Joe Donnelly

Joe Donnelly is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Second Congressional District of Indiana since 2007.

Abortion
Donnelly received a grade of 0 from NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2007. His own website also claims he is solidly anti-abortion. 

Agriculture
In 2007, Donnelly represented the views of the National Association of Wheat Growers and the United Fresh Produce Association, but not the National Council of Agricultural Employers.

Budget, Spending and Taxes
Based on ratings garnered from four interest groups who oppose government taxation, who all gave Donnelly very low ratings, he appears to not be in favor of across-the-board tax cuts. However, he claims on his own page that Congress needs to be "more responsible with your dollars" and also to reduce the budget deficit.

Education
Joe Donnelly has firsthand experience in this area, being a former school board president.

Gun Control
Donnelly favors a strong interpretation of the Second Amendment. He co-sponsored a bill lightening gun-control laws in Washington, D.C. In 2008 the NRA graded him with an A.

Iraq War
Given Donnelly's limited time in the House of Representatives, he does not have a long history of votes on the Iraq War. His own website states that he opposes cutting funds for troops in Iraq, but that he is in favor of telling "the Iraqis that our commitment to them is not unconditional or open-ended." The only action he supports that breaks the status quo is hastening the training of Iraqi security forces so that American troops can leave.

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

Early life, education, and career
Joe Donnelly was born in Massapequa, New York. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1977 and remained in South Bend, Ind. to obtain his law degree, which he did in 1981. He practiced law until 1996, when he opened Marking Solutions, a printing and rubber stamp company. 

Donnelly and his wife, Jill, have been married for 27 years and have a son and a daughter. They reside in Granger, Indiana.

Early political positions
Donnelly held two public positions before deciding to run for Congress. From 1988-1989, he served on the Indiana State Election Board, which was charged with ensuring accurate election results. He served on a local schoolboard from 1997-2001, serving as president of the board from 2000-2001. 

He ran a campaign for Indiana attorney general in 1988, but lost in the Democratic primary. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Indiana State Senate in 1990. 

Congressional elections
Donnelly has twice run for U.S. Congress in Indiana's 2nd Congressional district.

2004
Donnelly ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the second district, where he faced off against incumbent Rep. Chris Chocola (R-Ind.). Chocola was helped by several fundraising visits from President George W. Bush, and was able to outspend Donnelly by a two to one margin, $1.4 million to $700,000. Donnelly lost the election, 54%-45%. 

2006
On May 2, 2006, Donnelly defeated Steve Francis for the Democratic Party nomination, setting up a rematch against Chris Chocola. Donnelly defeated Chocola 54% to 46% to win a seat in Congress. 

2010 elections
In 2010, Donnelly narrowly won reelection in the IN-2 against Republican State Representative Jackie Walorski.

2012 candidacy
In May 2011, Donnelly announced that he would be running for US Senate in 2012, challenging incumbent Senior Senator Richard Lugar.

Money in politics
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Committees and Affiliations

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

Caucuses
Blue Dog Coalition

Congressional Steel Caucus

Resources

 * Joe Donnelly for Congress, official campaign site.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Cass County IN Dems