Tom Reed (politician) explained

Tom Reed
State:New York
Term Start:November 18, 2010
Term End:May 10, 2022
Predecessor:Eric Massa
Successor:Joe Sempolinski
Constituency:29th district (2010–2013)
23rd district (2013–2022)
Office1:Mayor of Corning
Term Start1:2008
Term End1:2010
Predecessor1:Frank Coccho
Successor1:Rich Negri
Birth Date:18 November 1971
Birth Place:Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Party:Republican
Children:2
Education:Alfred University (BA)
Ohio Northern University (JD)

Thomas Willard Reed II[1] (born November 18, 1971) is an American lobbyist, attorney, and politician from the state of New York. Reed served as the U.S. representative for ; the district is in New York's Southern Tier.[2] [3] [4] A Republican, Reed first joined the U.S. House after winning a special election to replace Eric Massa in 2010. He previously served one term as mayor of Corning, New York.

In 2021, after being accused of sexual misconduct, Reed announced that he would not seek reelection to the House of Representatives, or seek any other office in 2022.[5] On May 10, 2022, he resigned from the House about seven months before the end of his final term.[6]

Early life and education

Born in Joliet, Illinois, Reed grew up in Corning, New York,[7] the youngest of 12 children.[8] He received a B.A. degree in political science from Alfred University in 1993 and a Juris Doctor from the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University in 1996.[7]

Early career

After graduating from law school, Reed worked as an associate in the law firm of Gallo & Iacovangelo in Rochester from 1996 to 1999.

After Reed's mother died in 1998, he returned to Corning and opened the Law Office of Thomas W. Reed.[9] The firm specialized in debt collection. In 2007, Reed ran for mayor of Corning. On the ballot, he represented the Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties. He defeated incumbent Frank Coccho, 58% to 42%, and served one two-year term.[10]

After his election to Congress in 2010, Reed resisted congressional rules that required him to remove his name from the firm.[11] [12] In 2014, the firm changed its name to RR Resource Recovery. At the same time, Reed's campaign stated that he was no longer involved with the firm.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In 2009, Reed announced that he would run against incumbent Democrat Eric Massa in the 29th Congressional District in the 2010 election.[13] [14] Midway through his first term in Congress, Massa announced that he would not seek reelection due to health problems. In March 2010, Massa resigned from Congress after it was revealed that he was under investigation by the United States House Committee on Ethics for allegedly sexually harassing a staffer.[15]

In the election to replace Massa, Reed faced Democratic and Working Families Party nominee Matthew Zeller.[16] Reed was endorsed by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and every county Republican chairman in the 29th District.[17]

Reed won the election with 56.3% of the vote to Zeller's 43.7%, and immediately took office.[18] In the days after the election, he suffered a pulmonary embolism.[19] After a three-day delay, he was sworn in on his 39th birthday, November 18, 2010, during a special ceremony.

2012

New York lost two seats in the U.S. House due to population change. The 29th Congressional District was eliminated and much of the district became the 23rd Congressional District. The new 23rd District included Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, and Steuben counties from the old 29th District, and added Chautauqua, Seneca, Tompkins, and Tioga counties.[20] Three candidates, Leslie Danks Burke, Melissa Dobson and Tompkins County legislator Nate Shinagawa entered the Democratic primary to challenge Reed in the new 23rd District.[21] Shinagawa won the Democratic nomination and also was nominated by the Working Families Party.

During the campaign, Reed said that he accidentally paid one of his tax bills using campaign funds. Reed's campaign voluntarily reported the error in a campaign finance report and Reed reimbursed the campaign.[22] [23]

Reed defeated Shinagawa in the general election, 51.9% to 48.1%.[24]

2014

Reed faced the Democratic nominee, Tompkins County Legislative Chair Martha Robertson. Though it was predicted to be a close race,[25] Reed won with 57.7% of the vote to Robertson's 35.9%.

2016

Reed was unopposed in the Republican primary. He initially endorsed Jeb Bush for president before Bush left the race.[26] He then endorsed Donald Trump on March 16.[27] [28] Reed reaffirmed his support for Trump in August.[29]

In the November general election, Reed faced John Plumb, the only Democrat to file for the race.[30] Reed was reelected with 58.1% of the vote to Plumb's 41.9%.[31]

2018

Reed ran unopposed in the Republican primary before facing Democratic nominee Tracy Mitrano in the general election. Reed was reelected with 54.2% of the vote to Mitrano's 45.8%.[32]

2020

In a rematch of the 2018 election, Reed defeated Mitrano by a wide margin.[33] [34]

Tenure

Reed has served on the House Judiciary Committee, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,[35] House Committee on Rules[36] and House Ways and Means Committee.[37] [38]

In 2012, Reed focused on ending government spending and supported budget amendments that eliminated government funding, such as a sewer system in Tijuana, Mexico.[39] He voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and supported the Budget Control Act of 2011.[40] [41]

After his reelection in 2012, Reed drafted the Promoting Assistance with Transitional Help Act. The bill would have modified the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family program by setting a five-year limit on welfare payments to individuals.[42]

With a government shutdown looming in September 2013, Reed introduced the Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act. The legislation would ensure that armed services members were paid and that seniors continued receiving benefits during a temporary government shutdown. The bill also proposed that members of Congress and the president forfeit their salaries for the duration of the shutdown.[43] [44]

In February 2014, Reed introduced the Clinical Trial Cancer Mission 2020 Act. The bill would have mandated that researchers publish all information from cancer clinical trials, with the goal to get more researchers to work together and bring down the number of duplicative studies. The legislation would have created a national clearinghouse run by the NIH.[45]

In May 2014, Reed introduced a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend and expand certain expired provisions that provided an enhanced tax deduction for businesses that donated their food inventory to charitable organizations.[46] [47] Reed argued that it made sense to make this a permanent measure because "doing it on a temporary basis ... is part of the problem. We need to make this sound policy permanent in the tax code and I'm optimistic we'll get it to the finish and allow people to take advantage of the tax deduction that would encourage them to use the food rather than put it in a landfill."[48]

On May 4, 2017, Reed voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and passing the American Health Care Act.[49] [50]

Reed was ranked as the 32nd most bipartisan member of the House during the 114th United States Congress, and the seventh most bipartisan member of the House from New York, in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy. In the 115th United States Congress, Reed voted in line with President Trump's position 96.7% of the time.[51]

Reed sits on the House Way and Means Committee, which is in charge of tax legislation, and was one of only two House members from New York (along with Chris Collins) to support the provision in the 2017 Republican tax overhaul bill that eliminated the federal tax deduction for state income taxes. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the two lawmakers "the Benedict Arnolds of their time", claiming that the loss of the deduction would cost New York taxpayers nearly $15 billion and do grave damage to the state.[52] Reed voted for the bill.[53] [54]

In 2019, Reed became the first House Republican in the new Congress to support a House rules change package authored by Democrats. Becoming the first member to "break ranks for a full rules proposal" in 18 years, he argued, according to his spokesman, that "real reforms were necessary that could actually bring legislation to the floor". The change intends to "lessen the sharp partisan divide in the House, in part by making it easier for rank-and-file members to bring their own bills onto the floor for a vote."[55]

On September 19, 2019, Reed suddenly lost consciousness for approximately 30 seconds while waiting to conduct a television interview. He was revived and hospitalized.[56]

Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Reed wrote in the New York Times that while Trump could and should be held accountable, impeachment was not appropriate.[57]

On May 19, 2021, Reed was one of 35 Republicans to join all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[58]

In June 2021, Reed was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[59] [60] On November 5, 2021, Reed was one of 13 House Republicans to break with their party and vote with a majority of Democrats in favor of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[61]

In 2022, Reed was one of six Republicans to vote for the Global Respect Act, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons responsible for violations of the internationally recognized human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people, and for other purposes.[62] [63]

Sexual misconduct allegation and resignation

On March 19, 2021, Nicolette Davis alleged in The Washington Post that Reed had rubbed her back, unhooked her bra, and inched his hand up her thigh at an Irish pub in Minnesota in 2017 when she worked as a junior insurance company lobbyist. Reed denied the allegation.[64] [65] [66] Two days later, on March 21, 2021, he apologized to Davis, saying he still did not recall the incident in question but considered her story possible, since he had been battling alcoholism at the time. In the same statement, he said would not seek reelection in 2022.[67] Reed later noted that he had briefly considered running for further office anyway and felt pressured by political consultants who had advised him to admit nothing and deny everything; he still said he did not remember assaulting Davis on the night in question.[68]

On May 10, 2022, Reed resigned from Congress, leaving office more than seven months before the end of his term.[69] [70] He has accepted a position with Prime Policy Group, the lobbying arm of Burson Cohn & Wolfe.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

2022 New York gubernatorial election

See main article: 2022 New York gubernatorial election. Reed had been mentioned as a potential candidate for governor of New York in 2022. In a February 4, 2021, conference call with reporters, he said, "Governor Cuomo, Your days are numbered. There's leadership coming to Albany very soon".[78] On March 21, 2021, after allegations of sexual misconduct by a lobbyist, he announced that he would not seek elected office in 2022.[67] [79]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. 04 May 1974, 13 - Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com Obituary of Thomas Willard Reed, father of Thomas Willard Reed II
  2. Web site: Tenney declares bid for Southern Tier congressional seat following redistricting . January 31, 2022. wskg.org.
  3. Web site: Who will represent the Southern Tier in Congress after Tom Reed retires?. MyTwinTiers.com. March 23, 2021.
  4. Web site: Southern Tier congressional district essentially maintained in NY redistricting maps. Miller. Rick . Olean Times Herald. January 4, 2022 .
  5. News: Rep. Tom Reed accused of sexual misconduct by ex-lobbyist Nicolette Davis . . 2021-03-19 . 2022-06-21.
  6. News: Congressman Tom Reed resigns, effective immediately, following sexual misconduct accusation. WXBW. 10 May 2022. 11 May 2022.
  7. Ray Finger, Where does Tom Reed stand on the issues?, Star Gazette (November 1, 2014).
  8. John Christensen, Mitrano, Reed in 'dead heat', Chronicle-Express (October 31, 2018).
  9. Web site: Biography | Congressman Tom Reed. Reed.house.gov. 2014-06-19.
  10. Web site: Reed ousts Coccho. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104613/http://www.fighting29th.com/files/Corning_Leader_A1_2007_11_07.pdf. 2016-03-04. 2014-06-19.
  11. News: Reed answers ethics question. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 2018-11-01. en.
  12. Web site: GOP Rep. Tom Reed Founded Medical Debt Collection Firm That Harasses His Own Constituents. Fang. Lee. 2018-10-31. The Intercept. en-US. 2018-11-01.
  13. Web site: Mayor Reed announces challenge to Massa . Briefingroom.thehill.com . 2014-06-19.
  14. http://www.the-leader.com/homepage/x931215457/Reed-announces-candidacy-for-Congress Reed announces candidacy for Congress
  15. Web site: Rep. Eric Massa to resign – John Bresnahan and Glenn Thrush. March 5, 2010 . PoliticoPolitico. 2014-06-19.
  16. Web site: Republicans zeroing in on Massa's seat in 2010 . Stargazette.com . 2014-06-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090803043946/http://www.stargazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090727%2FNEWS01%2F907270341 . 2009-08-03 .
  17. Web site: National Parties Pick Recruits To Topple Freshmen. 4 January 2019.
  18. Web site: Reed wins twice in NY's 29th. The Evening Tribune. 2010-11-03. 2014-06-19. dead. https://archive.today/20130629034448/http://www.eveningtribune.com/news/x1348971383/Reed-wins-twice-in-NY-s-29th. 2013-06-29.
  19. Web site: Congressman-elect Tom Reed "Resting Comfortably". ABC News WHAM. 2010-11-16. 2012-09-04.
  20. News: Redistricting will give Ithaca a new Congressional representative — Tom Reed or Nate Shinagawa. Ithaca Times . Ithaca.com. 2012-10-29. 2014-06-19.
  21. Web site: Shinagawa Leads Primary Democrats in Contributions. The Ithaca Independent. dead . https://archive.today/20130704040359/http://www.ithacaindy.org/20120617/shinagawa-leads-primary-democrats-in-contributions.html . June 17, 2012 . Ed Sutherland. 4 July 2013.
  22. News: Zremski. Jerry. September 3, 2013. Reed admits error in using campaign funds to pay Steuben County tax bill. Buffalo News. September 23, 2016.
  23. News: Seligman. Lara. August 29, 2013. Lawmaker paid property taxes with campaign funds. The Hill. 23 September 2016.
  24. Web site: Reed edges Shinagawa in 23rd District race. The Leader. 2012-11-07. 2014-06-19. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130311072055/http://www.the-leader.com/news/x1272753309/Reed-edges-Shinagawa-in-23rd-District-race. 2013-03-11.
  25. Web site: New York's 23rd Congressional District elections, 2014. Ballotpedia. 2015-03-09.
  26. News: Miller. Rick. August 30, 2016. Reed not concerned with fallout from Trump endorsement. Olean Times Herald. August 30, 2016.
  27. Web site: Phoebe Keller. 2016-03-16. Congressman Tom Reed Endorses Donald Trump for President | The Cornell Daily Sun. 2017-05-05. Cornellsun.com.
  28. http://cornellsun.com/2016/03/17/congressman-tom-reed-criticized-for-trump-endorsement/ "Congressman Tom Reed Criticized For Endorsing Donald Trump"
  29. http://www.the-leader.com/news/20160808/reed-maintains-trump-support "Reed maintains Trump support"
  30. News: Simpson. Amy. No Primary Opponent For Tom Reed. 2 May 2016. My Twin Tiers. April 21, 2016.
  31. News: Roby. John. US CONGRESS: Reed wins re-election . 11 November 2016. Star Gazette. November 9, 2016.
  32. Web site: New York's 23rd Congressional District election, 2018. Ballotpedia. en. 2020-01-08.
  33. Web site: September 17, 2020. November 3, 2020 General Election Certification. March 1, 2022. September 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924144209/https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2020/General/CertificationforNov32020GeneralElection.pdf. dead.
  34. Web site: 2020 Election Results . New York State Board of Elections . March 1, 2022 . January 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115175352/https://www.elections.ny.gov/2020ElectionResults.html . dead .
  35. Web site: Congressman Tom Reed Appointed To Judiciary Subcommittees . Reed.house.gov . 2011-01-20 . 2014-06-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140621192701/http://reed.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tom-reed-appointed-judiciary-subcommittees . 2014-06-21 .
  36. Web site: News Items | House Committee on Rules . Rules.house.gov. 2014-06-13. 2014-06-19.
  37. Web site: Rep. Reed to be next Ways and Means Committee member . The Hill. 2011-06-09. 2014-06-19.
  38. Web site: CONGRESSMAN TOM REED NAMED TO COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS; Becomes only New York Republican on tax policy and trade committee . Reed.house.gov . 2011-06-14 . 2014-06-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140630020021/http://reed.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tom-reed-named-committee-ways-and-means-becomes-only-new-york-republican . 2014-06-30 .
  39. Zremski, Jerry (June 18, 2012). Reed leads campaign against waste. The Buffalo News; retrieved June 18, 2012.
  40. http://www.canisteovalleynews.com/local/local-news/14290-reed-votes-for-extending-tax-breaks.html Reed Votes For Extending Tax Breaks
  41. Sherwood, Julie. Reed tells why he voted to repeal health care law, Messenger-Post Newspapers; retrieved 2011-01-20.
  42. "Reed to introduce bill to support welfare recipients", The Ripon Advance, 08-26-2013; retrieved 09-03-2013.
  43. News: Harrison . Julie . Reed introduces the Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act . 30 September 2013 . The Ripon Advance . September 25, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230941/http://riponadvance.com/news/reed-introduces-the-pay-our-veterans-and-seniors-first-act/4851 . 2 December 2013 .
  44. Web site: REP. REED WANTS VETERANS, SENIORS PROTECTED IF SHUTDOWN OCCURS (press release) . Office of U.S. Congressman Tom Reed . September 30, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052906/http://reed.house.gov/press-release/rep-reed-wants-veterans-seniors-protected-if-shutdown-occurs . December 3, 2013 .
  45. http://riponadvance.com/news/bill-aims-enhance-cancer-research-end-cancer-2020/6620 “Bill aims to enhance cancer research, end cancer by 2020”
  46. Web site: H.R.4719 – Summary. United States Congress. July 15, 2014.
  47. Web site: CBO – H.R. 4719 . June 5, 2014. Congressional Budget Office. July 15, 2014.
  48. News: Meyer. Kellie. Reed Fighting Hunger Incentive Act . July 16, 2014. WENY. May 27, 2014.
  49. News: How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill. . 2017-05-04.
  50. News: May 4, 2017 . How every member voted on health care bill . 2017-05-04 . CNN.
  51. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/tom-reed/ Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump: Tom Reed
  52. Jerry Zremski “Reed and Collins revel in tax compromise that Cuomo and Schumer abhor”, Buffalo News, November 1, 2017, Retrieved November 4, 2017
  53. Web site: H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act -- Senate Vote #303 -- Dec 2, 2017. GovTrack.us. 4 January 2019.
  54. News: House Republicans huddle on 'tax cuts 2.0'. Jagoda. Naomi. 2018-09-06. The Hill. 2018-11-01. en.
  55. Web site: Ferris . Sarah . GOP lawmaker blesses Democratic rules package . . January 2, 2019 . 3 January 2019.
  56. Web site: Reed collapses in capital building. WNY News Now. September 19, 2019. September 19, 2019.
  57. News: Opinion | I Want Trump to Face Justice. But the House Shouldn't Impeach Him.. Tom. Reed. The New York Times. January 12, 2021.
  58. News: Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission. CNN. LeBlanc. Paul. May 19, 2021. May 19, 2021.
  59. Web site: House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization. NBC News. June 17, 2021 .
  60. Web site: Final vote results for roll call 172. clerk.house.gov. 5 December 2023.
  61. News: Annie Grayer. These 6 House Democrats voted against the infrastructure bill. These 13 Republicans voted for it.. 2021-11-06. CNN. November 6, 2021 .
  62. Web site: Final vote results for roll call 43. clerk.house.gov. 5 December 2023.
  63. Web site: Global Respect Act (H.R. 3485). GovTrack.us.
  64. Web site: Niedzwiadek. Nick. Rep. Tom Reed, who is eyeing a Cuomo challenge, accused of sexual misconduct on 2017 trip. 2021-03-19. Politico. March 19, 2021 . en.
  65. Web site: Swanson. Ian. 2021-03-19. GOP Rep. Tom Reed accused of sexual misconduct. 2021-03-19. The Hill. en.
  66. News: Former lobbyist accuses Rep. Tom Reed, a potential Cuomo challenger, of sexual misconduct. The Washington Post. Reinhard. Beth. March 19, 2021.
  67. Web site: Rep. Tom Reed apologizes after sexual harassment allegations, won't run for Governor, re-election. March 21, 2021. Stockburger. George. LocalSYR. March 21, 2021.
  68. Web site: Congressman Reed Reflects On Misconduct Accusation, Aftermath. Matthew. Hummel. WNY News Now. Lilly Broadcasting. July 16, 2021. July 16, 2021.
  69. News: Schnell . Mychael . Republican lawmaker announces resignation from Congress following sexual misconduct claims . 10 May 2022 . . 10 May 2022.
  70. News: Republican Tom Reed Resigns from Congress. Aaron Navarro . May 11, 2022 . .
  71. News: Lawmakers set up bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus for new Congress. Marcos. Cristina. 2017-02-03. The Hill. 2017-06-19.
  72. Web site: Member List. Republican Study Committee. 2 January 2018. December 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222002744/http://rsc-walker.house.gov/. dead.
  73. Web site: Members. Republican Mains Street Partnership. 4 October 2017.
  74. Web site: 90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members. Citizen´s Climate Lobby . 20 October 2018.
  75. Web site: Meet the House Republicans Who Want to Rein In Trump On War. Defense One. January 14, 2020 . 2020-05-24.
  76. Web site: Members. Congressional Constitution Caucus. 8 May 2018. June 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044928/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership. dead.
  77. Web site: Members. Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. 14 June 2018. June 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus. dead.
  78. Web site: Reed hints again at challenge to Cuomo: 'Your days are numbered'. Jerry Zremski News Washington Bureau. Chief. The Buffalo News. February 4, 2021 .
  79. Web site: Mahoney. Bill. Reed apologizes and says he won't challenge Cuomo in 2022. 2021-03-22. Politico PRO. March 21, 2021 . en.