Dan Boren

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Boren

Daniel David "Dan" Boren (born August 2, 1973) is the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2005. The district includes most of the eastern part of the state outside of Tulsa. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Boren announced on June 7, 2011, that he would not seek re-election to the House in 2012.

Early life, education and career

Boren was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the son of Janna Lou (née Little) and David Lyle Boren, current University of Oklahoma President and former Governor of Oklahoma and U.S. Senator. His grandfather, Lyle Boren, also served in the U.S. Congress, representing southeastern Oklahoma (Oklahoma's 4th congressional district) from 1937 to 1947.

He received a B.S. from Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1997 and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma in 2000. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Boren served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2002 to 2004, representing the 28th House District.

U.S. House of Representatives

Boren is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.

In 2006, the nonpartisan environmental group League of Conservation Voters included Boren in its “Dirty Dozen” list of anti-environment federal officeholders, citing his “dismal voting record on issues of environmental importance.” This record included support for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 — a bill criticized for the billions of dollars in subsidies it provided the oil and nuclear industries — as well as opposition to policies designed to increase fuel efficiency and to increase accountability for producers of the pollutant and fuel additive MBTE. Boren also voted in favor of the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act a bill that environmental groups said would drastically reduce the protections in the Endangered Species Act. Boren was a cosponsor of H.R. 25, the FairTax Act, which replaces federal taxes with a flat sales tax. This legislation attracted 59 members in the 109th Congress, more than any other tax reform proposal.

On July 10, 2007, Boren was one of ten Democrats to vote against a bill to withdraw troops by April 1, 2008. Later that month, he announced his opposition to the 2007 Iraq troop surge.

In January 2009, along with all other members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation, Boren said he opposed President Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

On May 15, 2008 Boren was elected to the board of directors of the National Rifle Association. Boren said that he was a lifetime member of the NRA.

In November 2009, Boren voted along with 39 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Boren also voted against the final bill, in March. He said "only 17 percent of my constituents supported the bill." In January 2011, Boren was one of 3 Democrats to vote with the unified Republican caucus for its repeal.

In 2011, he co-sponsored HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, The bill contained an exception for "forcible rape," which opponents criticized as potentially excluding drug-facilitated rape, date rape, and other forms of rape. The bill also allowed an exception for minors who are victims of incest.

In July 2011, Boren was one of five Democrats to vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.

Retirement

On June 7, 2011, The Oklahoman announced that "Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma's seven-person congressional delegation, will not seek re-election in 2012, setting up what could be an intense partisan battle for a seat that spans much of eastern Oklahoma."

Political campaigns

In the 2004 elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, Boren ran as the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma's second congressional district, succeeding Rep. Brad Carson, who was retiring from the House to run for the United States Senate. He defeated Republican candidate Wayland Smalley by more than 85,000 votes (66% to 34%) and was inaugurated in the 109th Congress in January 2005. Boren was one of only two politicians endorsed by country singer Toby Keith, the other being President George W. Bush. Boren was re-elected in 2006.

Boren's fiscally conservative leanings fit with the political demographics of his district. The 2nd was once a Democratic stronghold, but has become increasingly friendly to Republicans as Tulsa's suburbs have begun to encroach on the district.[citation needed] The district has voted for the Republican candidate in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Presidential elections, by double-digit margins in the latter two years.

Personal life

Boren is married to Andrea Heupel, who is the sister of Josh Heupel, the starting Quarterback who led the Oklahoma Sooners to win the 2000 BCS National Championship and who currently serves as the University of Oklahoma's co-offensive coordinator. Dan and Andrea recently moved to Muskogee.

Dan and Andrea have a daughter, Janna Lou, born on October 9, 2007, and a son, Hunter Daniel, born September 23, 2010.