John Mica

John L. Mica, a Republican, has represented the 7th District of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993.

Iraq War
Mica voted for 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

Work to reverse Coconut Road earmark
Mica said he expected Congress to pass a bill that would reverse the Coconut Road earmark before the December recess.

Mica and Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) agreed to work on making changes to the earmark in October, 2007. However the only vehicle for the change, a bill making technical corrections to the 2005 highway bill, was held up in the Senate. Mica had said he planned to change the Coconut Road earmark language during conference committee negotiations. The House passed its latest version of the bill in August, 2007 but the measure was languishing in the Senate because two unknown senators objected to moving it to the floor. Mica said now there "seems to be some movement in the Senate."

Additionally, Republican Transportation Committee aides said that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) planned to "hotline" the bill, an attempt to approve the legislation without debate or amendment.

Bio
Mica was born January 27, 1943 in Binghamton, New York. He was educated at Miami Edison High School, Miami-Dade Community College and the University of Florida. He was a businessman, a member of the Florida House of Representatives and a staff member for Senator Paula F. Hawkins before entering the House. He is the brother of former Representative Daniel A. Mica.

Mica, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Railroads, is well-known for being an opponent of government assistance to Amtrak. Mica has said, "Amtrak needs major surgery and reorganization" and "Amtrak is not just broken, it is actually bankrupt." 

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated John F. Chagnon to face Mica in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Mica retained his seat.

Money in politics
cid=N00002793&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Ranking Member
 * Subcommittee on Aviation -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit & Pipelines -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Railroads -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings & Emergency Management -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation -Ex Officio
 * House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Domestic Policy
 * Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia

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

 * House Committee on Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Drug Policy and Human Resources
 * Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and Agency Organization
 * House Committee on House Administration
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads

External Rosources

 * Official website
 * John Mica's Colbert Report interview. (Other Colbert Report interviews with members of Congress)
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database
 * Campaign website
 * www.anyonebutmica.com
 * The World Newser

Local blogs and discussion sites
http://www.JohnMicaMustGo.blogspot.com http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2008/09/rnc-delegate-he.html