Bill Huizenga

Bill Huizenga
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Pete Hoekstra
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 90th district
In office
January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2009
Preceded by Wayne Kuipers
Succeeded by Joseph Haveman
Personal details
Born William Patrick Huizenga
(1969-01-31) January 31, 1969
Zeeland, Michigan, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Natalie Huizenga
Children 5
Education Calvin College (BA)
Website House website

William Patrick Huizenga (/ˈhaɪzɪŋɡə/; born January 31, 1969) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 2nd congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009.[1]

Early life, education and private career

Huizenga, born to a family of Dutch Americans, is the current co-owner and operator of Huizenga Gravel Company, a third generation business located in Jenison, Michigan. He has been affiliated with it for most of his life.

In the early 1990s, Huizenga obtained his Michigan Real Estate sales license, and he quickly became one of the most successful realtors in southwest Michigan. He left real estate in 1996 when he was recruited by U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra to be his Director of Public Policy. For six years, from 1996 through 2002, he traveled throughout western Michigan becoming familiar with the various towns and cities, and eventually decided to run for political office.

Michigan House of Representatives

Starting with his first election in 2002, Huizenga represented the 90th district for three terms, by winning reelection in 2004 and 2006. After the 2006 election he was term limited. The district is located in Ottawa County and includes the cities of Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, and the four townships of Blendon Township, Jamestown Township, Holland Township, and Zeeland Township.

Huizenga voted for the initial version of the Michigan Business Tax, but opposed the 22% surcharge and a sales and services tax later in the process.[2]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

Huizenga is the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 2nd congressional district, defeating Democratic nominee Fred Johnson in the general election. 64% of the ballots were cast for Huizenga, and 32% were cast for Johnson.[3]

The district is rated "Solid Republican" by The New York Times,[4] and simply marked as an "Open Seat" according to The Washington Post.[5]

This district and its predecessors have been in Republican hands without interruption since 1935, and only four Democrats have ever represented it since its creation in 1873.

After serving 18 years, Republican incumbent Peter Hoekstra retired to run for the Republican nomination in the 2010 Michigan Gubernatorial race. Huizenga defeated Jay Riemersma, State Senator Wayne Kuipers, businessman Bill Cooper, and three others in the Republican primary election—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—on August 3, 2010.[6]

2012

In 2012, Huizenga was reelected to the U.S. House, defeating Willie German Jr. of the Democratic Party, Mary Buzuma of the Libertarian Party, Ronald Graeser of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and William Opalicky of the Green Party.

He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.[7]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Legislation

On September 28, 2013, Huizenga introduced the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013 (H.R. 3211; 113 Congress), a bill that would direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to amend its regulations related to qualified mortgages to reflect new exclusions made by this bill.[10][11] In 2017 Huizenga supported tax reform.

Political positions and votes

Huizenga has served as his church's representative to Michigan Right to Life for the last 9 years. Huizenga was endorsed for the 2010 general election by a number of groups including the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, The NRA, NFIB, Right to Life, FRC, The National Association of Realtors, The Young Guns Vanguard and the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Personal life

Huizenga and his wife have five children and live in Zeeland, Michigan. In December 2016, Rep. Huizenga used his son's broken arm as an example of "rationing" healthcare: instead of visiting an ER or urgent care center, Rep. Huizenga and his wife waited an evening and a night to visit a doctor.[12] Huizenga attends Haven Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Representative William Patrick Huizenga (Bill) (R-Michigan, 2nd) - Biography from LegiStorm".
  2. ↑ Jim Harger, Jay Riemersma criticizes Bill Huizenga's 2007 Vote, Grand Rapids Press, October 12, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  4. ↑ Michigan 2nd District Race Profile Archived August 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. New York Times. August 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Election 2010: House Results(publisher=washingtonpost.com". Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  6. ↑ Roelofs, Ted. "Bill Huizenga edges out former NFL player Jay Riemersma by less than 700 in race for Congress", The Grand Rapids Press, August 4, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Members". Republican Mains Street Partnership. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "CBO – H.R. 3211". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "H.R. 3211 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Son's broken arm: Bill Huizenga says people must be responsible for own health care costs".
  13. ↑ Bill Huizenga: ‘A good Christian Reformed Dutchman, and a little Irish’
Articles
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Pete Hoekstra		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
January 3, 2011 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Jaime Herrera Beutler
R-Washington		 United States Representatives by seniority
212th		 Succeeded by
Randy Hultgren
R-Illinois
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