Bill Foster (politician) explained

Bill Foster
State1:Illinois
Term Start1:January 3, 2013
Predecessor1:Judy Biggert (Redistricting)
Term Start2:March 8, 2008
Term End2:January 3, 2011
Predecessor2:Dennis Hastert
Successor2:Randy Hultgren
Birth Name:George William Foster
Birth Date:7 October 1955
Birth Place:Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Spouse:
    Children:2
    Party:Democratic
    Education:University of Wisconsin–Madison (BS)
    Harvard University (MS, PhD)
    Module:
    Embed:yes
    Thesis Title:An experimental limit on proton decay: p → e+ + Π0
    Thesis Year:1983
    Thesis Url:http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1243759074

    George William Foster (born October 7, 1955) is an American businessman and physicist serving as the U.S. representative for since 2013.[1] He was the U.S. representative for from 2008 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

    Early life and education

    Foster was born in 1955 in Madison, Wisconsin. As a teenager, he attended James Madison Memorial High School. He received his bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1976 and his Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University in 1983.[2] The title of his doctoral dissertation is "An experimental limit on proton decay:

    p → positron+\pi0

    ."[3]

    When Foster was 19, he started a company with his younger brother, Fred. The company, ETC, has become the leading manufacturer of theatrical lighting.[4]

    Physics career

    After completing his Ph.D., Foster moved to the Fox Valley with his family to pursue a career in high-energy (particle) physics at Fermilab, a Department of Energy National Laboratory. During his 22 years at Fermilab, he participated in several projects, including the design of equipment and data analysis software for the CDF Detector, which were used in the discovery of the top quark, and the management of the design and construction of a 3 km Anti-Proton Recycler Ring for the Main Injector.[5] [6]

    In 1998, Foster was elected a fellow of the American Physical Society.[7] He was a member of the team that received the 1989 Bruno Rossi Prize for cosmic ray physics for the discovery of the neutrino burst from the supernova SN 1987A. He also received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' Particle Accelerator Technology Prize and was awarded an Energy Conservation award from the United States Department of Energy for his application of permanent magnets for Fermilab's accelerators.[8] He and Stephen D. Holmes received the Robert R. Wilson Prize for Achievement in the Physics of Particle Accelerators in 2022 for "leadership in developing the modern accelerator complex at Fermilab, enabling the success of the Tevatron program that supports rich programs in neutrino and precision physics."[9]

    U.S. House of Representatives

    Elections

    2008 special

    See main article: 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election. On November 26, 2007, former House Republican Speaker J. Dennis Hastert resigned as the Representative from Illinois's 14th congressional district. Foster announced his candidacy to fill the vacancy on May 30, 2007.[10] In the March special election, Foster defeated Republican nominee and Hastert-endorsed candidate Jim Oberweis, 53%–47%.[11] [12]

    2008 general

    In November, Oberweis ran against Foster again. Foster won reelection to a full term, 58%–42%.[13]

    2010

    Foster was challenged by Republican nominee State Senator Randy Hultgren and Green Party nominee Daniel Kairis. Despite being endorsed by the Chicago Tribune,[14] the Chicago Sun-Times[15] and The Daily Herald,[16] Foster lost to Hultgren, 51%–45%.[17] [18]

    2012

    In May 2011, Foster sold his home in Geneva, moved to Naperville and announced plans to run for Congress in the 11th district, which encompasses Aurora, Joliet, Lisle in addition to Naperville. It also includes roughly a quarter of his former district.[19] [20] The district had previously been the 13th, represented by seven-term Republican Judy Biggert. Although Biggert's home in Hinsdale had been shifted to the Chicago-based 5th district, Biggert opted to seek election in the 11th, which contained half of her old territory.[21]

    On November 6, 2012, Foster won the election for the 11th district with 58% of the vote.[22]

    2014

    Foster ran again and was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[23] In the general election, he defeated the Republican nominee, State Representative Darlene Senger, with 53.5% of the vote to her 46.5%.[24]

    2016

    Foster ran again and was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[25] In the general election, he defeated the Republican nominee, Tonia Khouri, with 60.4% of the vote to her 39.6%.[25]

    2018

    Foster again was unopposed in the Democratic primary. In the general election, he defeated the Republican nominee, Nick Stella, with 63.8% of the vote to Stella's 36.2%.[25]

    2020

    Foster faced a primary challenge from Rachel Ventura and won the nomination with 58.7% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee, Rick Laib, with 63.3% of the vote.[25]

    2022

    Foster won the June 28 Democratic primary.[26] In the general election, he defeated Catalina Lauf with 56.45% of the vote.

    Tenure

    Although it was initially thought that Foster would not be sworn in until April 2008 due to the need to count absentee ballots before his first election was certified, he took the oath of office on March 11, 2008.[27]

    Foster joined Vern Ehlers and Rush Holt Jr. as the only research physicists ever elected to Congress.[28] On his first day in office, he cast the deciding vote to keep from tabling an ethics bill that would create an independent outside panel to investigate ethics complaints against House members.[29] [30]

    FundraisingAccording to OpenSecrets, Foster received $637,050 from labor-related political action committees during his runs for Congress. $180,000 of this money came from PACs linked to public sector unions. $110,000 of these donations came from PACs linked to industrial labor unions.

    According to the Federal Election Commission, Nancy Pelosi gave $4,000 to Foster's 2012 campaign committee. PACs under Pelosi's control donated $10,000 to his 2012 campaign.

    Committee assignments

    For the 118th Congress:[31]

    Caucus memberships

    Political positions

    Foster voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[35]

    Taxes

    Foster supported allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire. During a debate with his opponent in the 2012 election, Foster said, "The tax cuts were promised to generate job growth, but did not. If you follow the money, when you give a dollar to a very wealthy person, they won't typically put it back into the local economy." He said the tax benefits ended up in overseas accounts and spent on luxury purchases.[36]

    Foster has opposed efforts to repeal the estate tax. On August 31, 2005, U.S. Newswire reported that Foster said, "The proponents of estate tax repeal are fond of calling it the 'death tax'. It's not a death tax, it's a Rich Kids' tax." In 2009, just before the estate tax was scheduled for a one-year repeal, Foster voted to permanently extend the then current estate tax rate of 45%.

    Card check

    According to the official Thomas website, Foster co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009, which would enable unionization of small businesses of less than 50 employees. On February 25, 2012, the Daily Herald reported, "Foster pointed to his support for the Employee Free Choice Act while serving at the congressman in the 14th District as proof of his union support."

    Stimulus spending

    Foster voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009[37]

    Health care reform

    Foster voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).[38] On June 29, 2012, the Chicago Tribune reported that Foster said of his vote for Obamacare, "I'm proud of my vote, and I would be proud to do it again."

    Dodd-Frank

    He also voted for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, with all ten of the amendments he proposed being added to the final bill.[39]

    Environment

    He voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would create a Cap and trade system.[40]

    Second Amendment

    Asked if the Second Amendment should be up for reinterpretation, Foster said, "It always has been up for reinterpretation. The technology changes, and the weapons thought to be too dangerous to be in private hands change. A Civil War cannon is frankly much less dangerous than weapons we are allowed to carry on the streets in many of the states and cities in our country today. This is something where technology changes and public attitude changes and both are important in each of the generations."[41]

    Israel

    Foster voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[42] [43]

    Personal life

    Foster and his wife, Aesook Byon, live in Naperville, Illinois.[44] [45] He has two adult children from his first marriage to Ann Foster, Billy and Christine. When Bill and Ann Foster divorced in the mid-nineties, they remained on good terms and agreed to live within blocks of each other. Their children lived at both of their houses. Foster is a grandparent.[46]

    Foster is among the few U.S. representatives not to identify with any religion.[47]

    Further reading

    External links

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    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Judy Biggert Concedes Race To Bill Foster. . November 6, 2012. November 8, 2012. November 10, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121110105011/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/06/biggert-concedes-race-to-foster/. live.
    2. News: Bill Foster - Who Runs Government. The Washington Post. August 10, 2018. August 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180810145056/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bill-foster/gIQAnjxyDP_print.html?noredirect=on. live.
    3. Book: Foster . George William . A Experimental Limit on Proton Decay: Proton ---> Positron + Neutral Pion . 1983 . Harvard University . 1983PhDT........48F . en .
    4. Web site: Bill's Business Career . Bill Foster for Congress . en-US . February 4, 2024.
    5. Web site: Foster. G. William. [4C.01] The Fermilab Permanent Magnet Antiproton Recycler Ring]. The 1997 Particle Accelerator Conference Meeting Program Vancouver BC, Canada. Fermilab. May 12–16, 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/20030718115424/http://flux.aps.org/meetings/YR97/BAPSPAC97/abs/S240001.html. July 18, 2003. live. February 24, 2008. mdy-all.
    6. News: Physicists hope to win support for new subatomic smasher . Spotts, Peter N. . The Christian Science Monitor . 2004-05-01 . 2008-03-11 . 2008-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080905233314/http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0501/p02s01-stss.html . live .
    7. Web site: APS Fellow Archive. American Physical Society. (search on year=1998 and institution=Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory)
    8. Web site: HEAD AAS Rossi Prize Winners . American Astronomical Society – High Energy Astrophysics Division . 1989 . 2008-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080406082614/http://www.aas.org/head/rossi/rossi.recip.html . April 6, 2008 . dead.
    9. Web site: Prize Recipient . 2023-01-23 . American Physical Society . en.
    10. News: Geneva man seeks position in Congress . Courier News (Elgin, IL) . 2007-05-31 . 2008-03-11 . 2016-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160120222436/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3AECNB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=119D38CBB4CC8A60&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 . live .
    11. News: General election results . 2008-03-08 . Chicago Tribune . 2008-03-12 . 2008-03-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080312123056/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2008/by_county/IL_Page_0308.html?SITE=ILCHTELN&SECTION=POLITICS . live .
    12. Web site: IL – District 14 – Special Election. Our Campaigns. 2012-03-21. 2014-10-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20141026123244/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=403895. live.
    13. Web site: IL – District 14. Our Campaigns. 2012-03-21. 2011-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615052959/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=343142. live.
    14. News: For the US House . . 2010-10-07 . 2010-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101009165815/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-congress-20101007,0,587673.story . 2010-10-09 . dead .
    15. News: Foster for 14th District . . 2010-10-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101012140615/http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/endorsements/2775994%2CCST-EDT-edit06a.article . October 12, 2010 .
    16. News: Congress, 14th District: Foster . . 2010-10-16 . 2010-10-18 . 2010-10-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101021213128/http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101016/discuss/710179901/ . live .
    17. Web site: Our Campaigns – IL – District 14 Race – Nov 02, 2010. Our Campaigns . September 7, 2015. January 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160120222436/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=489038. live.
    18. News: Clout St. Democrat Foster concedes defeat in 14th District. 2010-11-02. Chicago Tribune. 2010-11-03. 2010-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20101104020112/http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/11/debbie-halvorson-adam-kinzinger-dan-seals-robert-dold-bill-foster-randy-hultgren.html. live.
    19. News: Illinois Congress 2012: Bill Foster running in new 11th district . Lynn Sweet . 31 May 2011 . Chicago Sun Times . June 1, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602011613/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/05/illinois_congress_2012_bill_fo_1.html . June 2, 2011 .
    20. News: In wake of remap plan, ex-lawmaker to run again . Katherine Skiba . 31 May 2011 . . June 1, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026090343/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-in-wake-of-remap-plan-exlawmaker-to-run-again-20110531,0,1494745.story . 26 October 2012 . dead .
    21. Web site: Mike Flannery. Dane Placko. FOX Chicago Sunday: Biggert, Foster debate to represent 11th Congressional District. WFLD. Aug 9, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121126094540/http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/19238594/judy-biggert-bill-foster-debate-cadidates-congressional-district-11-fox-chicago-sunday. 2012-11-26.
    22. News: Matt Hanley. Jenette Sturges. Foster returns to Congress with win over Biggert. The Herald-News. November 6, 2012. https://archive.today/20130203052511/http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/elections/16065869-418/foster-returns-to-congress-with-win-over-biggert.html. dead. February 3, 2013.
    23. Web site: Official Illinois State Board of Elections Results – March 18, 2014 Primary Election (P. 31). December 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141021140211/http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/VoteTotals/2014GPOfficialVote.pdf. October 21, 2014. dead.
    24. Web site: Illinois General Election 2014. Illinois State Board of Elections. 2014-11-04. 2014-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20141215214831/http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/GetVoteTotals.aspx. 2014-12-15. dead.
    25. Web site: Bill Foster (Illinois) . March 22, 2022.
    26. Web site: Bill Foster (Illinois) . 2022-09-12 . Ballotpedia . en.
    27. News: Foster sworn into Congress . Daily Herald . 2008-03-11 . 2008-03-12 . Hague, Leslie . 2008-09-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918165307/http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=151577&src=5 . live .
    28. News: Cornelia Dean. Physicists in Congress Calculate Their Influence. 2008-07-10. The New York Times. 2010-02-11. 2013-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20130813080902/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/science/10phys.html. live.
    29. News: Final Vote Results for Roll Call 121 . 2008-03-11 . 2008-03-13 . 2008-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080327010415/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll121.xml . live .
    30. News: First day, swing vote for new Rep. Bill Foster. Jim Tankersley. The Baltimore Sun. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080317122525/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/first_day_swing_vote_for_new_r.html. 2008-03-17.
    31. Web site: Bill Foster . June 5, 2023 . Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
    32. Web site: Members . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180208100356/https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members . February 8, 2018 . February 6, 2018 . New Democrat Coalition.
    33. Web site: Membership . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership . June 12, 2018 . March 13, 2018 . Congressional Arts Caucus . dmy-all.
    34. Web site: Members . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221215846/https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members . December 21, 2018 . December 11, 2018 . U.S. - Japan Caucus.
    35. Web site: Bycoffe . Aaron . Wiederkehr . Anna . 2021-04-22 . Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? . 2023-11-15 . FiveThirtyEight . en.
    36. Web site: Dauskurdas. Sherri. Biggert, Foster sit down for first debate of new 11th district. The Bugle. September 2, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120910050602/http://www.buglenewspapers.com/joliet/article_05bd8cd6-f51f-11e1-a3ff-001a4bcf6878.html. 2012-09-10.
    37. Web site: FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 46 . house.gov . 2012-04-13 . 2017-07-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170705062157/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml . live .
    38. Web site: Final Vote Results for Roll Call 165. HR 3590 Recorded Vote : Bill Title: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. U.S. House of Representatives. 21 Mar 2010. April 13, 2012. February 5, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110205004628/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml. live.
    39. Web site: Bill's Congressional Career. Billfoster.com. Bill Foster for Congress. 2012-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325065559/http://www.billfoster.com/about/congress/. 2012-03-25. dead.
    40. Web site: Final Vote Results for Roll Call 477: HR 2454. Recorded Vote; Question: On Passage; Bill Title: American Clean Energy and Security Act. U.S. House of Representatives. 26 Jun 2009. April 13, 2012. 3 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110203083736/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll477.xml. live.
    41. Web site: Rep. Bill Foster: Second Amendment meant to be reinterpreted by each generation. Hegarty. Erin. Chicago Tribune . April 3, 2018 . 2020-04-23. 2020-08-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806133640/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-foster-gun-violence-forum-st-0404-20180403-story.html. live.
    42. News: Demirjian . Karoun . 2023-10-25 . House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-30 . 0362-4331.
    43. Web site: Washington . U. S. Capitol Room H154 . p:225-7000 . DC 20515-6601 . 2023-10-25 . Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session . 2023-10-30 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . en.
    44. News: Three House Members Wearing New Rings in the 111th . The Washington Post . 2013-02-08 . 2016-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160120222436/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2009/01/three_house_members_wearing_ne.html . live .
    45. News: Foster, Bill – Statement of Candidacy . https://archive.today/20120717042556/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00435099/746348/ . dead . 2012-07-17 . Federal Elections Commission . 2011-09-29 . 2011-10-04 .
    46. Web site: Bill's Family . 2023-12-10 . Bill Foster for Congress . en-US.
    47. Web site: Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress. Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.

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