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'''Michael F. "Mike" Doyle''' (born [[August 5]], [[1953]]) is a [[politician]] from the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Pennsylvania]] currently representing the 14th Congressional District ([http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/pa14_109.gif map]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. The district is based in [[Pittsburgh]] and includes most of [[Allegheny County]].
'''Michael F. "Mike" Doyle''' (born [[August 5]], [[1953]]) is a [[politician]] from the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Pennsylvania]] currently representing the 14th Congressional District ([http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/pa14_109.gif map]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. The district is based in [[Pittsburgh]] and includes most of [[Allegheny County]].


Doyle was born in [[Swissvale, Pennsylvania]] and graduated from [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] in [[1975]] with a degree in Community Development. Doyle worked in the [[steel mill]]s during his time in college. After college he worked as an insurance agent and was elected to the Swissvale Borough Council in 1977. In 1978 he worked as chief of staff to [[Pennsylvania State Senate|Pennsylvania State Senator]] [[Frank Pecora]]. Like his mentor Pecora, Doyle was once a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] who later switched parties to become a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].
Doyle was born in [[Swissvale, Pennsylvania]] and graduated from [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] in 1975 with a degree in Community Development. Doyle worked in the [[steel mill]]s during his time in college. After college he worked as an insurance agent and was elected to the Swissvale Borough Council in 1977. In 1978 he worked as chief of staff to [[Pennsylvania State Senate|Pennsylvania State Senator]] [[Frank Pecora]]. Like his mentor Pecora, Doyle was once a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] who later switched parties to become a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].


In [[1994]], Doyle was elected to Congress as a Democrat from the state's 18th District, which at the time was located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. The incumbent Republican, [[Rick Santorum]], was elected to the [[United States Senate]]. Doyle won by almost 10 points, and one of the few bright spots in a bad year for Democrats. He was reelected three times with no substantive opposition.
In 1994, Doyle was elected to Congress as a Democrat from the state's 18th District, which at the time was located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. The incumbent Republican, [[Rick Santorum]], was elected to the [[United States Senate]]. Doyle won by almost 10 points, and one of the few bright spots in a bad year for Democrats. He was reelected three times with no substantive opposition.


In 2002 Doyle’s district was combined with the Pittsburgh-based district of fellow Democrat [[William J. Coyne]]. The state legislature reconfigured the district map in order to elect more Republicans from the state. In the process, they drew most of western Pennsylvania's heavily Democratic areas into just two districts—the reconfigured 14th District and the 12th District of [[John Murtha]]. The potentially explosive situation of having two Democratic [[incumbent]]s face each other in the primary was defused when Coyne announced his retirement (even though the district contained more of Coyne's former territory than Doyle's) leaving Doyle as the sole incumbent. The new district is by far the most Democratic district in western Pennsylvania, and Doyle was completely unopposed in 2002 and 2004. In 2006, he faced only a Green Party candidate.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06312/736544-177.stm | work = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | title = Anti-GOP tide costs Rep. Hart a 4th term | author = Gary Rotstein | date = [[November 08]], [[2006]] | accessdate = 2008-05-09 }}</ref>
In 2002 Doyle’s district was combined with the Pittsburgh-based district of fellow Democrat [[William J. Coyne]]. The state legislature reconfigured the district map in order to elect more Republicans from the state. In the process, they drew most of western Pennsylvania's heavily Democratic areas into just two districts—the reconfigured 14th District and the 12th District of [[John Murtha]]. The potentially explosive situation of having two Democratic [[incumbent]]s face each other in the primary was defused when Coyne announced his retirement (even though the district contained more of Coyne's former territory than Doyle's) leaving Doyle as the sole incumbent. The new district is by far the most Democratic district in western Pennsylvania, and Doyle was completely unopposed in 2002 and 2004. In 2006, he faced only a Green Party candidate.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06312/736544-177.stm | work = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | title = Anti-GOP tide costs Rep. Hart a 4th term | author = Gary Rotstein | date = [[November 08]], [[2006]] | accessdate = 2008-05-09 }}</ref>
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| before=[[Rick Santorum]]
| before=[[Rick Santorum]]
| after=[[Tim Murphy (congressman)|Tim Murphy]]
| after=[[Tim Murphy (congressman)|Tim Murphy]]
| years=[[1995]]–[[2003]]
| years=1995–2003
}}
}}
{{USRepSuccessionBox
{{USRepSuccessionBox
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| before=[[William J. Coyne]]
| before=[[William J. Coyne]]
| after=Incumbent
| after=Incumbent
| years=[[2003]]–
| years=2003–
}}
}}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}

Revision as of 19:26, 13 September 2008

Mike Doyle
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 14th district
Assumed office
January 3, 1995
Preceded byWilliam Coyne
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 18th district
In office
January 3, 1995 - January 3, 2003
Preceded byRick Santorum
Succeeded byTim Murphy
Personal details
Political partyDemocrat
SpouseSusan Doyle
ResidenceForest Hills, Pennsylvania
Alma materPenn State University
Occupationinsurance agent

Michael F. "Mike" Doyle (born August 5, 1953) is a politician from the state of Pennsylvania currently representing the 14th Congressional District (map) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district is based in Pittsburgh and includes most of Allegheny County.

Doyle was born in Swissvale, Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State in 1975 with a degree in Community Development. Doyle worked in the steel mills during his time in college. After college he worked as an insurance agent and was elected to the Swissvale Borough Council in 1977. In 1978 he worked as chief of staff to Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Pecora. Like his mentor Pecora, Doyle was once a Republican who later switched parties to become a Democrat.

In 1994, Doyle was elected to Congress as a Democrat from the state's 18th District, which at the time was located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. The incumbent Republican, Rick Santorum, was elected to the United States Senate. Doyle won by almost 10 points, and one of the few bright spots in a bad year for Democrats. He was reelected three times with no substantive opposition.

In 2002 Doyle’s district was combined with the Pittsburgh-based district of fellow Democrat William J. Coyne. The state legislature reconfigured the district map in order to elect more Republicans from the state. In the process, they drew most of western Pennsylvania's heavily Democratic areas into just two districts—the reconfigured 14th District and the 12th District of John Murtha. The potentially explosive situation of having two Democratic incumbents face each other in the primary was defused when Coyne announced his retirement (even though the district contained more of Coyne's former territory than Doyle's) leaving Doyle as the sole incumbent. The new district is by far the most Democratic district in western Pennsylvania, and Doyle was completely unopposed in 2002 and 2004. In 2006, he faced only a Green Party candidate.[1]

Doyle is considered to be somewhat more moderate than conventional wisdom would suggest for such a heavily Democratic district. He opposes abortion, supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration, and supported a bill limiting federal death penalty appeals. However, he supports LGBT issues.

He voted against authorizing military force in Iraq and against the $87 Billion emergency spending bill to fund US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, Doyle is an outspoken critic of the genocide in Sudan and Darfur. In a rally on April 28th 2007, he urged President Bush to uphold his promise of sending 20,000 peacekeepers to Darfur. He drew loud cheers when he said, "If we can have a surge in Iraq, there needs to be one in Sudan."

In the 110th Congress, Doyle serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee where he is and is the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Veterans' Affairs Committee, and is also one of five Democrats serving on the House Ethics Committee. In past congresses, he served as a member of the Science and Technology Committee.

Doyle has been widely praised for his forward-thinking stance on copyright issues, and is supportive of net neutrality. He is the lead sponsor of HR 2802, the Local Community Radio Act of 2007 which will expand low-power broadcasting to hundreds of new community radio stations.

References

  1. ^ Gary Rotstein (November 08, 2006). "Anti-GOP tide costs Rep. Hart a 4th term". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district

1995–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district

2003–
Succeeded by
Incumbent