Andrew Brockmeier

From Usgovsim

Andrew James ("Drew") Brockmeier (born July 4,1976) is a Democratic Congressman from Michigan's 15th District and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Andrew Brocmkeier
Congressman, DNC Chairman
In Office: 2006 - Present
Constituency	Michigan 15th
Preceded by	John Dingell
Succeeded by	incumbent
Born	July 4th, 1976 Ann Arbour, Michigan
Political Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Single
Religion	Methodist

Contents 1 Early Life 2 Congressional Race and First Term (2006-2008) 2.1 Campaign for Congress 2.2 First Term 2.3 Legislation Submitted 3 Great Lakes Senate Race 2008 4 Second Congressional Term (2009-2010) 4.1 Second Term 4.2 Legislation Submitted 5 Third Congressional Term (2011-2012) 5.1 Third Term 5.2 Legislation Submitted 6 Great Lakes Senate Race 2012 7 Democratic National Committee Chair (2006-Present) 7.1 Draft Brock for Chair and Campaign 7.2 Taking Office 7.3 50 State Tour 8 Brockmeier Staff 9 Friends of Brockmeier 10 External Links

Early Life

Andrew Brockmeier was born to two teachers in Ann Arbor Michigan. His father, a University of Michigan law professor, and his mother, a high school English teahcer, both instilled in Drew a passion for community service. He worked his first campaign in 1992 volunteering in the Clinton Gore campaign offices in Michigan after school. A four year class president, his class voted him "Most Likely to Succeed" in his Senior Yearbook. After high school graduation, he enrolled in University of Michigan and went on to medical school. After graduating from University of Michigan's Medical School, Drew joined Doctors without Borders for a few years. His experience in some of the poorest areas of the world helping those who had no way to get help otherwise shaped his world view. He finally returned home to teach at the University of Michigan Political Science Department for a year talking about his experiences in the thrid world. His class was so impressed that they began a "Draft Brock" campaign for their congressional seat when long time member John Dingell announced his retirement. After the students got enough signatures for him to be placed on the ballot, Drew decided he owed it to them to run.

Congressional Race and First Term (2006-2008)

Campaign for Congress

After officially announcing his intention to run with his students at the University of Michigan, Drew started in on a long campaign. While the race turned negative with his Republican opponent critizing his lack of a political background, Drew kept the campaign positive and spoke about his plans for office. Once the dust settled, Drew was elected with 55% of the vote to his Republican opponents 44%.

First Term

Once taking office, Drew spent most his time that term getting used to Congress and learning the ways of Capital Hill. Working with the Democratic leadership, Brockmeier was pleased to pass an agenda for America with bipartisan support. The measures of the agenda included raising the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations, reversing the ban on stem cell research, common sense immigration reform, and other measures. Drew was also used this opportunity to introduce his own first measures of his own personal agenda. He presented plans to clean up Washington, end outsourcing of American jobs, make college more afforable, cover every child with healthcare, make prescriptions more affordable for seniors, and bring peace to the Sudan.

Legislation Submitted

• Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
• American Job Protection and Creation Act
• Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Act
• Cover Kids First Act
• Medicare Prescription Drug Price Reduction Act
• Comprehensive Peace in the Sudan Act

Great Lakes Senate Race 2008

After much consideration, Drew Brockmeier announced his campaign for Great Lakes Senate in Detriot, Michigan citing his desire to do more and serve his friends, family, and neighbors better. He had an early lead in the polls and ran a strong positive campaign for the first half. However his lead was cut in half due to misleading attacks from his opponent Angela Chiles, so he was forced to fight back. While pointing out his record of success, he also pointed out the outrageus claims of Chiles saying it was alright for people with chronic diseases to suffer. As the race headed towards a close, nearly all expected Brockmeier to pull out a win, yet the Republican Party and Chiles pulled what was called a 'dirty deal' and transfered in 12 million dollars to run misleading attack ads against Brockmeier. When the final results came in, Brockmeier held on to win Michigan, but by a lower margin than Chiles won Wisconsin, giving Chiles the Senate seat.

Second Congressional Term (2009-2010)

Second Term

After his loss for the Senate seat, Brockmeier returned to Congress still believing in the fight he fought. His first act of business was to bring up a plan to ensure no deceptive practices hold people back from voting. He also introduced the most comprehensive plan to fight global warming as he saw the dangers a climate crisis could bring. Fulfilling a campaign pledge from his Senate campaign, Brockmeier introduced a plan to give auto makers subsidies for healthcare in exchange for the manufactors moving towards more energy efficent cars. The other major plank of the Brockmeier agenda was protecting Social Security as it stand today while we move towards reform.

Mid way through the first year of the term was when Brockmeier began a public relations blitz to bring the Honest Leaderhship and Open Government to the floor. This act was Brockmeier's ethics reform package that he and others have heralded as the "most comprehensive plan in a generation." Yet when Brockmeier moved to pass it by unanimous consent, House Majority Leader John Pizzuto objected saying he wanted to see a debate. Yet the debate never came, so Brockmeier began to try and build up a grassroots surge to bring the bill to the floor. That plan started with a speech in Michigan but came to involve a national Democratic Radio Address, interviews on two cable news shows, and major blog support.

The plan never came to the floor, but after the public relations push, Brockmeier legislative director, Bill Ford, leaked private memos between Brockmeier and Pizzuto that cast the affair in a whole new light. Pizzuto had pledged to bring the bill to the floor, but then revoked that pledge after he was ordered to do so by President Elizabeth Warren. Brockmeier immediatly fired Ford and refused to comment on the story, known as "Memo-Gate", until the Republican attacks on him became too much to handle. His press confernce on the story became a major event and showed that even as his party's leader, his independent streak still lived on.

Brockmeier closed the session introducing more plans to move America forward and with visits back to the Great Lakes. He took part in a "Hear It From the Heartland" Tour which took him through all 3 states of the Heartland region speaking about Democratic priorities the Republicans refused to bring to the floor. He also made a quick trip to a Dearborn auto plant that was shut down for the day due to the Solar Storm in the West coast. With the session nearly over, Brockmeier spearheaded the Democratic Party's tax relief plan for middle class families, a small business growth plan, efforts to stop meth, and major education reforms.

Legislation Submitted

• Job Creation Incentive Act
• Flooding Preparedness Appropriations Act
• Ending Subsidies for Big Oil Act
• Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act
• Safe Climate Act
• Health Care for Hybrids Act
• Great Lakes Water Protection Act
• Canadian Waste Import Ban Act
• Social Security Protection Act
• Preserving Medicare for All Act
• Patients Before Profits Act
• Family Farm Preservation Act
• Kick Start to College Act
• No Child Left Behind Reform Act
• Small Business Growth Initiative Act
• Combat Meth Act
• Preparing Excellent Teachers Act of 2009
• Maritime Transportation Security Act
• Fair Pay Act
• COPS Improvements Act
• Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act
• No Guns for Felons Act
• Pension Benefits Protection Act
• Overtime Rights Protection Act
• Full-Strength Bureau Initiative Act
• Rural Energy for America Act
• Middle Class Opportunity Act
• Patients' Bill of Rights
• Innovation in Education Act

Third Congressional Term (2011-2012)

Third Term

Fresh off a come from behind victory for the DNC, Brockmeier returned to the House ready to get back to work for the people of the Michigan 15th district. On day one, he immediatly introduced more plans to help make tomorrow brighter. His agenda for the beginning of the term included expanded family and medical leave, creating new education opportunities for the unemployeed, making the work place safer, giving our cops the tools they need to get the job done, and keeping firearms out of the hands of terrorists.

Brockmeier's third term was shaped, as was everyone's, around the tragic bombings in D.C. The bombing of the U.S. Capital, Supreme Court building and White House shook the nation, but Brockmeier was ready to lead. Building off his already stellar record on homeland security, Brockmeier introduced a whole litany of new items to his agenda. His plans called for increase security on our passanger and freight trains and our public transportation system, more money to our nations firefighters, the creation of a National Defense Trust Fund, and a plan to target terrorists, terrorists financing, and the countries who support terror more effectively. The Congressman also led the way with House Leader Marie Evans and Senate Leader Lilliam Vanleer to create the D.C. Bombings Commission. But Brockmeier also took time to be home with family, friends and neighbors to reflect, mourn, and remember those lost. He was honored to be chosen by the students to lead the University of Michigan D.C. Bombings Memorial where he said, "...America has faced dark days, but always moves forward to the brighter horizon." Brockmeier also launched a tour of Michigan to discuss his plans to strengthen homeland security and defeat terror.

Legislation Submitted

• Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act
• 21st Century Job Opportunities Act
• Protecting America's Workers Act
• PROTECTION Act
• Foreign Surveillance Expedited Review Act
• Terrorist Firearms Detection Act
• Honest Leadership and Accountability in Contracting Act of 2011
• 401(k) Automatic Enrollment Act
• Keep Children Covered Act
• Medicare Independent Living Act
• Teach for America Act
• Full-Service Community Schools Act
• Assistance to Firefighters Act
• Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act
• Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act
• National Defense Act
• Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act
• Targeting Terrorists More Effectively Act
• Rail Security Act

Great Lakes Senate Race 2012

In late 2011, Brockmeier announced he intended to run in next year's Great Lakes Senate race for the the very seat he narrowly lost just four years prior. With Angela Chiles having retired, Brockmeier is largely expected to run against appointed Senator Jason Gillikin, who is running to fill the rest of the unexpired Chiles term. Brockmeier said Gillikin was a 'defender of status-quo' and that now is time for change.

Democratic National Committee Chair (2006-Present)

Draft Brock for Chair and Campaign

Upon entering Congress and the resignation of longtime DNC Chairman, Governor Howard Dean, a "Draft Brock" movement began inside the Democratic Party. After long deliberations, Brockmeier threw his hat in the ring and began working hard to win the support of party members. By the time the nomination period was over, 3 other candidates remained in the race. After a lengthy debate of their plans for the party, the Democrats selected Brockmeier by a blowout margin. After taking the podium from outgoing Chairman Dean, Brockmeier pledged to work his heart out to keep the Democratic Party moving forward.

Taking Office

Moving into the office required hard work from not only Brockmeier but his entire staff. Brockmeier immediatly institued dramatic reforms to the party's communications department as well as the new member services. He began to work towards uniting the Democrats in a common goal again and with his work, the success was seen nearly immediatly when the Democrats beat the odds in two election cycles in a row.

50 State Tour

One of the larger accomplishments of Brockmeier's first term as DNC Chairman was to organize and push through a 50 State Tour for the Democratic Party. Named the 'Believe in America' Tour, it saw Brockmeier attend an event in every state of the union. Along the way he was joined by Democratic leaders and rising stars for what was considered a huge success that has yet to be accomplished by any other party at any time. For more information on the tour head to www.democrats.org/believetour

Brockmeier Staff

From left: Aubrey Cunningham, Personal Assistant; Drew Brockmeier; Anne Boehm, Legislative Director; Jon Radcliffe, Press Secretary; Andy Manar, Chief of Staff; Ryan Fisher, Political Director.

Friends of Brockmeier

In 2011, Brockmeier filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to create a leadership committee. Named 'Friends of Brockmeier', the committee serves as the main fundraising operation for the Congressman and Democratic National Chairman. To be the first director of FOB, Brockmeier hired the brother of his press secretary Jon Radcliffe, Daniel Radcliffe.

External Links

• Voting Record of 111th Congress
• Voting Record of 112th Congress
• Congressional Blog
• Friends of Brockmeier Blog
• 2008 Great Lakes Senate Race
• Meeting with Auto Workers in Dearborn Michigan
• 'Hear It From The Heartland' Tour
• University of Michigan D.C. Bombings Memorial
• 'Strong at Home' Tour
• Autoworkers Town Hall in Warren, Michigan

Preceded by John Dingell

Congressman Michigan 15th 2005-Present

Succeeded by Incumbent

Preceded by Howard Dean

Chairman, Democratic National Committee 2007-Present

Succeeded by Incumbent