John Shimkus

John Shimkus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Tim Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 19th district
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	David D. Phelps
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 20th district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Dick Durbin
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	John Mondy Shimkus (1949-09-15) September 15, 1949 Collinsville, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Karen Shimkus
Alma mater	United States Military Academy (BS) Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1980–1986 (Active) 1986–2008 (Reserve)
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	United States Army Reserve

John Mondy Shimkus (born February 21, 1958) is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 15th congressional district, since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life, education and career

Shimkus is a lifelong resident of Collinsville, part of the St. Louis metropolitan area, its Metro East portion. He is the son of Kathleen N. (née Mondy) and Gene L. Shimkus. His paternal grandfather was of Lithuanian descent.^[1] While in the Army, he earned the Expert Infantry Badge, Ranger tab, and Parachutist Badge as well as served overseas with the 54th Infantry Regiment in West Germany.^[2]

He first ran for office in 1989, when he was elected a Collinsville Township trustee. A year later, he was elected as Madison County treasurer—the first Republican elected to a countywide post in 10 years. In 1994, he became the first Republican to be re-elected as county treasurer in 60 years.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce^[3]
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Power
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Economy (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Health

Political positions

Food safety

Shimkus has been a proponent of legislation to increase the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to institute recalls of tainted foods. He has served as one of the chief Republican negotiators on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Of the bill, he said: "When you're talking about the health and safety of folks, if the FDA has enough evidence to make a declaration of recall, I think that most Americans would support the government having that authority."^[4]

Climate change

Shimkus rejects the human-induced theory of climate change and opposes emissions trading legislation. On March 25, 2009, in introductory remarks made to Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, during a United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing, he made the following statement regarding the role of carbon dioxide in global warming:

It's plant food ... So if we decrease the use of carbon dioxide, are we not taking away plant food from the atmosphere? ... So all our good intentions could be for naught. In fact, we could be doing just the opposite of what the people who want to save the world are saying.^[5]

Shimkus has quoted the Bible to allay concerns of global warming induced rise in sea levels, stating that God had promised mankind through Noah that the earth would never again be destroyed by a flood.^[6] He acknowledged that climate change is real, but questioned the benefit of spending taxpayer money on something that cannot be changed versus the changes that have been occurring forever. Specifically, Shimkus said, "“Now, do I believe in climate change? In my trip to Greenland, the answer is yes. The climate is changing. The question is more about the costs and benefits and trying to spend taxpayer dollars on something that you cannot stop versus the changes that have been occurring forever. That's the real debate."^[7]

Keystone pipeline

In May 2013, Shimkus stated he would renew his support for the Keystone pipeline. The project would be an oil pipeline, bringing Canadian crude oil through the Midwest, including Illinois. As a supporter, he stated that he would rather see Canada as an energy partner than ship in oil from overseas.^[8]

2006 Mark Foley scandal

Earlier official photo of Shimkus

Shimkus said "that in late-2005 he learned—through information passed along by Alexander's office—about an e-mail exchange in which Foley asked about the youngster's well-being after Hurricane Katrina and requested a photograph."^[9]

Political campaigns

In 1992, while still serving as Madison County treasurer, he won the Republican nomination in what was then the 20th District. He was defeated by 10-year Democratic incumbent Dick Durbin.

Four years later, Durbin gave up the seat to make what would be a successful run for the United States Senate. Shimkus won a crowded six-way primary, and faced State Representative Jay C. Hoffman in a close general election, which Shimkus won by just over 1,200 votes.

He has only faced one credible Democratic opponent since his initial reelection, in 2002. That year, Illinois lost a district as a result of the 2000 census, and his district was merged with the 19th District of two-term Democratic representative David D. Phelps. The new district retained Phelps' district number, but geographically and demographically was more Shimkus' district, as he retained 60 percent of his former territory. The campaign was very bitter, with both men accusing the other's staffers of stalking their families.^[10] Despite a Democratic wave that swept through most of the state, he was easily reelected.

Shimkus announced in September 2005, that he would run for reelection in 2008, despite making a pledge^[11] when first elected in 1996 not to stay in office for more than 12 years.

When seeking his 11th term in 2016, Shimkus faced a Tea Party challenger in the Republican primary, who criticized his accommodation with the Obama administration as well as national Republican party leadership, but won.^[12][13]

FEC records show that the John S. Fund, the PAC for Shimkus, contributed to former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in 2005. The fund also made contributions to Peter Roskam, a Republican candidate for the House from Illinois's 6th district, from 2005 to 2008 and to David McSweeney, a Republican candidate for the House from Illinois's 8th district, in 2006.^[14][15][16] Recently the funds treasurer, lobbyist Mark Valente, resigned. Shimkus earlier said he was considering removing Valente, but he didn't want to act too quickly because it might suggest there was something improper about their relationship.^[17]

Electoral history

The 20th district was disbanded after the 2000 census, which is why Shimkus faced David D. Phelps, incumbent of the 19th district, in the 2002 election. The 19th district was disbanded after the 2010 census, so Shimkus ran in the redistricted 15th district. The district includes much of the southern portion of the state, including a portion of the Metro-East, which is the Illinois side of the St. Louis area.

Personal life

Shimkus has been married to the former Karen Muth since 1987. They have three children: David, Joshua, and Daniel. They are members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Collinsville.^[21]

See also

• Open Fuel Standard Act of 2011

References

External links

• Congressman John Shimkus official U.S. House site
• John Shimkus for Congress
• John Shimkus at DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress