Michael Doyle

Michael F. Doyle has been a Democrat from Pennsylvania, representing the 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, since 1995.

Iraq War
Doyle voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Pays wife for campaign work
In October 2006, the Sunlight Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organization which advocates better transparency in government, reported that Doyle’s campaign committee paid his wife $31,673 to serve as the campaign’s finance director during 2005-2006. 

Bio
Doyle was born in Swissvale, Pennsylvania on August 5, 1953. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1975 with a degree in Community Development. Doyle worked in the steel mills during his time in college. After college he worked as an insurance agent and was elected to the Swissvale Borough Council in 1977. In 1978 he worked as chief of staff to Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Pecora. Like his mentor Pecora, Doyle was once a Republican who later switched parties to become a Democrat.

Congressional career
In 1994, Doyle was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat. He filled the seat of former- Senator Rick Santorum.

In 2002 Doyle's district was combined with the Pittsburgh-based district of former Congressman William J. Coyne. The potentially explosive situation of having two Democratic incumbents face each other in the primary was defused when Coyne announced his retirement leaving Doyle as the sole incumbent. Doyle faced no general election opposition in 2002 and 2004 in this overwhelmingly Democratic district.

Doyle is considered one of the more moderate Democrats in the House. He opposes abortion, supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration, and supported a bill limiting federal death penalty appeals. He has also voted against authorizing military force in Iraq and against the $87 Billion emergency spending bill to fund US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"His top priorities include revitalizing communities in the 14th District through economic development and high-tech initiatives, creating jobs, preserving Social Security and Medicare, providing better public education, meeting the needs of our senior citizen population such as creating a prescription drug benefit, establishing a long-term energy strategy, and fostering a better climate for our high-tech community." 

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommitee on Health
 * House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
 * House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * House Democratic Caucus
 * Founder and co-chair, Autism Caucus, also known as the Coalition for Autism Research and Education (C.A.R.E.)
 * Steel Caucus
 * Human Rights Caucus

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database
 * Sunlight Foundation: Congressional Family Business Project

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * The All-Spin Zone