Jim Baird (politician) explained

Jim Baird
State:Indiana
Term Start:January 3, 2019
Predecessor:Todd Rokita
State House1:Indiana
District1:44th
Term Start1:November 16, 2010
Term End1:November 20, 2018
Predecessor1:Nancy Michael
Successor1:Beau Baird
Birth Name:James Richard Baird
Birth Date:4 June 1945
Birth Place:Illinois, U.S.
Residence:Greencastle, Indiana, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Danise Baird
Children:3, including Beau
Education:Purdue University (BS, MS)
University of Kentucky (PhD)
Website:
Allegiance: United States
Serviceyears:1969–1972[1]
Rank: First lieutenant
Unit:523rd Transportation Company[2]
Battles:Vietnam War
Mawards:Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Module:
Child:yes
Thesis Title:Effects of lactose, dried whey, enzyme supplementation and presoaking of the diet on early-weaned pig performance and nutrient utilization
Thesis Url:http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10269903
Thesis Year:1983

James Richard Baird[3] (born June 4, 1945)[4] is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 4th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Baird served from 2010 to 2018 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives[5] and as a Putnam County commissioner from 2006 to 2010.

Early life and education

Baird was born in 1945 to William (1916-1989) and Martha Ewbank Baird (1924-1998). William was born in Scotland.[6] Baird graduated from Turkey Run High School in 1963, participating in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in animal science from Purdue University in 1967 and a Master's of Science in animal science from Purdue in 1969. After the Vietnam War, Baird earned a PhD in animal science monogastric nutrition from the University of Kentucky in 1975.

Military service

Baird served in the ROTC at Purdue University from 1963 to 1965. He attended the Officer Candidate School Class 2–70 at Fort Benning and Jungle Warfare School in Panama from 1969 to 1970 and was commissioned in the Infantry.[7] The United States Army was sending infantry divisions home when Second Lieutenant Baird arrived in Vietnam in 1970. Because of the excess of Infantry officers, he was assigned to the 523rd Transportation Company (Light Truck) at Cha Rang Valley.

The truck companies of the 8th Transportation Group delivered cargo along the most heavily ambushed road in Vietnam, QL19, through the Central Highlands in the northern II Corps Tactical Zone. The 523rd had five 5-ton gun trucks at the time. The Group Commander selected the 523rd as one of the two light truck companies to be deployed north to I Corps Tactical Zone for the upcoming Laotian Incursion, Operation Lam Son 719, in February through April 1971. The 523rd was attached to the 39th Transportation Battalion and stationed at the abandoned Marine Corps base Camp Vandergrift. During the two-and-a-half-month incursion into Laos, the North Vietnamese Army tried to close down the supply route with 23 convoy ambushes. Baird fought in two of the operation's deadliest ambushes and lost his left arm during the convoy ambush on March 12, 1971.[8] [9] He earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. In 2012, the 523rd Transportation Company was inducted into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame for its heroism during Operation Lam Son 719.[10] [11]

Baird was fondly nicknamed "pig farmer" by fellow infantrymen because of his passion for breeding pigs.[12]

Badges, medals, and ribbons

Career

From 1974 to 1983, Baird served as a Purdue University extension agent for Putnam County.[13] Baird is the owner of Baird Family Farms, Triple Tree Enterprises, Inc. (a gas station operator in Crawfordsville), and Indiana Home Care Plus of Greencastle, a home health agency. He previously worked as an animal nutritionist at Landmark Cooperative, a feed manufacturer, and as director of sales and nutrition at Agmax.

Baird ran for Putnam County commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary.[14] He represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township.[15] He served as commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle.[16] The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

Indiana House of Representatives

Baird represented House District 44, including Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen, and Parke counties, from 2010 until 2018. He served as a member of the Ways and Means Committee—chairing the Health and Medicaid Subcommittee—the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Veteran Affairs and Public Safety, the Environmental Affairs Committee, and the Statutory Committee on Ethics.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

Baird ran for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 2018.[17] The seat was vacated by Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Baird won the May 8 Republican primary[18] [19] and the November 6 general election.

2020

Baird was reelected in 2020 with 66.6% of the vote.[20]

2022

Baird was reelected in 2022 with 68.2% of the vote.

Tenure

Baird was the second-oldest member of the 116th Congress freshman class, after Democrat Donna Shalala, who was born in 1941.

In December 2020, Baird was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[21] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[22] [23] [24]

Baird is one of three deployed Vietnam War veterans currently serving in the House, the others being Jack Bergman and Mike Thompson.

Baird voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[25] [26]

Baird was ranked the Republican Member of Congress with highest turnover of 2023—second most over all in the House—per LegiStorm's Worst Bosses Index, at three times the House average.[27] [28]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[29]

Caucus membership

Personal life

Baird is married to Danise née Swain, a registered nurse who graduated from Purdue University in 1968.[39] Baird has three children: daughter Vanessa Lee Norsworthy, born 1968, and sons Stacey Gilbert, born 1972, and Jason Beau, born 1981. Baird's son, Beau, was elected chair of the Putnam County Republican Party in March 2017. Beau ran to replace him in the Indiana House of Representatives. Beau won the election on November 6, 2018.[40] [41]

Baird resides outside of Greencastle in Clinton Township.[42] Baird has attended Gobin United Methodist Church in Greencastle since 1975.[43]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Congress Rep. James R. Baird (R) | TrackBill. trackbill.com. October 3, 2020.
  2. Web site: Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress. January 6, 2019.
  3. Web site: Indiana Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Political Committee: Committee to Elect Jim Baird. October 3, 2020. December 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224074259/https://campaignfinance.in.gov/INCF/TempDocs/1a6a64cf-e183-41bc-bcb4-5b9ecb4d068a.pdf. dead.
  4. Web site: Indiana New Members 2019. Ashley. Perks. November 15, 2018. The Hill. January 6, 2019.
  5. Web site: List of All Offices and Office Holders. March 5, 2015. March 25, 2018. March 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190320212359/http://www.capitolandwashington.com/politicians/filter/8489/. dead.
  6. News: April 10, 1989 . William F. Baird . A10 . The Banner Graphic . December 7, 2023.
  7. Web site: Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress. October 3, 2020.
  8. Web site: Landers. Elizabeth. Combat veteran lawmaker tweets '5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American' photo from House floor. January 3, 2019 . January 7, 2019. CNN.
  9. Web site: Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through .
  10. Web site: Perry. Amy. Transportation Corps Inducts 6 Members, 1 Unit into HOF. October 3, 2020. Fort Lee Traveller.
  11. Web site: 39th Transportation Battalion | U.S. Army Transportation Corps and Transportation School | Fort Lee, Virginia .
  12. Web site: One of Indiana's new congressmen is a Vietnam veteran, a farmer … and a scientist .
  13. News: Igo . Becky . October 11, 1983 . Extension agent Baird leaving for greener pastures . 1 . The Banner Graphic . December 7, 2023.
  14. Web site: Local News: Baird upsets O'Hair for commissioner (5/3/06) | Greencastle Banner Graphic. June 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621093305/https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1224464.html. October 3, 2020. June 21, 2018.
  15. Web site: Putnam County Indiana Government Web Pages . https://web.archive.org/web/20060704043757/http://co.putnam.in.us/. July 4, 2006. July 4, 2006. January 6, 2019. live.
  16. Web site: Local News: Civic duty drives Fogle (12/11/10) | Greencastle Banner Graphic. May 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509151242/http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1687165.html. October 3, 2020. May 9, 2018.
  17. Web site: Local News: Baird announces bid for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress (10/19/17). Greencastle Banner Graphic. October 19, 2017. January 7, 2018.
  18. News: Indiana Primary Election Results. . May 8, 2018. January 6, 2019. NYTimes.com.
  19. Web site: Pathé. Simone. May 9, 2018. Jim Baird Likely to Be Next Congressman From Indiana's 4th District. January 6, 2019. www.rollcall.com.
  20. Web site: 2020-11-04 . Republican Jim Baird wins reelection to U.S. House in Indiana's 4th Congressional District . 2022-08-13 . . en.
  21. Web site: Blood. Michael R.. Riccardi. Nicholas. December 5, 2020. Biden officially secures enough electors to become president. live. December 12, 2020. AP News. December 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa.
  22. News: Liptak. Adam. Adam Liptak. 2020-12-11. Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-12-12. 0362-4331. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html. live.
  23. Web site: Order in Pending Case. 2020-12-11. Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf. live.
  24. News: Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court. Daniella . Diaz. CNN. December 11, 2020. December 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html. live.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. Web site: Worst bosses? - LegiStorm . 2023-12-06 . www.legistorm.com.
  28. Web site: Freshman member leads in staff turnover with 4x the House average LegiStorm . 2024-01-30 . www.legistorm.com . en.
  29. Web site: James R. Baird . Clerk of the United States House of Representatives . June 14, 2023.
  30. Web site: 2023-12-20 . House Aerospace Caucus . 2024-02-07 . estes.house.gov . en.
  31. Web site: 2023-05-26 . Western Caucus Celebrates Unanimous WOTUS Decision . 2024-02-07 . Congressional Western Caucus . en.
  32. Web site: 2023-08-03 . Members Conservative Climate Caucus . 2024-02-07 . conservativeclimatecaucus-curtis.house.gov . en.
  33. Web site: 2021-04-20 . Election Integrity Caucus Representative Claudia Tenney . 2024-02-07 . tenney.house.gov . en.
  34. Web site: 2022-03-29 . For Country Caucus Members Representative Jared Golden . 2024-02-07 . golden.house.gov . en.
  35. Web site: Members FFA Caucus . 2024-02-07 . ffacaucus-mann.house.gov . en.
  36. Web site: 2017-12-06 . Membership . 2021-03-28 . Republican Study Committee . en.
  37. Web site: 2019-04-04 . Foster, Baird Announce Research & Development Caucus for 116th Congress Congressman Bill Foster . 2024-02-07 . foster.house.gov . en.
  38. Web site: 2023-07-14 . Members Congressional Wine Caucus . 2024-02-07 . winecaucus-mikethompson.house.gov . en.
  39. News: October 17, 1974 . PU Grad Baird takes over extension reigns . 1 . The Banner Graphic . December 6, 2023.
  40. Web site: Beau Baird sworn in as new state representative for House District 44. November 20, 2018.
  41. Web site: Bairds prevail in two district races. November 7, 2018.
  42. Web site: Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress. October 19, 2017. October 3, 2020.
  43. Web site: IN-04 Jim Baird . The Well News . 15 February 2022.

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