Ted Poe (R-Texas)

U.S. Representative (since January 2005)

(Washington Post Votes Database)

Why He Matters

With over 20 years on the bench, Poe's court had the reputation of being effective despite the appearance of being gimmicky. In his pre-congressional career, Poe was famous for his creative sentencing as a Harris County judge dubbed as "Poe-tic justice." He became renown in Texas and beyond for using tactics such as making the convicted publicly apologize to their victims or carry signs informing the world of their misdeeds.

The beneficiary of redistricting, Poe left the bench and won a U.S. House seat in 2004. Since then he has quickly shored up support in his district, never facing a serious challenger. He has a no-nonsense approach to many issues and does his best to claim the spotlight by speaking on the House floor almost every day and always signing off with his trademark: "And that's just the way it is."

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Corrections?

Article

In the Loop: A kitty for bin Laden’s translator

Al Kamen

A Guantanamo inmate’s lawyer says an al-Qaeda member who agreed to testify against a top planner of the Sept. 11 attacks is getting a perk for his cooperation: a cat.

News From Around The Web

Rep. Ted Poe Sounds Alarm After Murders by Illegals Who Were Blocked From Deportation by Home Countries via The Blaze

The GOP's War on the Poor via The Atlantic

Las Vegas convention puts drones on big stage via Washington Times

The Trib Gets It Wrong. Again. via 2 Political Junkies

Lifebridge parishioners to help Houston's poorest residents via The Houston Chronicle

Column

Looking back on a disastrous life

(John Kelly / THE WASHINGTON POST)

John Kelly

Armond Mascelli spent over 40 years dealing with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and blizzards.

Article

Super PAC targets incumbents of any stripe

(D. Jones Photography / D JONES PHOTOGRAPHY)

Paul Kane

Texan Leo Linbeck III wants to “churn” Congress, offering his super PAC’s assistance to facilitate people who want to fire their long-term, entrenched incumbent — no matter which party.

Column

On the Hill, D.C. gets the short end of a double standard

John Kelly

What can an Arizona gun dispute and Native Americans tell us about voting rights in the District? A lot.

Column

Cruise disaster doesn’t dampen Italian’s love of ships

(John Kelly / THE WASHINGTON POST)

John Kelly

Contemplating a sunken cruise liner from the comfort of a Silver Spring barbershop.

Topic

Gary Peters (D-Mich.)

U.S. Representative (since January 2009)

Topic

Pete Olson (R-Texas)

U.S. Representative (since January 2009)

Article

Bill to ban phantom EPA dust rule approved by House panel

(John Flesher / AP)

David A. Fahrenthold and Juliet Eilperin

The Environmental Protection Agency, Republicans have warned, is trying to regulate something only God could control: the dust in the wind.

At a Glance

Career History: Judge, Harris County (1981-2003); Assistant district attorney, Harris County (1973-1981)
Birthday: Sept. 10, 1948
Hometown: Temple, Texas
Alma Mater: Abilene Christian University, B.A. (1970); University of Houston, J.D. (1973)
Spouse: Carol
Religion: Church of Christ
Committees: House Judiciary Commi; Foreign Affairs

DC Office: 430 Cannon House Office Building, 202-225-6565
State/District Office: Kingwood, 281-446-0242; Beaumont, 409-212-1997
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Path To Power

A sixth-generation Texan born in 1948, Poe traces his interest in public service back to his grandmother who taught him: "You need to be where you can do the most damage."

A law graduate of the University of Houston, Poe worked in the Harris County district attorney's office for eight years, becoming the chief felony prosecutor.

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District Court Judge

During his 22 years on the bench, Poe became notorious among offenders for his creative sentencing standards.

In 1999, he helped write state legislation allowing judges in probation cases to order "public notice" of a crime. He used the law to issue sentences that included requiring a man who beat his wife to apologize to her at a city hall to ordering a drunk driver to spend time in front of a bar with a sign saying, "I killed two people while driving drunk." Poe became known as "Toothbrush" for often throwing one to the convicted in his courtroom.

In 2002, Poe gave permission to a PBS documentary team to film a jury's deliberation in a murder trial. Poe's lawyer said the cameras wouldn't affect the process, which would benefit from openness. The highest criminal court in Texas rejected the plan, saying the process should remain private and confidential.

Poe's methods gained him fame and notoriety alike. He appearing on Oprah and TV shows across the world. The methods were effective too as Poe's criminals often didn't return to court for future charges.

House Career

In 2003, Poe stepped down from his judgeship and announced he would run for the newly- formed, Republican-leaning 2nd congressional district seat created out of areas from Houston's northern suburbs to Louisiana. Poe defeated five Republican primary opponents for the right to face Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas) in the general election.

"It's designed for me not to be able to win," said Lampson about the redistricting as Poe attacked Lampson for being weak on national security. While Lampson outspent Poe nearly two-to-one, Poe defeated the Democrat, 56 to 43 percent.

Since then, Poe has easily been reelected. In 2008 and 2010, only the Libertarian Party fielded candidates against him.

Poe has mostly avoided controversy since taking office, though is notable for his near daily one-minute House floor speeches while the House is in session. That frequency ranks Poe among the most prolific of House speechmakers.

In a 2007 floor speech on the Iraq war, Poe quoted Ku Klux Klan leader and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest saying the historical figure's military strategy was "get there firstest with the mostest." While liberal media seized on the words as a scandal, Poe's office said there was no racism intended."

The Issues

During the 111th Congress, Poe voted with the majority of his GOP colleagues 91.9 percent of the time.

An opponent of cap-and-trade legislation, Poe sponsored legislation that would restrict the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases.

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Immigration

Poe's primary focus is border security. While he has pushed the federal government to defend the U.S. border with patrols and physical barriers, Poe introduced a bill in 2010 seeking to give border-state governors authority over National Guard troops when it comes to securing the border.

An opponent of granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, Poe criticized the DREAM Act as legislation "that discriminates against Americans and lawful immigrants to the benefit of those who break our laws." He said provisions in the bill that are intended to give certain undocumented residents a path to U.S. citizenship a "way to bring the rest of their extended family to the United States."

Poe successfully lobbied President George W. Bush in 2009 for commuting the sentences of two Border Patrol agents who were convicted of shooting a Mexican drug smuggler in 2005.

Fiscal Policy

Though Poe generally agrees with Republicans on federal spending and taxes, he has broken with his party in a few notable ways.

The Texan has avoided making comments on a potential ban on earmarking, saying the process allows "lawmakers to have a say in how taxpayer dollars (are) spent." "It is in the best interest of taxpayers," Poe said in 2009. "to have their member of Congress secure funding for local projects than to leave it up to unaccountable and un-elected bureaucrats in Washington."

In 2010, Poe voted against extending the Bush-era tax cuts. "The current plan is a tax cut extension, not an additional tax cut," Poe said prior to the vote. "It is a flawed economic philosophy to think that we have to pay for tax cuts. The government doesn't need more money, it needs to spend less."

Poe criticized a 2010 report issued by a bipartisan budget commission created by President Obama, saying that its plans to stem the national debt excluded cuts to the social safety-net programs. "Every federal program and agency should be on the chopping block," said Poe, adding that cutting foreign aid to "unfriendly anti-American countries" would be a good start.

Health Care Reform

Poe voted against the Democrats' 2010 health-care reform bill, saying "the government takeover of health care is unconstitutional."

Poe sponsored Republican-backed legislation that would've allowed the sale of insurance across state line, would've given small businesses the ability to form group pools and allowed children to remain under their parents' coverage until age 25.

The Network

Poe works closely with fellow Texas Republican Rep. John Culberson on immigration and border issues.

Poe co-chairs the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus with Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.).

Additional Resources