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John Andrew Boehner (born November 17, 1949) is an American politician of the Republican Party who serves as a U.S. Representative from the eighth congressional district of Ohio (map), which is the western counties along the Indiana border. On January 8, 2006, Boehner announced his candidacy for the post of House Majority Leader, following Tom DeLay's announcement that he was relinquishing that title. On February 2, 2006, Boehner was announced as the new House Majority Leader in an upset victory over Roy Blunt.

Boehner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Moeller High School and received a bachelor of science degree from Xavier University (Cincinnati) in 1977 and worked as a businessman.

In 1981 Boehner served on the board of trustees of Union Township, Butler County, Ohio. In 1984, he served as president of the township board of trustees.

Boehner served as an Ohio state representative from 1985 to 1990. In 1990, when U.S. Rep. Donald "Buz" Lukens (R-Ohio) was caught in a sex scandal involving a minor, Boehner challenged Lukens in the Republican primary and defeated the incumbent, while also upsetting the district's former representative, Tom Kindness. Boehner went on to victory in the 1990 general election and began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives the 102nd Congress. He was a member of the Gang of Seven, comprised of young, idealistic conservatives with a mission to clean up congressional corruption.

From 1995 to 1999, Boehner served as the Republican Conference Chairman in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is now entering his final term as the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Boehner is widely credited with championing the Contract With America, the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act, and the passage of "No Child Left Behind Act." He was also one of the key figures in the failed 1998 coup to replace House Speaker Newt Gingrich with Buffalo, New York congressman Bill Paxon. In 1995, Boehner raised eyebrows by distributing campaign checks from tobacco lobbyists on the House floor. Since 2000, his political action committee, the Freedom Project, has raised $31,500 from four of Abramoff's tribal clients.

Boehner was elected House Majority Leader on February 2nd, 2006, after previous leader Tom DeLay stepped down amidst allegations and criminal charges of conspiracy to violate election laws. The newly appointed Majority leader beat out fellow candidates Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona.

He is a Roman Catholic and lives in the Wetherington section of West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio.

External links

• Official website
• Committee on Education & the Workforce
• The Freedom Project
• Friends of John Boehner
• The Charter Difference (8.24.04)
• Stick to the Basics (Fall 2003)
• The Farm State Pig Out (5.5.2002)
• Washington Post Article on House Majority Leader Election (2.2.2006)

See also

• Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 8th District
• List of United States Representatives from Ohio

• Current events
• U.S. Representatives from Ohio
• Majority Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Intelligent design advocates
• Cincinnatians
• Roman Catholic politicians
• Knights of Columbus
• 1949 births