49 Facts About Bruce Poliquin

Bruce Lee Poliquin is an American businessman and politician.

Bruce Poliquin was a candidate for the Republican nomination for the US Senate in 2012, finishing second in the primary election.

In January 2017, at the start of the 115th Congress, Bruce Poliquin was the sole Republican representing a US House district in New England.

Bruce Poliquin was defeated by Democrat Jared Golden in his 2018 run for reelection; he became the first incumbent to lose his seat in Maine's second congressional district since 1916.

Bruce Poliquin claimed the ranked-choice voting process used in the election was unconstitutional and declared himself the winner because he led after the initial tally.

Bruce Poliquin sued to be declared the winner and have ranked-choice voting declared unconstitutional, but his lawsuit was rejected.

Bruce Poliquin grew up in a family of French-Canadian ancestry.

Bruce Poliquin's father was a school principal and his mother was a nurse.

Bruce Poliquin attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he was a running back on the varsity football team, and graduated in 1972.

Bruce Poliquin graduated from Harvard University in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in economics.

In 2010 Bruce Poliquin sought the Maine Republican Party's nomination for governor of Maine.

Bruce Poliquin spent $711,000 of his own money on the campaign and finished sixth of the seven candidates.

In 2011 Bruce Poliquin expressed concerns about the Maine State Housing Authority's plans to construct a low-income housing complex in Portland.

Bruce Poliquin cited the proposed $314,000 per unit cost as an example of irresponsible government spending.

In 2012 Maine Democrats accused Bruce Poliquin of violating the state constitution by engaging in commerce while in office.

The complaints against Bruce Poliquin centered around his involvement with the Popham Beach Club, a private club in Phippsburg, Maine, and Dirigo Holdings LLC, a real estate company.

Maine Attorney General William Schneider advised Bruce Poliquin to disassociate himself from his business ventures but did not offer an opinion as to whether he had actually violated the Constitution.

The Court declined to offer a ruling, concluding that there were no circumstances in Bruce Poliquin's case requiring immediate attention.

The program reduced the value of his property from the originally assessed $1.8 million to $725,500, resulting in Bruce Poliquin paying $30 a year in property taxes.

Bruce Poliquin later transferred the property in question to the Open Space program, a less generous tax abatement program.

Bruce Poliquin said the issue was a distraction for the town and was politically motivated by Democrats' dissatisfaction with his policies as treasurer.

In March 2012 Bruce Poliquin announced his candidacy for the US Senate seat being vacated by Olympia Snowe.

Bruce Poliquin lost the Republican primary to Charlie Summers, who lost the general election to Independent former governor Angus King.

On July 10,2013, Bruce Poliquin said he was not interested in becoming the chairman of the Maine Republican Party, despite encouragement to do so from many Republicans, including Governor LePage.

Bruce Poliquin won the primary election against former Maine Senate President Kevin Raye and faced Democratic state senator Emily Cain and Independent retired Navy captain Blaine Richardson in the general election.

Bruce Poliquin was a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee's Patriot Program, which was designed to help protect vulnerable Republican incumbents in the 2016 election.

Bruce Poliquin faced Democrat Emily Cain, whom he beat in 2014, in the November 8 general election.

On election night, Bruce Poliquin led Golden by 2,000 votes, but was short of a majority.

In January 2015, Bruce Poliquin voted for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.

Bruce Poliquin voted against granting the president fast-track authority in negotiating trade agreements on June 12,2015, saying Congress should be able to help shape such agreements.

In September 2015 Bruce Poliquin was one of ten Republican US House freshmen who signed a letter urging Republicans to avoid a government shutdown by passing a short-term spending bill a week before federal agencies were slated to run out of money.

Bruce Poliquin opposed the creation of a national park or national monument in the Maine North Woods.

Bruce Poliquin called for congressional hearings in the region where the proposed park is, and said federal officials and non-local supporters ignored the concerns of local residents who opposed it.

Bruce Poliquin proposed a bill to limit the president's Antiquities Act power to declare national monuments.

Bruce Poliquin was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership and the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus.

On February 3,2015, Bruce Poliquin was one of three House Republicans to vote against repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

Bruce Poliquin's spokesman said that while Poliquin supported repeal, the proposed bill did not offer a "free-market alternative" to immediately take its place, which he felt was needed.

Bruce Poliquin was criticized by conservative groups seeking immediate repeal of the law, including the Republican Liberty Caucus, which voted on February 5,2015, to rescind their endorsement of him.

Bruce Poliquin responded that House had voted numerous times to repeal the law without effect.

Bruce Poliquin said it included the best parts of previous attempts to repeal the ACA.

Bruce Poliquin received criticism for taking money from insurance companies and avoiding discussions of his vote to repeal.

In 2018, Bruce Poliquin co-sponsored legislation that would have cut $7 billion of federal aid to children's health insurance.

In October 2017, Bruce Poliquin announced plans for the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act, which would "reduce red tape" for nursing homes treating veterans.

In November 2017, Bruce Poliquin questioned officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs at a Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.

In May 2016, Bruce Poliquin voted against a measure intended to uphold an executive order that barred discrimination against LGBT employees by religious organizations that contract with the federal government.

Bruce Poliquin was one of seven House Republicans to switch their votes at the last minute under pressure from Republican House Leadership.

In 2016, Bruce Poliquin drafted a bill that would prohibit the federal government from giving food stamps to individuals convicted of terrorism-related crimes.

Bruce Poliquin said the legislation would close a loophole that allows convicted terrorists to apply for aid.

On January 31,2018, Bruce Poliquin was one of several members of Congress who were traveling to a legislative retreat in West Virginia when their train collided with a truck just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, killing one person.