Phil English



Phillip Sheridan English, a Republican, represented Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1995-2009. In the November 2008 general election he was defeated by Democratic challenger Kathy Dahlkemper.

Iraq War
English voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Term-limit pledge
According the organization U.S. Term Limits, English pledged to serve no more than six terms in Congress during his initial campaign in 1994. He broke the pledge, however, when he opted to seek a seventh term in 2006. English has denied that he ever made such a pledge. 

(See Congresspedia page on term limits in Congress)

Bio
English was born June 20, 1956 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania. While in college, he served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania College Republicans.

English served as Erie, PA City Controller from 1985-1989. 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.

Congressional career
English was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 to the 21st District House seat that Tom Ridge had vacated in his successful run for Governor. (Redistricting put him in the 4th District in 2002.)

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Steve Porter to face English in his November 2006 bid for reelection. English retained his seat.(See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

2008 elections
English was defeated in the November 4, 2008 general election by Democratic nominee Kathy Dahlkemper.

Money in politics
cid=N00001427&cycle=2006

Committees

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
 * Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures - Ranking Member

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Human Resources
 * Subcommittee on Trade
 * Joint Economic Committee

Contact
DC Office: 1410 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-3803 Phone: 202-225-5406 Fax: 202-225-3103 Website Web Email General Web Email

District Office- Butler: 101 East Diamond Street, Suite 213 Butler, PA 16001 Phone: 724-285-7005 Fax: 724-285-5616

District Office- Erie: 208 East Bayfront Parkway, Suite 102 Erie, PA 16507 Phone: 814-456-2038 Fax: 814-454-0163

District Office- Hermitage: City Annex Building 900 North Hermitage Road Hermitage, PA 16148 Phone: 724-342-6132 Fax: 724-342-6219

District Office- Meadville: 312 Chestnut Street Meadville, PA 16335 Phone: 814-724-8414 Fax: 814-333-8829

District Office- Warren: 800 Pennsylvania Avenue, West Warren, PA 16365 Phone: 814-723-7282 Fax: 814-454-0163

Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Mayor Herbert Riede
 * The All-Spin Zone

External articles

 * Lyndsey Layton and Jonathan Weisman, "GOP Expects Defections as House Debates Iraq Resolution," Washington Post, February 12, 2007: "'What we have now is a dispute in tactics,' said Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), who once supported the administration but is opposed to the troop increase. 'This is a situation where we've been dealt a bad hand, where we've made a lot of mistakes, where we should have addressed the problems in Baghdad a long time ago, and now a surge on the scale the president has proposed is unlikely to move us forward.'"
 * Greg Sargent, "Four More GOPers Defect, Will Back Anti-Escalation Resolution," TPM Cafe, February 14, 2007.
 * Jonathan Weisman, "Bush losing Republicans over plan for Iraq war," Washington Post (The Seattle Times), February 15, 2007.
 * David Espo, "GOP Opposition to Bush Plan Forms," Associated Press (ABC News), February 15, 2007.
 * Phoenix Woman, "The Rubber-Stampers’ Latest Contortion," Firedoglake Blog, July 30, 2007.