
(Washington Post
Votes Database)
Since joining the House in 1995, Souder hembraced on the role of conservative enforcer. Loyal to conservatism and not necessarily always to his party, he was one of the GOP rebels during House Speaker Newt Gingrich's (R-Ga.) tenure and part of a group of Republican lawmakers who wanted to reinforce fiscal restraint on the federal level.
But the Christian congressman delivered his own shock to the political system when he resigned abruptly in May 2010 after admitting to an affair with a married part-time staffer, Tracey Meadows Jackson. Souder and Meadows taped weekly radio segments about his work in Washington for Indiana constituents.
- Career History: Chief of Staff, Sen. Dan Coats (1989 to 1994); Staff Director, House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families (1984 to 1989)
- Birthday: July 18, 1950
- Hometown: Grabill, Indiana
- Alma Mater: Indiana University, BS, 1972; University of Notre Dame, MBA, 1974
- Spouse: Diane
- Religion: Evangelical
Souder's parents ran the historic Souder and Sons General Store in his hometown of Grabill, Ind. He worked there through high school and college, and now is the majority owner of the store.
Once elected the student body president at Indiana University-Fort Wayne, Souder later attended Notre Dame University where he got an MBA in 1974. Souder worked as an executive at a furniture making company out of college.
Early in his House career, Souder was an unyielding spending hawk, spending his freshman term seeking to eliminate funding fo the National Endowment for the Arts and voting against an amendment requiring a balanced federal budget because he feared it would raise taxes.
Souder's hard-line politics has somewhat softened over the years. He voted with his party 91.6 percent of the time during the 110th Congress and has an 89.9 rating from the American Conservative Union. Ahead of the 2008 Republican primary for his seat, Souder outlined his political philosophy: "I'm a clear social conservative. I'm a clear national-defense conservative. I'm more mixed on economic and spending issues," Souder said.
Souders political mentor is former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), who attempted a political comeback in 2010 for the open seat of retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).
In 2006, Souder nominated fellow class of 1994 Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) for the post of House majority leader. Souder said "if these elections come back with the same top leadership. we will be telling the American people that we have not changed."
- "Who Are They? The 87 House Frosh" Roll Call, Nov. 14, 1994
- Baumann, David, "Will Newt run? GOP grits teeth and smiles," Politico, June 11, 2007
- Brooks, David, "The New Bleeding Hearts; Will 'Compassionate' Conservatives Succeed in Reinventing the Right?" The Washington Post, Feb 16, 1997
- Leininger, Kevin, "Indiana's Mike Pence, Mark Souder must help revive GOP," Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Nov. 20, 2008
- Bradley, Jennifer, "GOP Rebels Delay House Spring Break Panel Funding Waits 'Til May After Rare Defeat on a Rule," Roll Call, March 24, 1997
- Washington Post Votes Database
- Novak, Robert, "Why Blunt Lost," Real Clear Politics, Feb. 6, 2006
- The American Conservative Union Ratings of Congress
- Caylor, Bob, "Souder closer to supporting rescue," Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Dec. 5, 2008
- Bresnahan, John, "Mark Souder Comes Close, But Says No," Politico, Feb. 14, 2007
- Caylor, Bob, "Souder talks up D.C. expertise: Primary opponent Wise promises stronger small-government approach" Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, April 30, 1998
- Caylor, Bob, "Souder, Daniels leery of stimulus: In recent visits, both said they were troubled by vast spending package," Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Jan. 26, 2009
- Harris, Gardiner, "Fighting Methamphetamine, Lawmakers Reach Accord to Curb Sale of Cold Medicines," The New York Times, Dec. 15, 2005
- Lee, Nicole, "First step needs to secure borders: Prevention is key in illegal immigration, only after can reform happen." Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, July 22, 2006
- Burd, Stephen, "Education Department Declines to Ease Ban on Student Aid for People Convicted on Drug Charges," Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec. 20, 2001
- Almanac of American Politics
- Leonnig, Carol D., Akers Mary Ann, The Washington Post, Ind. Rep. Mark Souder to resign after affair with staffer, May 18, 2010
- "Souder Blames Clinton For Drug-Use Increase" National Journal's Hotline, March 26, 1998
- Marklein, Mary Beth, "College financial aid rules loosened," USA Today, Feb. 7, 2006
- Epstein, Edward, "Medicinal marijuana backers try, try again in House vote," San Francisco Chronicle, June 8, 2005
- "House Freshmen: A Report Card" Roll Call, Sept. 11, 1995
- Lengerich, Ryan, "Rural precincts favored Souder: Hayhurst beat the incumbent handily in city," Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Nov. 30, 2006
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