People in the news

Paul Broun (R-Ga.)

U.S. Representative (since July 2007)

(Broun Facebook Page)

Why He Matters

Broun's election to the House in July 2007 was considered unlikely from the start. Though his father, a moderate Democrat, was a longtime Georgia senator, Broun had run three times before for Congress as a conservative Republican and lost badly each time.

In the 2007 special election to replace the late Rep. Charlie Norwood (R), Broun won just 21 percent of the primary vote and barely made it into a runoff with the Democratic candidate, state Sen. Jim Whitehead. But when Whitehead faltered in the runoff, Broun edged past him, winning the 10th district seat by fewer than 400 votes.

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At a Glance

  • Career History: Owner, Travel and Adventure (1985-1992); practicing Physician (1971-present); Military Reserves (1964-1988)
  • Birthday: May 14, 1946
  • Hometown: Athens, Ga.
  • Alma Mater: University of Georgia, B.S. 1967; Medical College of Georgia, M.D. 1971
  • Spouse: Niki Bronson
  • Religion: Baptist
  • Committees: Homeland Security; Science and Technology; Natural Resources.
  • DC Office: 325 Cannon House Office Building, 202-225-4101
 

Path to Power

Paul grew up in Athens, Ga., where he attended Athens High School and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1967 with a B.S. in chemistry. In 1971, he received his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. An internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Ore.,and a residency at University Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., followed.

Previous Careers

Paul served in the military as a jet-engine mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and later received a commission as a medical officer in the U. S. Navy.

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The Issues

Broun has a quirky voting record with a penchant for dramatic statements such as this about the 2008 Wall Street bailout, which he firmly rejected: "This is a huge cow patty with a piece of marshmallow stuck in the middle of it, and I am not going to eat that cow patty."

He wanted to ban the sale of magazines Penthouse and Playboy on military bases.He is staunchly against abortion rights, introducing a bill to ban all abortions as his first act as a House member.

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