What is Phil English?

Phil English
Phil English
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1995–present
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Born	May 20 1956 (1956--) (age 51) Erie, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Christiane English
Religion	Roman Catholic

Phillip Sheridan "Phil" English (born June 20, 1956) has served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995 from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, since 2003 representing the state's 3rd Congressional district (map).

English was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. While in college, he served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania College Republicans. U.S. Senator Rick Santorum has said before that while he was attending Penn State University, English knocked on his dorm room door early one morning and told him he was going to start a College Republicans organization there. At age 20 he still holds a record (which was later tied in 2000) for being the youngest Pennsylvania Alternate Delegate to a Republican National Convention, set in 1976.

English served as Erie, Pennsylvania, City Controller from 1985 to 1989. In 1988 he was the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania Treasurer but was defeated by Democrat Catherine Baker Knoll. He stayed in politics and served as Chief of Staff for then State Senator Melissa Hart.

English was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1994 to the 21st District House seat that Tom Ridge had vacated in his successful run for Governor. English took advantage of something of a "perfect storm" in 1994, as he benefited from the Republican wave of 1994 as well as Ridge's coattails. In addition, the Democrats had a crowded primary in which the Erie candidates split the vote, which allowed Sharon attorney Bill Leavens to win the primary. English, as a native of Erie, then garnered enough support from his hometown (generally a Democratic stronghold) to win election. ^[1] Redistricting put English in the 3rd District from the 2002 election onward.

As a freshman member being elected from a marginal district, English was at first considered vulnerable. English sits on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. English was re-elected in a close race in 1996 but he hasn't had serious competition in his last three re-election races. However, English has again become a target for the Democrats after he defeated Democrat Steve Porter, an underfinanced and little-known former college professor, in 2006 by only 54% to 42% (with 4% going to Constitution Party candidate Tim Hagberg).

Now in his seventh term, English has been quietly moving up the seniority ladder in the House and on the Ways and Means Committee. In the 110th Congress, English serves as the ranking member on the Subcommittee of Select Revenue Measures.

Phil English is a graduate of Portsmouth Abbey School, a prestigious college prep school in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

External links

• U.S. Congressman Phil English official House site
• Phil English at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Philip S. English campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Phil English issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Phil English campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Philip 'Phil' English (PA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Phil English profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Phil English voting record
• Phil English official campaign site
• PA Politics interview

Preceded by Tom Ridge	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district 1995–2003	Succeeded by District eliminated
Preceded by Robert A. Borski, Jr.	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district 2003?	Incumbent

•  • [ e] Pennsylvania's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators	Arlen Specter (R), Bob Casey, Jr. (D)
Representative(s)	Bob Brady (D), Chaka Fattah (D), Phil English (R), Jason Altmire (D), John Peterson (R), Jim Gerlach (R), Joe Sestak (D), Patrick Murphy (D), Bill Shuster (R), Chris Carney (D), Paul Kanjorski (D), John Murtha (D), Allyson Schwartz (D), Mike Doyle (D), Charles Dent (R), Joe Pitts (R), Tim Holden (D), Tim Murphy (R), Todd Platts (R) |
All delegations	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands

References