Joseph Knollenberg



Joseph Knollenberg represented the 9th Congressional district of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993-2009 (map). He was defeated by Gary Peters (D) in the November 2008 general election.

Children's Health Care (SCHIP)
In 2007, Congress took up the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health care for about 6 million children and 670,000 adults from families who earn too much money qualify for Medicare but not enough to afford health insurance. Congressional Democrats and many Republicans tried to use the opportunity to dramatically expand the program but were opposed by President George W. Bush and other Republicans. In 2006, 5.4 million children were eligible but not enrolled in SCHIP or Medicaid and 9.4 million total children were uninsured.

Joe Knollenberg voted against the first House bill, which passed along party lines. It would have added $47 billion over five years to the $25 billion cost of the program and added about 5 million people to the program, including children, some legal immigrants, pregnant women and adults aged 18 and 19. The bill was financed mainly by an increase in cigarette taxes.

House Democrats, with 45 Republicans, later compromised and passed a bill which expanded the plan by $35 billion and would have insured about 3.5 million more children from families generally making between 250% and 300% of the federal poverty line (about $51,000 to $62,000 for a family of four). Most non-pregnant, childless adults were excluded, as were most legal immigrants and all illegal immigrants. Joe Knollenberg voted against the bill.

After President Bush vetoed the bill, Democratic leaders attempted to override the veto with the same bill but failed. Joe Knollenberg voted against the bill.

House Democrats then attempted to override it with another bill, which gave into Republican demands for increased checks for citizenship, the quick phasing-out of adult coverage, a hard limit of 300% of the federal poverty level and funding for families that covered their children through private insurance instead. Republicans, angry that the vote was scheduled during massive fires in California, blocked the veto override. Joe Knollenberg voted against the bill. For details on the bills and the debate, see the main State Children's Health Insurance Program page.

Iraq War
Knollenberg 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

Bio
Knollenberg was born November 28, 1933 in Mattoon, Illinois. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1955 and then served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957. He became an insurance agent and moved to Oakland County, Michigan in 1967.

Congressional career
In 1992, Knollenberg was elected as a to the U.S. House. He replaced William Broomfield, who was not a candidate for reelection. Knollenberg was reelected easily to his seventh term in 2004.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Nancy Skinner to face Knollenberg in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Knollenberg retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations
 * Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, Ranking Member

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

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Export Financing and Related Programs
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Treasury and Housing and Urban Development The Judiciary District of Columbia - Chair


 * Member, Congressional Advisory Board of the Center on Regulation and Economic Growth of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution (AdTI) in 1994 and 1995.

Contact
DC Office: 2349 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-2211 Phone: 202-225-5802 Fax: 202-226-2356 Web Email Website

District Office - Farmington Hills: 30833 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 Phone: 248-851-1366 Fax: 248-851-0418

District Office - Troy: 312 Town Center Drive Troy, MI 48084-1742 Phone: 248-619-0531

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Knollenberg, Joseph, Biographical Directory of the American Congress
 * House Biography
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Michigan Liberal 9th CD Section
 * Vote No On Joe