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Joe Barton

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Joe Barton
NameJoe Barton
CaptionOfficial portrait, 2004
StateTexas
District6th
Term startJanuary 3, 1985
Term endJanuary 3, 2019
PredecessorPhil Gramm
SuccessorRon Wright
PartyRepublican
Birth nameJoseph Linus Barton
Birth date15 September 1949
Birth placeWaco, Texas, U.S.
Alma materTexas A&M University (BS), Purdue University (MS)
OccupationPolitician, consultant
SpouseTerri, 1980, 2015, Jeanine, 2016

Joe Barton is a former American politician who served as a U.S. Representative for Texas's 6th congressional district from 1985 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was a prominent figure on House Energy and Commerce Committee and was known as a staunch advocate for the energy industry and a skeptic of climate science. His lengthy tenure ended amid personal controversy, though he remained active in energy policy circles after leaving Congress.

Early life and education

Joseph Linus Barton was born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in the nearby community of Ennis. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University in 1972, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. Barton subsequently received a Master of Science in industrial administration from Purdue University in 1973. Before entering politics, he worked as a consultant for Atlantic Richfield and as a White House aide for energy policy during the administration of President Gerald Ford.

Political career

Barton first won election to the United States House of Representatives in 1984, succeeding Phil Gramm who had been elected to the United States Senate. He represented a district encompassing areas south of Dallas-Fort Worth, including Arlington and parts of Tarrant County. He rose to become Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 2004 to 2007, following the tenure of Billy Tauzin. After Republicans lost the majority in the 2006 elections, he served as the committee's Ranking Member until 2009. He later chaired the Energy and Power Subcommittee.

Political positions and legislation

A consistent conservative, Barton was a strong proponent of fossil fuel development and nuclear energy. He authored the Energy Policy Act of 2005, a major piece of legislation that provided subsidies for energy industries and exempted certain activities from the Clean Water Act. He was a vocal critic of the Environmental Protection Agency and opposed regulations like the Clean Power Plan. Barton co-founded the Congressional Privacy Caucus and was involved in telecommunications legislation. He received high ratings from organizations like the American Conservative Union and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Controversies

Barton was involved in several notable controversies. In 2010, he publicly apologized to BP during a congressional hearing on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, criticizing the Obama administration for what he called a "shakedown," a comment for which he later apologized. In 2017, a compromising photo of him circulated online, leading to an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. He did not seek re-election in 2018 following these revelations and reports of alleged sexting.

Personal life

Barton was married to Terri Barton from 1980 until their divorce in 2015; they have two adult children. He married his second wife, Jeanine, in 2016, with whom he has two younger children. He is a Presbyterian and a member of the National Rifle Association. Barton has been involved with organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and has resided in Ennis and Arlington.

Later career and post-Congress activities

Since leaving Congress, Barton has worked as a senior advisor for the law and lobbying firm of King & Spalding. He remains active in energy policy debates, often speaking at events hosted by groups like the Texas Oil & Gas Association and the Heritage Foundation. He has also served on corporate boards and contributed to policy discussions concerning the grid and natural gas exports.

Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas Category:Texas Republicans