Candidate bio - Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

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Profile: Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich is the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a longtime figure in GOP politics. Gingrich was raised in central Pennsylvania before pursuing a bachelor’s in history. He finished his undergraduate work at Emory University in 1965, received his Master’s in 1968, and a Ph.D. from Tulane University in 1971. Gingrich was first elected to Congress in 1978 and slowly laid the groundwork for the landslide election in 1994 that delivered control of Congress to the GOP, and made Gingrich Speaker. Gingrich led Republicans in standoffs against President Bill Clinton on government funding and welfare reform, and oversaw the initiation of an investigation that led to Clinton’s impeachment. But he resigned in 1998 following Republican dissatisfaction with his leadership, and has published books and worked as a pundit and advocate in the years since then.

Full name:	Newton Leroy Gingrich
Date of birth:	June 17, 1943 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Family:	Married to Callista Gingrich, 2 daughters, 2 grandchildren
Religion:	Roman Catholic
Education:	B.A. Emory University (1965), M.A., Tulane University (1968), Ph.D., Tulane (1971)
Resume:	History professor (1970-78), U.S. representative (1979-99), Speaker of the House (1995-99)

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Social: From the field

Profile: Newt Gingrich on the issues

Jobs Gingrich's jobs plan relies on a series of tax reforms, regulatory reforms, the repeal of President Obama's health care and Wall Street reform laws, and a balanced budget - among other policy options - to create jobs. See more detail here.
Taxes Gingrich would make the current income tax rates permanent past 2013, when the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire. He favors an optional 15 percent flat tax, the elimination of the capital gains and estate taxes, cutting the corporate tax rate to 12.5 percent, and a 100% tax deduction on new equipment for businesses.
Budget Gingrich has pledged to balance the budget through a series of unspecified spending cuts, entitlement reforms and other reforms to make government operate more efficiently.
Regulations Not available
Entitlement programs Gingrich would give seniors the option to choose private sector options in lieu of Medicare, and block grant Medicare funds to the states. He's said that Congress should consider giving younger Americans the option putting some of their savings into personalized Social Security savings accounts.
Health care reform Gingrich has pledged to repeal President Obama's health care law and replace it with a series of his own reforms. Gingrich supports a "generous" tax credit for individuals to deduct the expense of their health insurance, medical malpractice reform, reforms to eliminate fraud, investments in medical research (especially into Alzheimer's Disease), extended health savings accounts, and making health insurance more portable across state lines.
Foreign policy Gingrich wishes to eliminate military and national security red tape, and invest more in revamping military infrastructure to prepare for 21st century threats, like cyber attacks.
Immigration Gingrich has pledged to secure the border by Jan. 1, 2014 and establish English as the official language of the U.S. He would also reform the legal visa system, and make it easier to deport criminals.
Energy/Environment Gingrich would allow expanded development of oil, natural gas, coal, biofuels, wind, and nuclear sources of energy. He would loosen regulations to allow that increased development, and replace the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and replace it with what Gingrich calls a "pro-growth Environmental Solutions Agency."
Abortion Gingrich considers himself an opponent of abortion rights, and would seek to defund Planned Parenthood.
Same-sex marriage Gingrich has called same-sex marriage "a temporary aberration that will dissipate."
Climate change Gingrich had previously appeared in a video with then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi advocating for solutions to address climate change. (He's said since then that he regrets making that video.) But Gingrich also opposed President Obama's cap-and-trade environmental proposal.