Tom Reed (politician)

Thomas W. Reed II (born November 18, 1971) is an American attorney and politician who serves as the U.S. Representative for New York's 23rd congressional district. A Republican, Reed first joined the U.S. House after winning a special election to replace Eric Massa in 2010. Reed previously served one term as the Mayor of Corning, New York.

For the 19th-century Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, see Thomas Brackett Reed.

Tom Reed
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
Assumed office
November 18, 2010
Preceded byEric Massa
Constituency29th district (2010–2013)
23rd district (2013–present)
Mayor of Corning, New York
In office
2008–2010
Preceded byFrank Coccho
Succeeded byRich Negri
Personal details
Born (1971-11-18) November 18, 1971
Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Jean Reed
(
m. 1996)
Children2
EducationAlfred University (BA)
Ohio Northern University (JD)
WebsiteHouse website

Early life and early career

Born in Joliet, Illinois, Reed grew up in Corning, New York,[1] the youngest of 12 children.[2] He received a B.A. degree in political science from Alfred University in 1993 and his J.D. degree from Ohio Northern University College of Law in 1996.[1] After receiving his J.D. degree, Reed worked as an associate in the law firm of Gallo & Iacovangelo in Rochester from 1996-99.[1]

Debt collection firm

After Reed's mother died in 1998, he returned to Corning and opened the Law Office of Thomas W. Reed.[3] The firm specialized in debt collection. After getting elected to Congress in 2010, Reed resisted congressional rules which required him to remove his name from the law firm.[4][5] In 2014, the firm changed its name to RR Resource Recovery; at the same time, Reed's campaign stated that he was no longer involved with the firm.[5]

Mayor of Corning

Reed defeated incumbent Democrat Frank Coccho in 2007 and served one two-year term as mayor.[6] Reed represented the Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties on the mayoral ballot.

2007 election for Mayor of Corning
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 1,866 58
Democratic Frank Coccho (Inc.) 1,317 42
Total votes 3,220 100

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections
2010

In 2009, Reed announced that he would run against incumbent Democrat Eric Massa in the 2010 election.[7][8] Midway through his first term in Congress, Massa announced that he would not seek reelection due to health problems. In March 2010, Massa resigned from Congress after it was revealed that he was under investigation by the United States House Committee on Ethics for allegedly sexually harassing a male staffer.[9]

In the election to replace Massa, Reed was challenged by Democrat and Working Families Party nominee Matthew Zeller.[10] Reed received the endorsement of Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and every county Republican chairman in New York's 29th congressional district.[11]

Reed won the election and immediately assumed the remainder of Massa's term.[12] In the immediate days following Reed's election, he suffered a pulmonary embolism.[13] After a three-day delay, Reed was sworn in during a special ceremony.

29th Congressional District Election Results (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 101,209 56.3
Democratic Matt Zeller 78,578 43.7
Total votes 179,787 100
2012

New York lost two seats in the U.S. House due to population change. The 29th Congressional District was eliminated and much of the district became the 23rd Congressional District. The new 23rd Congressional District includes Allegany, Cattaragus, Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, and Steuben County from the old 29th Congressional District with the addition of Chautauqua, Seneca, Tompkins, and Tioga counties.[14] Three candidates, Leslie Danks Burke, Melissa Dobson and Nate Shinagawa, campaigned in a Democratic primary to challenge Reed in New York's 23rd congressional district.[15]

Reed won reelection against Democrat and Working Families Party nominee and Tompkins County Legislator Nate Shinagawa.[16] In 2012, Reed said that he accidentally paid one of his tax bills using campaign funds. Reed's campaign voluntarily reported the error in a campaign finance report and Reed reimbursed the campaign.[17][18]

23rd Congressional District Election Results (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 126,519 51.9
Democratic Nate Shinagawa 117,055 48.1
Total votes 243,571 100
2014

Reed faced Tompkins County Legislative Chair Martha Robertson. Though it was predicted to be a close race,[19] Reed won handily.

23rd Congressional District Election Results (2014)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 113,130[19] 57.7
Democratic Martha Robertson 70,242[19] 35.9
N/A Blank/Void/Scattering 12,502[19] 6.4
Total votes 195,874 100
2016

Reed ran for reelection in 2016. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, before facing John Plumb, the lone Democrat to file for candidacy, in the November 8, 2016, general election.[20] Reed was re-elected with 58% of the vote.[21]

Reed initially endorsed Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign before Bush's departure from the race.[22] He then endorsed Donald Trump for U.S. president on March 16, 2016.[23][24] Reed reaffirmed his support for Trump in August 2016.[25]

23rd Congressional District Election Results (2016)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 149,779[26] 58.1
Democratic John Plumb 107,822[26] 41.9
Total votes 257,601 100

2018

Reed ran unopposed in the Republican primary before facing Tracy Mitrano in the 2018 general election. Tom Reed was re-elected with 54.2% of the vote.[27]

23rd Congressional District Election Results (2018)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Reed 130,323[26] 54.2
Democratic Tracy Mitrano 109,932[26] 45.8
Total votes 240,255 100

Tenure

Reed has served on the House Judiciary Committee, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,[28] House Committee on Rules[29] and House Ways and Means Committee.[30][31]

Reed focused on ending government spending and supported budget amendments that eliminated government funding, such as a sewer system in Tijuana, Mexico.[32] He voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which significantly benefited his constituents who could not afford to pay their healthcare bills, and supported the Budget Control Act of 2011.[33][34]

After his reelection to Congress, Reed drafted the Promoting Assistance with Transitional Help Act. The bill would modify the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program by introducing a five-year limit on welfare payments to individuals. The TANF program was originally intended to provide temporary assistance to needy families but had deviated from that mandate and in some states provided indefinite cash benefits to individuals. Reed hopes that requiring the program to provide only temporary emergency relief will reduce dependence on government assistance.[35]

With a government shutdown looming, Reed introduced the Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act. The legislation would ensure that armed services members were paid and that seniors continued receiving benefits during a temporary government shutdown. The bill also forfeited pay for Congress and the President for the duration of the government shutdown.[36][37]

In 2014, Reed introduced the Clinical Trial Cancer Mission 2020 Act. The bill would make it mandatory for researchers to publish all information from cancer clinical trials, with the goal being to get more researchers to work together and bring down the number of duplicative studies. The legislation would create a national clearinghouse run by the NIH.[38]

On May 22, 2014, Reed introduced a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend and expand certain expired provisions that provided an enhanced tax deduction for businesses that donated their food inventory to charitable organizations.[39][40] Reed argued that it makes sense to make this a permanent measure because "doing it on a temporary basis... is part of the problem. We need to make this sound policy permanent in the tax code and I'm optimistic we'll get it to the finish and allow people to take advantage of the tax deduction that would encourage them to use the food rather than put it in a landfill."[41]

On May 4, 2017, Reed voted in favor of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.[42][43]

In the House, Reed votes in line with President Donald Trump's position about 96.6% of the time, and was ranked as the 32nd most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (and the seventh most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.[44] [45]

Reed sits on the House Way and Means Committee, which is in charge of tax legislation, and was one of only two House members from New York state (along with Chris Collins) to support the provision in 2017 Republican tax overhaul bill that eliminated the federal tax deduction for state income taxes. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo accused the two lawmakers as "the Benedict Arnolds of their time", claiming that the loss of the deduction would cost New York State taxpayers nearly $15 billion and do grave damage to the state.[46] Reed voted in favor of the bill.[47][48]

During early 2019, Reed became the first House Republican in the new Congress to support a House rules change package authored by Democrats. Becoming the first member to "break ranks for a full rules proposal" in 18 years, he argued, according to his spokesman, he "felt that real reforms were necessary that could actually bring legislation to the floor". The change intends to "lessen the sharp partisan divide in the House, in part by making it easier for rank-and-file members to bring their own bills onto the floor for a vote."[49]

On September 19, 2019, Reed suddenly lost consciousness for approximately 30 seconds while waiting to conduct a television interview. Reed was revived and hospitalized.[50]

Committee assignments

Caucus membership
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References
  1. Ray Finger, Where does Tom Reed stand on the issues?, Star Gazette (November 1, 2014).
  2. John Christensen, Mitrano, Reed in 'dead heat', Chronicle-Express (October 31, 2018).
  3. "Biography | Congressman Tom Reed". Reed.house.gov. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  4. "Reed answers ethics question". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  5. Fang, Lee (October 31, 2018). "GOP Rep. Tom Reed Founded Medical Debt Collection Firm That Harasses His Own Constituents". The Intercept. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  6. "Reed ousts Coccho" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  7. "Mayor Reed announces challenge to Massa". Briefingroom.thehill.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  8. Reed announces candidacy for Congress, Jeffery Smith, Corning Leader, July 2, 2009
  9. "Rep. Eric Massa to resign – John Bresnahan and Glenn Thrush". Politico.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  10. "Republicans zeroing in on Massa's seat in 2010". Stargazette.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  11. "National Parties Pick Recruits To Topple Freshmen". Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  12. "Reed wins twice in NY's 29th". The Evening Tribune. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  13. "Congressman-elect Tom Reed "Resting Comfortably"". ABC News WHAM. November 16, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  14. "Redistricting will give Ithaca a new Congressional representative — Tom Reed or Nate Shinagawa". Ithaca.com. October 29, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  15. Ed Sutherland (June 17, 2012). "Shinagawa Leads Primary Democrats in Contributions". The Ithaca Independent. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013.
  16. "Reed edges Shinagawa in 23rd District race". The Leader. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  17. Zremski, Jerry (September 3, 2013). "Reed admits error in using campaign funds to pay Steuben County tax bill". Buffalo News. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  18. Seligman, Lara (August 29, 2013). "Lawmaker paid property taxes with campaign funds". The Hill. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  19. "New York's 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  20. Simpson, Amy (April 21, 2016). "No Primary Opponent For Tom Reed". My Twin Tiers. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  21. Roby, John (November 9, 2016). "US CONGRESS: Reed wins re-election". Star Gazette. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  22. Miller, Rick (August 30, 2016). "Reed not concerned with fallout from Trump endorsement". Olean Times Herald. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  23. Phoebe Keller (March 16, 2016). "Congressman Tom Reed Endorses Donald Trump for President | The Cornell Daily Sun". Cornellsun.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  24. "Congressman Tom Reed Criticized For Endorsing Donald Trump", Cornell Sun, March 17, 2016, Accessed August 16, 2016]
  25. "Reed maintains Trump support", The Leader (Corning, NY), August 8, 2016; accessed August 16, 2016.
  26. "2016 New York House Election Results". Politico. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  27. "New York's 23rd Congressional District election, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  28. "Congressman Tom Reed Appointed To Judiciary Subcommittees". Reed.house.gov. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  29. "News Items | House Committee on Rules". Rules.house.gov. June 13, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  30. "Rep. Reed to be next Ways and Means Committee member". TheHill. June 9, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  31. "CONGRESSMAN TOM REED NAMED TO COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS; Becomes only New York Republican on tax policy and trade committee". Reed.house.gov. June 14, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  32. Zremski, Jerry (June 18, 2012). Reed leads campaign against waste. The Buffalo News; retrieved June 18, 2012.
  33. Reed Votes For Extending Tax Breaks. WLEA (2010-12-17); retrieved 2010-12-17.
  34. Sherwood, Julie. Reed tells why he voted to repeal health care law, Messenger-Post Newspapers; retrieved 2011-01-20.
  35. "Reed to introduce bill to support welfare recipients", The Ripon Advance, 08-26-2013; retrieved 09-03-2013.
  36. Harrison, Julie (September 25, 2013). "Reed introduces the Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act". The Ripon Advance. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  37. "REP. REED WANTS VETERANS, SENIORS PROTECTED IF SHUTDOWN OCCURS (press release)". Office of U.S. Congressman Tom Reed. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  38. “Bill aims to enhance cancer research, end cancer by 2020”. Ripon Advance. 2014-02-17 (Retrieved 2014-02-24)
  39. "H.R.4719 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  40. "CBO – H.R. 4719". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  41. Meyer, Kellie (May 27, 2014). "Reed Fighting Hunger Incentive Act". WENY. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  42. "How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill". Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  43. Staff, CNN. "How every member voted on health care bill". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  44. The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index (PDF), The Lugar Center, March 7, 2016, retrieved April 30, 2017
  45. Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump: Tom Reed, FiveThirtyEight (last retrieved November 2, 2018).
  46. Jerry Zremski “Reed and Collins revel in tax compromise that Cuomo and Schumer abhor”, Buffalo News, November 1, 2017, Retrieved November 4, 2017
  47. "H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act -- Senate Vote #303 -- Dec 2, 2017". GovTrack.us. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  48. Jagoda, Naomi (September 6, 2018). "House Republicans huddle on 'tax cuts 2.0'". TheHill. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  49. Ferris, Sarah. "GOP lawmaker blesses Democratic rules package". Politico. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  50. "Reed collapses in capital building". WNY News Now. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  51. Marcos, Cristina (February 3, 2017). "Lawmakers set up bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus for new Congress". TheHill. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  52. "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  53. "Members". Republican Mains Street Partnership. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  54. "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  55. "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  56. "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  57. "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Eric Massa		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 29th congressional district
2010–2013		 Constituency abolished
Preceded by
Bill Owens		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd congressional district
2013–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Tom Graves		 United States Representatives by seniority
145th		 Succeeded by
Tim Walberg
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