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Matt Pierce
| Matt Pierce | ||
 | ||
| Indiana House of Representatives District 61 | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2002 - Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| November 5, 2014 | ||
| Years in position | 11 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $22,660.46/year | |
| Per diem | $152/day | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | 2002 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Bloomington City Council | ||
| 1995 – 2000 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Indiana University (1984) | |
| J.D. | Indiana University School of Law (1987) | |
| Personal | ||
| Place of birth | Newton County, Indiana | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Pierce is a visiting lecturer with the Indiana University Department of Telecommunications. He served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Baron Hill from 1999-2001, was Principal Clerk of the Indiana State House from 1996-1998, and on the staff from 1988-1996.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Pierce served on the following committees:
| Indiana Committee Assignments, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Courts and Criminal Code | ||||
| • Environmental Affairs | ||||
| • Rules and Legislative Procedures | ||||
| • Utilities and Energy | ||||
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Pierce served on these committees:
| Indiana Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Courts and Criminal Code | ||||
| • Environmental Affairs | ||||
| • Rules and Legislative Procedures | ||||
| • Utilities and Energy | ||||
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Pierce served on these committees:
| Indiana Committee Assignments, 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities, Vice-chair | ||||
| • Courts and Criminal Code, Chair | ||||
| • Environmental Affairs | ||||
| • Rules and Legislative Procedures | ||||
Legislative walkout
Pierce and 36 other Democratic representatives participated in a legislative walkout on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in opposition to proposed legislation limiting union powers in Indiana. The Democratic departure left the House void of a quorum, leaving only 58 of the 67 Representatives needed to establish a quorum. [2] Terri Austin, Steven Stemler, and Vanessa Summers stayed behind to provide, if necessary, a motion and a seconding motion, which would enable them to stop any official business from proceeding should the Republicans try to do so.[2]
On March 7, House minority leader B. Patrick Bauer revealed the Democratic caucus' hideout to be the Comfort Suites in Urbana, Illinois.[3] According to the Indiana Constitution, Article 4, sections 11 and 14, the House may enforce fines and other methods to compel absent members to return. Beginning on March 7, the Democrats were subject to a fine of $250, to be withheld from future expense or salary payments, for each day they were not present in the statehouse. [4] Regarding their actual pay, House Speaker Brian Bosma announced that the 37 lawmakers were required to be physically present in the chambers to receive their per diem payment of $152/day. [3] This move came as a result of the approximated $40,000 in per diem payments automatically made to the legislators during their first seven days of absence. According to reports, the representatives promised to either return the money, or donate it to charity. [3]
March 22 marked the start of the fourth consecutive week of Democratic absenteeism, complete with an increased incentive to return. Governor Daniels and House Republicans upped the ante with daily fines increasing from $250/day to $350/day, effective Monday, March 21. Despite the increased penalties, Democratic resolve remained intact. House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer stated that Democrats "will remain steadfast" in their opposition to bills hurting wages and education in Indiana. [5] Rep. Winfield Moses, Jr. (D) called the increase "a poke in the eye," and promised that it would do nothing to break the impasse. [6]
The Democrats ended the standoff after 36 days, returning on March 28. The two sides agreed to compromise on a number of issues, including shelving the controversial "right-to-work" bill.[4] Although the Democrats returned with some of their wishes granted, their actions were not without consequence. Each absent member accrued a total of $3500 in fines given by Republicans. [4]
The Legislature ended up passing "right-to-work" legislation on February 1, 2012, becoming the 23rd state to do so. Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) immediately signed it into law.[7]
Elections
2012
Pierce won re-election in the 2012 election for Indiana House of Representatives District 61. Pierce ran unopposed in the May 8 Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. [8][9]
| Indiana House of Representatives, District 61, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Matt Pierce Incumbent |
100% | 17,329 | |
| Total Votes | 17,329 | |||
2010
Pierce won re-election to the 61st district seat by defeating Republican candidate Kevin Suddeth by a margin of 9,676 to 4,015. [10] The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
In the May 4th primary, Pierce ran unopposed and received 1,573 votes. [11]
| Indiana House of Representatives, District 61 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Matt Pierce (D)
|
9,676 | |||
| Kevin Suddeth (R) | 4,015 | |||
Pierce ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 4th.
2008
On November 4, 2008, Democrat Matt Pierce won re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives District 61 receiving 21,778 votes.[12]
| Indiana House of Representatives, District 61 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Matt Pierce (D)
|
21,778 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Matt Pierce won re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives District 61.[13]
| Indiana House of Representatives, District 61 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Matt Pierce (D)
|
9,581 | |||
| Adrianne N. Dunlap (R) | 3,224 | |||
Campaign donors
2012
Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.
2010
In 2010, Pierce collected $16,268 in donations. The top contributors are as follows:[14]
| Indiana House of Representatives 2010 election - Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Top contributors to Matt Pierce's campaign in 2010 | |
| Comcast | $1,750 |
| Indiana Trial Lawyers Association | $1,500 |
| Indiana Beverage Alliance | $1,000 |
| Indiana Cable Telecommunications Association | $750 |
| Indiana Statewide Association Of Rural Electric Cooperatives | $600 |
| Total Raised in 2010 | $16,268 |
2008
In 2008, Pierce collected $17,090 in donations.[15]
Listed below are those that contributed most to his campaign.
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Planned Parenthood of Indiana | $5,600 |
| Indiana Trial Lawyers Association | $1,500 |
| Indiana Beverage Alliance | $1,000 |
External links
- Indiana House of Representatives - Matt Pierce
- Project Vote Smart legislative profile
- Project Vote Smart biography
- Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
- Facebook page
References
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Pierce
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 IndyStar.com, Indiana Democrats trigger Statehouse showdown over anti-union legislation, 22 Feb. 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fox 59, Fines begin for absent House Democrats, 7 March 2011
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Wall Street Journal, Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats in Wisconsin, Indiana, 3 March 2011
- ↑ IndyStar.com, Dems' walkout drags on, among nation's longest, 23 March 2011
- ↑ WFIE.com, Indiana Republicans say they're done negotiating, 17 March 2011
- ↑ Reuters, "Indiana becomes 23rd "right-to-work" state," February 1, 2012
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, List of May 8, 2012 primary candidates
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, “Election Results – Indiana General Election, November 6, 2012,” accessed January 24, 2013
- ↑ Official Indiana General Election Results
- ↑ Official Indiana Primary Election Results
- ↑ Indiana House of Representatives official election results for 2008
- ↑ Indiana House of Representatives official election results for 2006
- ↑ Indiana House 2010 Donors
- ↑ Pierce Campaign Donors
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Indiana House of Representatives District 61 2002–present |
Succeeded by NA |
 |
State of Indiana Indianapolis (capital) |
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