Dan Coats

State:Indiana
Current Office:U.S. Senator
Party:Republican Party

Dan Coats, takes over the seat formerly held by Democrat Evan Bayh.  He previosuly served Hoosiers as U.S. Senator from 1989 to 1998. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Coats represented Indiana’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He promotes his previous service and knowledge of world affairs saying he won’t have the same learning curve that another candidate who might take the office.

After stepping down from his senate seat in 1998, Coats worked as a Special Council member in the firm Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand until 2001 when he was appointed to serve as United States’ Ambassador to Germany. He held his post in Germany until 2008.

Coats’ says he favors legal immigration and wants to put a stop to illegal immigration. His voting record shows that he voted yes on allowing more foreign workers into the US for agricultural work and voted yes on a bill that expanded the program that provides visas to skilled workers.

On his website, Coats says he “will work hard to fight against amnesty and keep our borders secure.”

Coats says he plans to repeal the health care plan passed by Congress, "After repealing the damage that has been done, we must seize the opportunity to ensure that constructive solutions to address the health care problems we face are the result of listening to the American people. Health care costs are out of control; we can make improvements without sacrificing personal freedoms and without tax increases and more deficit spending."

 Coats has developed his own idea for a health care plan and has provided a link on his website.

Economically, Coats says he wants to reign in spending, citing the increase in the country’s debt. Coats says he would address congress to put a stop to spending and “address this overwhelming problem,” but does not offer any ideas or plans to reduce the debt.

Coats addresses the issue of national security saying terrorists must be dealt with, not through nice diplomacy or speaking out in the international media but, “simply by doing what is necessary in order to deny them the means and the access to our country.”

Contact Dan Coats

Official Website

Committees

• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
• Joint Economic Committee
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on National Parks
  • Subcommittee on Water and Power
• Senate Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Department of Defense
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
  • Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Committee data provided by Sunlight Labs