Howard Coble

Infobox_Congressman
name =Howard Coble


date of birth= birth date and age|1931|03|18
place of birth= Greensboro, North Carolina
residence= Greensboro, North Carolina
alma_mater= Guilford College, University of North Carolina
occupation= attorney
state = North Carolina
district = 6th
term_start = January 3, 1985
preceded = Robin Britt
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Republican
spouse = Single
religion = Presbyterian
branch=United States Coast Guard
serviceyears=1952-1956
1960-1982

John Howard Coble, born March 18 1931 is a Republican Congressman representing the 6th district of North Carolina ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/nc06_109.gifmap] )

Early life

Coble was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. After high school, he initially attended Appalachian State University, but after a year joined the United States Coast Guard, serving for over 5 years and staying on as a reservist for an additional 18 years. Upon discharging from military service, he attended Guilford College, from which he received a history degree. Coble then moved on to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and earned a degree in law.

After graduating from college, Coble first worked as an insurance agent. He then spent nearly 20 years as a practicing attorney, and he was also Secretary of Revenue under North Carolina Governor James Holshouser. In 1979, Coble was elected to the state House of Representatives, serving until his election to Congress.

Congressional career

Coble was first elected to Congress in 1984, narrowly defeating one-term Democratic incumbent Robin Britt. He was undoubtedly helped by Ronald Reagan's gigantic landslide that year. He defeated Britt in a rematch two years later by only 79 votes — the closest margin of victory in the country that year. However, he hasn't faced serious opposition since. He was reelected unopposed in 1994 and without major-party opposition from 1998 to 2002.

He was elected to a 12th term in 2006, receiving 71% of the vote against Democratic candidate Rory Blake. In July, 2008, Coble became North Carolina's longest-serving Republican congressman in the state's history, surpassing former Congressman and U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill, who was also elected to 12 terms, but stepped down 6 months before his last term's expiration in 1986 when he accepted the appointment to the vacant U.S. Senate seat when John East committed suicide.

Committee assignments

*Committee on Judiciary
**Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property (Ranking Member)
**Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
*Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
**Subcommittee on Aviation
**Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
**Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
*Guilford College Board of Visitors
*US Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors

Positions

Coble is a strong supporter of agriculture and has voted in favor of bills to protect agriculture. Like many North Carolina lawmakers from both parties, Coble opposes further regulation of tobacco because he believes it will hurt North Carolina tobacco planters.

Coble takes a hard-line position on illegal drugs, and co-sponsored a resolution to oppose the legalization and use of medical marijuana. [ [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hj105-117 H.J.Res 117, 105th Congress] ] He also voted for an amendment to authorize drug testing on federal employees. [ [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hj105-117 John Howard Coble on Drugs] ] However, he authored a resolution to celebrate the passage of 21st Amendment, which repealed the Prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the United States. [ [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hj105-117 H.Con.Res. 415, 110th Congress] ]

Internment controversy

In 2003, Coble, then the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, told a local radio show that the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was necessary for their protection. However, Coble said that he strongly opposed similar measures for Arab-Americans. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/17/congress.japanese.ap/index.html Japanese-American lawmaker seeks GOP action over colleague's remarks] ]

Nonetheless, the remarks drew fire from several quarters. For example, the California State Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding that he step down from his subcommittee chairmanship. [ [http://home.att.net/~hirasaki/California.htm California lawmakers ask Coble to resign over internment remarks] ] Coble later apologized for his remarks.

"American Renaissance", a white nationalist magazine, sent Coble an article supporting his view and received his personal thanks. [ [http://www.amren.com/ar/2003/04/index.html Fade to Brown] ]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://coble.house.gov/ Congressman Howard Coble] official U.S. House site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Howard_Coble Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia