Todd Platts

Todd Platts has been a Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional district, since 2001.

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

In early May 2007, Rep. Platts attended a meeting, organized by Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), between several moderate Republicans in the House and President Bush to express their concerns over the War in Iraq. The group warned the President that his pursuit of the war in Iraq was risking the future of the Republican Party, and that he could not count on Republican support for much longer. Despite their concerns, each of the members promised to oppose the short-term funding measure for the War that was being considered in the House.

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

Transparency legislation
On March 5, 2007, Reps. Platts, Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), and Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) introduced the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 (H.R. 1309), to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act. On March 15, 2007, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Specifically, the bill would state the following:


 * A government agency with a request for information may not reject that request if the requester is with the news media, but can not show institutional associations. Prior publication history (including books, magazines and newspaper articles, newsletters, television and radio broadcasts and internet publications) is valid evidence of these associations. If there is no publishing history, the agency must then consider the requester’s stated intent to distribute the information to a reasonably broad audience.
 * A suit filed in compliant of denial can allow for attorney fees to be paid. If a request is denied for arbitrary or capricious reasons, a civil action can be brought by the requester.


 * After one year from enactment of this bill, an agency must decide on providing the information within 20 days of the request.


 * A system of tracking numbers is to be developed to track individual requests and a telephone or internet service is to be established that allows for requesters to consult on the status using the tracking number provided within ten days of the request.

The bill passed the House by a 308-117 vote.

Background
Todd Russell Platts was born March 5, 1962 in York, Pennsylvania and he graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and the Pepperdine University School of Law.

Platts began his political career when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1992. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 after narrowly winning a crowded Republican primary, and easily defeating Democrat Jeff Sanders in the general election. He replaced Congressman Bill Goodling, who chose not to run for re-election that year.

Positions and Views
As a Congressman, Platts has supported many of the President George W. Bush's initiatives, including the privatization of Social Security, tax cuts, drilling in ANWR, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, the Iraq War, and a ban on same-sex marriage. On the other hand, he opposed any version of Bush's school voucher proposal, opposed offshore oil drilling, supported increasing governmentally regulated fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, and supported the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation. A full list of "ratings" of Platts' voting record by both conservative and liberal organizations may be found at http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS028291; the National Journal political index describes him as having a moderate voting record despite the relatively conservative nature of his district. That journal gave him "conservative" ratings of 53% (economy), 65% (social issues) and 73% (foreign policy) in the 2004 congress. Platts' district went 64-36 for Bush in 2004.

Early in his political career Platts was pro-choice. However, he later changed his views and became pro-life, which is reflected in his Congressional voting record.

Legislation Sponsored: He is a cosponser of legislation to provide the District of Columbia *voting respresentation  *[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR02043:@@@P. (HR 2043).]

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Philip J. Avillo, Jr to face Platts in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  Platts retained his seat.

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

 * House Committee on Education and Labor
 * Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
 * Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities -Ranking
 * House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement
 * Subcommittee on National Security and International Relations
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Highways, Transit & Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment

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

 * House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 * Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations
 * Subcommittee on Education Reform
 * House Committee on Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Government Management Finance and Accountability - Chair
 * Subcommittee on National Security Emerging Threats and International Relations
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Republican Main Street Partnership
 * Republican Policy Committee, 2001-present
 * Joint Legislative Air and Water Polution Control and Conservation Committee
 * Pennsylvania Statewide Children's Health Insurance Program Advisory Committee

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, Central Pennsylvania Leadership Seminar
 * Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania
 * Legislative Chair, York Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
 * Co-Chair, York County Transportation Coalition.

More Background Data

 * 2006 Pennsylvania CD 19 Candidate List from VIS

External resources

 * Official webite
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Mayor Herbert Riede
 * The All-Spin Zone