Josiah Bonner

Josiah Robins Bonner, Jr., a Republican, has represented the 1st District of Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003.

Record and controversies
Voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

Abortion
Bonner has consistently been given a low approval rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America and high approval from the National Right to Life Committee, indicating he is pro-life. Twice (2005 &2007) Bonner voted against human embryonic stem cell research and also voted yes (2003) on forbidding human cloning for reproduction and medical research.Bonner voted yes on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime (2004). Pro-life conservatives characterize a fetus as a human being and a citizen, and thus killing a fetus is in essence murder. This is the philosophy behind banning abortion because it is murder of a citizen. Bonner also yes on banning partial-birth abortion except to save a mother's life. (2003)

Civil Rights & Liberties
The Human Rights Campaign has consistently given Bonner an extremely low rating, implying he is anti-gay rights. In 2006, Bonner voted yes on constitutionally defining marriage as an union between a man and a woman and he voted yes in 2004 to the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Bonner has also has gotten fairly low ratings (17% in 2005 and 2006 and 32% in 2007), suggesting he is anti-affirmative action. 

Education
Bonner takes a very conservative position on education. From 2005 to 2007, The National Education Association has given Bonner a grade of F and a rating score of 0. Among other interest groups that consistently have given him a low rating are National Association of Elementary School Principals,Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and National Parent Teacher Association. In 2007, Bonner voted no on giving an additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects and in 2006 voted no on giving $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. These low ratings and opposition votes show Bonner usually does not support grants to public schools. Bonner also takes a conservative position on the presence of religion in school. In 2006 he voted no on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. 

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

Bio
Bonner was born November 19, 1959 in Selma, Alabama. He was educated at the University of Alabama and recieved a B.A. in journalism in 1982. Later, he served as chief of staff and press secretary to former Congressman H. L. "Sonny" Callahan prior to winning his seat in 2002. He resides in Mobile, Alabama.

Bonner writes a weekly news column, and does weekly radio and televesion shows on events and issues in Washington. Bonner is the current hose of "Congressional Report," which started in the 1970s and is the "longest-running public affairs program of its kind in the country." The "Congressional Report" airs on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. on WKRG-TV5. 

Majority Whip Roy Blunt named Bonner an Assistant Whip in the 108th Congress.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Vivian Sheffield Beckerle to face Bonner in his bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Bonner won the election.

2008 elections
Bonner decided to run in the 2008 elections to keep his seat.

Money in politics
cid=N00025330&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Agriculture Committee.
 * Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
 * Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry Ranking Member
 * House Committee on Science and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
 * Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation
 * House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
 * House Committee on Budget

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

 * House Agriculture Committee
 * House Budget Committee
 * House Science Committee

More Background Data

 * 2006 Alabama CD 1 Candidate List from VIS

2008 Campaign Contact Information
Official Bonner for Congress website

Phone: 251-460-2500

Fax: 251-460-4161

[mailto:info@jobonner.com info@jobonner.com]

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Alabama Democrat