase costs and reduce jobs.
He also said that businesses should be able to choose their own rules. For example, he said a coffee shop could choose not to require hand washing. He believed customers would decide if they wanted to go there.
Environmental Views
In 2007, Tillis supported a law for renewable energy in North Carolina. The state is now a leader in solar energy. In the Senate, he has supported opening the Atlantic coast for oil drilling. He also opposed the Clean Power Plan.
Tillis has changed his views on climate change. In 2014, he said it was not happening. By 2018, he said he believed climate change was real. He also said humans might be part of the cause.
Gun Policy
Tillis supports gun rights. He has an "A+" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. This group supports gun rights. He has voted for some bills to improve background checks for gun buyers. However, he voted against bills that would ban gun sales to people on terrorist watchlists.
In 2022, Tillis supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This law provides money for school safety. It also helps states with "red flag" laws. These laws allow temporary removal of guns from people who might be a danger.
Healthcare Policy
Tillis does not support the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He has voted many times to cancel it. In North Carolina, he worked to stop the expansion of Medicaid. He believes healthcare is not a government's job.
He has tried to create laws to protect people with existing health conditions. But some critics said his ideas had loopholes. He later said he wanted to improve his proposals.
Immigration Policy
In 2017, Tillis suggested a new law for young undocumented immigrants. This law would allow them to apply for residency. They could eventually become citizens after 15 years. This was an alternative to the DREAM Act.
In 2019, Tillis first opposed President Trump's plan to build a border wall. He thought it bypassed Congress. But after pressure from his party, he changed his mind. He then voted to support the wall.
Internet and Technology
Tillis does not support net neutrality. This is the idea that internet providers should treat all data equally. He voted to allow internet providers to sell customers' browsing history.
He also helped pass a law in 2021. This law makes it a serious crime to stream copyrighted material without permission. People who do this could face prison time.
Equal Rights
In 2012, Tillis helped pass a state law in North Carolina. This law banned marriage between people of the same sex. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court said such bans were unconstitutional. Tillis said he would oppose the ruling.
However, in 2022, Tillis changed his view. He supported a bill to protect marriage rights for all couples. He called it a "good compromise." He voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. This law protects the right to marry for all couples in the United States.
Capitol Attack
In 2021, Tillis voted against creating a special group to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack. However, he later said that many people involved should be held responsible. He believed they should go to prison.
Whistleblower Protection
Since 2015, Tillis has been part of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus. This group works to protect people who report wrongdoing. They help ensure these people are safe from punishment.
Personal Life
Thom Tillis and his wife, Susan, live in Huntersville, North Carolina. They have two children. Tillis is Catholic.
In March 2021, Tillis announced he had prostate cancer. He had surgery and treatment. He said the cancer was found during a regular check-up. He encouraged all men to get regular health screenings.
Electoral history
See also
In Spanish: Thom Tillis para niños
