John Peterson



John E. Peterson was a Republican politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who represented the state's 5th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1997-2008. (map)

Iraq War
Peterson 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

Peterson received the lowest possible environmental rating from the nonpartisan League of Conservation Voters in 2006, casting what the group qualified as anti-environment votes on twelve out of twelve critical issues ranging from oil drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, salvage logging and logging roads, and the Clean Water Act, to the Toxics Release Inventory program and low-income energy assistance.

The conservative environmental group Republicans for Environmental Protection singled out Peterson as “Worst in the House in 2006” on environmental issues. In addition to assigning the representative a score of zero for his voting record, REP censured him individually for “efforts to remove the moratorium on Outer Continental Shelf gas drilling through the Interior appropriations process.” According to the League of Conservation Voters, “natural gas drilling can create massive amounts of water and air pollution and can leave open the possibility of oil spills, which would be toxic for a wide variety of marine and coastal life.”

Bio
John E. Peterson was born December 25, 1938 in Titusville, Pennsylvania and he attended Penn State. Peterson was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Represenatives as a Republican in 1977 and he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1984.

Congressional career
Peterson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. Peterson has been re-elected four times without a Democratic opponent.

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Donald L. Hilliard to face Peterson in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Peterson retained his seat.

Retirement
Peterson announced in January, 2008 he would not seek reelection and would instead retire at the end of this term. According to a statement, Peterson will spend more time with his family to deal with non-threatening health issues.

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

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Interior and Environment
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security

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

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Interior and Environment and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies
 * House Committee on Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
 * Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Co-Chair, Home Health Care Working Group.
 * Rural Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Member, Americans for Tax Reform
 * Member, Association of Consulting Foresters
 * Member, National Association of Community Health Centers
 * Member, National Association of Manufacturers
 * Member, National Federation of Independent Businesses
 * Member, Pennsylvania Association of Home Health Agencies
 * Member, Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society
 * Advisory Board, School of Forest Resources, Pennsylvania State University
 * Member, Seniors Coalition
 * Board of Directors, Titusville Hospital
 * Member, United States Chamber of Commerce
 * Board of Directors, University of Bradford
 * Board of Directors, University of Pittsburgh
 * Board of Directors, University of Titusville
 * Advisory Committee, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
 * Member, Venago County Industrial Board

Contact
DC Office: 123 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-3805 Phone: 202-225-5121 Fax: 202-225-5796 Web Email Website

District Office - State College: 1524 West College Avenue State College, PA 16801 Phone: 814-238-1776 Fax: 814-238-1918

District Office - Titusville: 127 West Spring Street, Suite C Titusville, PA 16354 Phone: 814-827-3985 Fax: 814-827-7307

External Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * The All-Spin Zone