Joe Walsh (Illinois politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Walsh
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 8th district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Melissa Bean
Succeeded by	Tammy Duckworth
Personal details
Born	William Joseph Walsh (1961-12-27) December 27, 1961 (age 62) North Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican (until 2020) Independent (2020-present)
Spouses	Laura Walsh ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 2002)​ Helene Miller ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	5
Education	Grinnell College University of Iowa (BA) University of Chicago (MPP)

William Joseph Walsh (born December 27, 1961) is an American politician, talk radio host, former social worker, and former 2020 Republican presidential candidate who served one term in the United States House of Representatives representing IL's 8th congressional district.

Early life and education

Walsh was born and raised in the Chicago suburb of North Barrington, the fifth of nine children of Susan (Stanley) and Charles Melville Walsh, a real estate mortgage banker who had an appraisal business. He graduated from Barrington High School in 1980, where he was the student body president and active in sports. He attended Grinnell College then earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa in 1985. In the mid-1980s, he embarked on an acting career, taking lessons in stage, theater and television at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City and Los Angeles. He completed a Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy Studies in 1991.

Career

Walsh began his career as a social worker providing education and job skills training to students in low income areas, gradually becoming more politically active. He had unsuccessfully campaigned for Congress in 1996 and the Illinois House of Representatives in 1998, but was elected to the U.S. House in 2010, defeating three-term incumbent Melissa Bean.

During his time in Congress, Walsh maintained a no-compromise approach to legislating that included rejecting any tax increases. He consistently voted against raising the federal debt ceiling and authored a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. Walsh rejected the scientific consensus on climate change and supported tougher border control.

As a result of redistricting following the 2010 United States Census, Walsh's district was redrawn by the Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly in 2012. While he initially planned to run in the newly drawn 14th district against fellow Republican Representative Randy Hultgren, he eventually decided to run in the remapped 8th district against Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth. Walsh was defeated by Duckworth in the general election on November 6, 2012. After leaving office, Walsh began hosting a talk radio show.

Walsh speaking at a Tea Party rally on March 31, 2011

Committee assignments

For the 112th Congress, Walsh was appointed to leadership positions on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security (vice chairman), and the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth (chairman). A list of all of his former committee assignments follows:

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
  • Subcommittee on Transportation Security (Vice Chair)
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives
  • Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
• Committee on Small Business
  • Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations

Caucus memberships

Walsh held other memberships related to his work as a congressman including: the Congressional Hockey Caucus, the House Republican Israel Caucus, the Republican Study Committee and the Tea Party Caucus.

2020 presidential campaign

Though initially a strong supporter of Donald Trump, Walsh became increasingly critical of the president and, on August 25, 2019, he announced his presidential campaign in opposition to Trump. He dropped out of the race on February 7, 2020, after a poor showing in the Iowa caucus, and subsequently left the party. He later endorsed and voted for Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who won the election.

Political positions

Walsh speaking at CPAC in 2011

Economics

On taxes, Walsh stated he favors extending the Bush tax cuts, abolishing the estate tax, and cutting both the capital gains and corporate tax rates. He blamed joblessness on a reluctance by small businesses to hire and traced that reluctance to an uncertainty on tax policy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Walsh supported the idea of businesses being compensated for a mandatory lockdown.

Medicare and Social Security

On entitlement reform, he suggested cuts would have to be made. "The first thing we need to do is acknowledge that everybody is going to have to give on Social Security reform and Medicare reform," he said. Walsh opposes the extension of unemployment benefits. He said the benefits have already been extended for too long and that attention should be paid to the cost. Following President Obama's 2011 State of the Union address, Walsh remarked that he did not believe there should be a social safety net because it is not in the Constitution.

Environment

On global warming, he described the science behind it as "not definitive" and that U.S. economic interests should come first in any discussion of climate agreements.

By 2019, Walsh changed his stance, accepting that climate change is real.

Immigration

Walsh also criticized President Obama's immigration policies, saying the president had made only token efforts toward securing the borders. In May 2011, while holding a toy alligator in his hand, Walsh announced on the House floor that he would support tough border legislation even if it involved building moats and filling them with alligators.

Personal life

Walsh has been married twice, and has three children and two stepchildren. His second marriage, in 2006, was to Helene Miller, who served as an Illinois state representative from 2018 to 2019.

Electoral history

See also

In Spanish: Joe Walsh (político) para niños

• List of Tea Party politicians