She better talk now or forever hold her testimony- for this is the moment when she either testifies as a patriot or fails as a traitor. Gowdy was born in Greenville, but grew up in Spartanburg and currently calls Spartanburg home. He is the son of Novalene (née Evans) and Dr. Harold Watson Hal Gowdy, Jr.[1][2] Trey graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1982. He earned a B.A. in history from Baylor University in 1986. He was a member of Kappa Omega Tau, a service/social Fraternity while at Baylor University. He earned a J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989. In law school, he was a member of the scholastic honor society Wig and Robe. Gowdy and his wife Terri have two children: Watson and Abigail. Watson is a sophomore in college and Abigail is a 10th grader. His cousin Joey Paul Gowdy is an actor and producer in the entertainment business. Terri Dillard Gowdy is a teachers aide in Spartanburg School District. Legal career[edit] Following law school, he clerked for the late John P. Gardner on the South Carolina Court of Appeals and United States District Court Judge Ross Anderson. He then went into private practice before becoming a federal prosecutor in April 1994. He was awarded the Postal Inspector’s Award for the successful prosecution of J. Mark Allen, one of “America’s Most Wanted” suspects. In February 2000, he left the United States Attorney’s Office to run for 7th Circuit Solicitor. He defeated incumbent Solicitor Holman Gossett[3] in the Republican primary. No other party even put up a candidate, ensuring his election in November. He was reelected in 2004 and 2008, both times unopposed. During his tenure, he appeared on “Forensic Files” twice, as well as Dateline NBC and SCETV.[4] He prosecuted the full gamut of criminal cases including 7 death penalty cases. When the state faced a budget crunch that forced many employees to go on unpaid furloughs, Gowdy funneled part of his campaign account into the solicitors budget so his staff could keep working.[5] Congressional elections[edit] In the summer of 2009, Gowdy announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Congressman Bob Inglis in the Republican primary for South Carolinas 4th congressional district. Inglis, who got a 93% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union, angered the conservative wing of the Republican Party by taking stances that were perceived to be more moderate than those hed taken when hed first represented the district from 1993 to 1999.[6] For instance, hed angered conservatives in his district when he supported cap and trade as a result of his belief that global warming is man made.[7] He drew five Republican challengers, and Gowdy was one of them. Like most of the challengers, Gowdy ran well to Inglis right.[6] In the June 2010 primary, Gowdy ranked first with 39% of the vote, short of the 50% majority threshold to win outright and avoid a run-off. Inglis received 27% of the vote. Jim Lee got 14%, State Senator David Thomas got 13%, and Christina Fawcett was last with 7% of the vote.[8][9] In the run-off election, Gowdy defeated Inglis 70%-30%.[10] The 4th is so heavily Republican that it was widely presumed Gowdy had assured himself of a seat in Congress.[11] Gowdy defeated Democratic nominee Paul Corden 63%-29%.[12] Gowdy ran for re-election to a second term against Democrat Deb Morrow.[13] Gowdy was slightly disappointed when initial versions cut part of his home county, Spartanburg County, out of the district (though the final map moved part of Greenville County to the 3rd and left all of Spartanburg County in the 4th). However, he was satisfied because Greenville and Spartanburg counties remained together. Roll Call rated his district as Safe Republican in 2012.[14] Gowdy won re-election to a second term, defeating Morrow 65%-34%.[15] Congressional tenure[edit] Gowdy considers himself to be a constitutional conservative. In August 2011 during the 2011 United States debt ceiling crisis, Gowdy opposed Speaker John Boehner’s debt limit bill, and he voted against the final debt ceiling agreement.[16] He also opposed the 2011 defense authorization bill, citing concerns about the prospect of Americans being detained without trial on national security grounds.[17] In December 2010, he told Congressional Quarterly that he will only support a measure if its sponsor can demonstrate that the Constitution gives the government the power to act in a particular realm.[5] Gowdy worked on the Committee on Judiciary, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Gowdy developed a reputation as a tough questioner and frequently speaks on the floor of the House on issues ranging from Fast and Furious to his support for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. In 2012, he received the Defender of Economic Freedom award from the fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization Club for Growth. The award is given to the members of Congress who have the years highest ranking, according to the Club for Growths metrics. Gowdy scored 97 out of 100, and was one of 34 congressmen given the award.[18] An ardent social conservative, Gowdy considers himself pro-life plus. He not only believes in the sanctity of life, but argues that the strategy should be broader than waiting for the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade.[19] Trey Gowdy signed the Contract From America, which aims to Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care.[20][21] Committee assignments[edit] Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law (Vice Chair) Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives (Chairman) Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 00:38:42 +0000
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