Connie Mack

Cornelius McGillicuddy IV, known as Connie Mack IV, a Republican, has represented the 14th Congressional district of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005.

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

Coconut Road
It was revealed in October 2007 that Mack sent a letter to a Florida university expressing his support for an interchange at Coconut Road, a $10 million earmark that has caused controversy since its insertion into the 2005 transportation bill.

For months Mack said he was not involved and knew nothing about the earmark’s inclusion in the highway bill, even though it was a high priority for the university in his district and he was a member of the House Transportation Committee when the earmark was placed in the bill. It was revealed that Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) inserted the earmark into the bill. Mack has since pledged to reverse the earmark, but a March 2006 letter stands in contrast. In the letter, addressed to the university president, he was willing to support construction of the interchange after the earmark’s passage. Mack had maintained since the controversy began that he did not request the $10 million earmark for the interchange in his district. He also said he did not know about efforts to insert it into the bill. .

Both Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and real estate developer Daniel Aronoff’s Landon Companies paid Potomac partners, a lobbying firm $140,000 since 2005 and $580,000 since 2003, respectively. Aronoff helped organize a fundraiser honoring Young, then chairman of the House Transportation Committee, but Mack was involved in hosting it. Earlier that day both congressmen attended a town hall meeting on the FGCU campus. Topics for the event according to a notice included a study commissioned by FGCU that recommended the construction of an interchange at Coconut Road and I-75 in addition to a high-tech command and control center that would be located on the FGCU campus. Minutes from the meeting stated that Young was invited to the university by Mack.

Bio
Mack was born August 12, 1967 in Fort Myers, Florida. He succeeds Porter Goss, who resigned to take the helm of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Mack served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000-2003 (where he was often referred to as "Connie Mack, Jr.").

Mack asserted his independence from the White House and his party leadership early in his Congressional career by being one of the few Republicans to vote against the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). He also split with leadership during the FY 2006 budget debate by refusing to back the leadership until language allowing oil drilling off of Florida's coasts was removed from the reconciliation bill.

Recently, Mack, who is in the process of a divorce, has been romantically linked to Mary Bono, widow of Sonny Bono and a representative of California's 45th Congressional District.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Robert M. Neeld Jr. to face Mack in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Mack retained his seat.

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

 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment
 * House Committee on Budget

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

 * House Committee on Budget
 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia
 * Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database