Rick Berg

Berg was born in Maddock and raised on a farm in Hettinger. His father was a large animal veterinarian and his mother was a writer.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/rick-berg-nd/ |title=Rep. Rick Berg (R-ND, At-Large) NationalJournal.com |website=www.nationaljournal.com |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120826213058/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/rick-berg-nd/ |archive-date=26 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} His grandfather immigrated to the United States from Norway.{{cite web|url=http://www.bergfornorthdakota.com/view/other/home-news/45-facts/ |title=Rick Berg for Senate » 45 Facts About Rick |access-date=July 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809060820/http://www.bergfornorthdakota.com/view/other/home-news/45-facts |archive-date=August 9, 2012 }}

Berg graduated from Hettinger High School. He earned a wrestling scholarship to the North Dakota State College of Science.{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://berg.house.gov/about-rick/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130235129/http://berg.house.gov/about-rick/ |archive-date=November 30, 2011 }} He attended for a year before transferring to North Dakota State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in agricultural economics.

In 1982, after college he co-founded Midwest Management Company (which became Goldmark Property Management in 1994), a real-estate management firm in Fargo. In 1987 he moved on to an affiliate commercial real estate company spun off from Midwest. In 1996 along with other early partners in Midwest he founded Goldmark Commercial Corporation which has since been renamed to Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Nick|title=Berg sees Senate as key to country's turnaround|date=October 13, 2012 |url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/berg-sees-senate-as-key-to-country-s-turnaround/article_185a37d4-147a-11e2-ad5a-001a4bcf887a.html|publisher=TheBismarck Tribune|access-date=October 24, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Nowatzki|first=Mike|title=Passion for business drives Berg|url=http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/377966/group/News/|publisher=INFORUM|access-date=October 24, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Election 2012|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/external/pre-election/bios/56129.html?SITE=NPRELN&SECTION=PREELECTION&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT|work=AP Election Guide|publisher=NPR|access-date=October 24, 2012}}

Berg first ran for the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1984 in the 10th House District, based in Fargo. He won and was re-elected every four years after, until his congressional run in 2010.

In 2002, after redistricting he decided to run in the newly redrawn 45th House District, and won a seat with 31%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28616 |title=ND State House 45 Race – Nov 05, 2002 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=May 23, 2012}} In 2006, he won re-election with 28%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=303279 |title=ND State House 45 Race – Nov 07, 2006 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=May 23, 2012}}

In 1991, he became the chair of the House Republican caucus. In 1993, he briefly served as speaker of the House. In 2003, he became the House majority leader.

As speaker, he proposed a controversial new education funding system aimed at making payments more equitable.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GF&s_site=grandforks&p_multi=GF&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6E9BC656A5AC2&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=Jan 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120152633/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GF&s_site=grandforks&p_multi=GF&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6E9BC656A5AC2&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

|access-date=26 August 2023 |title= The Legislatures Speaker Presents N.D. School Plan |date=March 10, 1993}}

Berg supported President George W. Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security through private accounts in 2005.{{cite web|title=HCR 3056 Roll Call|url=http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/59-2005/journals/hr58.pdf#Page1409}}

In 2007, Berg voted on ND House Bill 1489, which proposed making abortion a class AA felony, even in the case of rape and incest.{{cite web|url=http://legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/bill-text/HBBD0300.pdf |title=House Bill No. 1489 |publisher=Sixtieth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota |date=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211025750/https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/bill-text/HBBD0300.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2021 }}

In 2009, he earned the Petroleum Council's Legislator of the Year and the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce's Greater North Dakotan award.{{cite web |url=http://berg.house.gov/biography/ |title=Congressman Rick Berg : Biography |publisher=Berg.house.gov |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508174455/http://berg.house.gov/biography/ |archive-date=May 8, 2012 }}

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota}}

On January 20, 2010, Berg officially announced he was seeking the GOP endorsement to run for the United States House of Representatives.[http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=506122 Berg Announces.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623043237/http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=506122 |date=June 23, 2011 }} KXMBTV Bismarck. January 19, 2010.[http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/28864/group/home/ Berg to begin campaign for US House.] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20130217010834/http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/28864/group/home/ |date=February 17, 2013 }} WDAY News. January 16, 2010. In March 2010, Berg won the GOP nomination at the Republican state convention to challenge incumbent Democratic Representative Earl Pomeroy for the state's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives.Cadei, Emily. [http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/03/north-dakota-berg-face-pomeroy.html North Dakota: Berg To Face Pomeroy in November.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328110722/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/03/north-dakota-berg-face-pomeroy.html |date=March 28, 2010 }} CQ Politics. March 20, 2010. In the general election Berg unseated Pomeroy by a vote of 129,802 (55%) to 106,542 (45%) becoming the first Republican since 1980 to represent {{ushr|ND|AL}}. At the time of his election, Berg was the 13th wealthiest member of Congress.[cite web|title=

The 50 Richest Members of Congress 2011|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307215521/http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html]

The biggest donor to Berg's campaign was Goldmark Property Management, Inc.{{cite web |title=Rick Berg Campaign Finances |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/7693/rick-berg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062119/http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/7693/rick-berg |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }} As of 2011, Berg worked at Goldmark since 1981 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services in 2005.{{cite web |title=Agent Profile: Rick Berg, CCIM |url=http://www.goldmark.com/commercial/agentbios/rberg.asp |access-date=November 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723132523/http://www.goldmark.com/commercial/agentbios/rberg.asp |archive-date=July 23, 2008}}

Berg voted for the Paul Ryan budget, which would restructure Medicare and Medicaid.{{cite news |url=http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/112/house/1/277 |title=House Vote 277 – Passes Ryan Budget Bill |url-status=dead |access-date=August 14, 2012 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714020137/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/112/house/1/277 |archive-date=July 14, 2012 }}

Berg strongly supports a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.{{cite web |title=The Time for a Balanced Budget Amendment is Now |author=Rick Berg |date=November 10, 2011 |url=http://berg.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=101&parentid=5§iontree=2,5,101&itemid=264 |access-date=November 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916102047/http://berg.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=101&parentid=5§iontree=2,5,101&itemid=264 |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

He voted in favor of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act and has received "A" and "A+" ratings from the NRA Political Victory Fund for his stance on gun rights.{{cite web |title=HR 822 Voting Record |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bill/votes/37348 |date=November 16, 2011}}{{cite web |title=Ratings and Endorsements |url=http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/7693/rick-berg}}{{cite web |title=ND House candidates attract dueling endorsements for pro-gun groups |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/newsmd/nd-house-candidates-attract-dueling-endorsements-for-pro-gun-groups |website=Grand Forks Herald |access-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802111621/https://www.grandforksherald.com/newsmd/nd-house-candidates-attract-dueling-endorsements-for-pro-gun-groups |archive-date=2 August 2023 |location=Fargo |language=en-US |date=October 13, 2012 |url-status=live}}

Berg joined almost 60 other members of Congress in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that urged committee members not to cut the critical access hospital (CAH) program. The CAH program provides assistance to rural hospitals. 36 CAHs exist in North Dakota, including one in Hettinger, Berg's hometown.{{cite web |title=Berg Fights to Protect Rural Hospitals |date=November 7, 2011 |url=http://berg.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&parentid=6§iontree=6,25&itemid=265 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707071404/http://berg.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&parentid=6§iontree=6,25&itemid=265 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 }}

Berg has voted to curtail EPA regulations, stating: "In North Dakota, we know the damaging effects that overreaching government regulations can have on our small businesses and their ability to create jobs."{{cite web |author=Rick Berg |title=Berg Fights for Regulatory Relief from EPA Overreach |url=http://berg.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&parentid=6§iontree=6,25&itemid=243 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20111102224628/http://berg.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid%3D25%26parentid%3D6%26sectiontree%3D6%2C25%26itemid%3D243 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2011 |date=November 13, 2011 }} He has also proposed drilling for oil in federal lands, including North Dakota's own Theodore Roosevelt National Park, as a way to provide funding for Social Security.{{cite web |author=Darren Goode |title=GOP Candidate Suggests Drilling for Oil in Teddy Roosevelt National Park |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/118055-gop-candidate-suggests-drilling-in-teddy-roosevelt-park-to-pay-for-social-security |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719050841/http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/118055-gop-candidate-suggests-drilling-in-teddy-roosevelt-park-to-pay-for-social-security |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |date=September 10, 2010 }} In 2009, he was presented with the Greater North Dakotan Award by the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce for his support of business interests.{{cite web |author=Rick Berg |title=About Rick |url=http://berg.house.gov/biography/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508174455/http://berg.house.gov/biography/ |archive-date=May 8, 2012 }}

Berg is anti-abortion and has voted to prohibit federal funds from being used for health care plans that cover abortions.{{cite web |title=HR 358 Voting Record |date=October 13, 2011 |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bill/votes/36927}} He is a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.{{cite web |title=Committees and Caucuses |url=http://berg.house.gov/committees-caucuses/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609015524/http://berg.house.gov/committees-caucuses/ |archive-date=June 9, 2012 }}

Berg is against same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=http://kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news%3D57069 |title=Candidates Discuss Debate over Same Sex Marriage on KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader |access-date=July 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413034232/http://kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=57069 |archive-date=April 13, 2013 }}File:Congressman speaks to USACE Souris River area flood engineer.jpg official Roland Hamborg during the 2011 Souris River flood]]

File:Rick Berg, 15 September 2012 (02).png

Berg was a member of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee.

;Caucus Memberships{{cite web |url=http://berg.house.gov/committees-caucuses/ |title=Congressman Rick Berg : Committees & Caucuses |publisher=Berg.house.gov |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609015524/http://berg.house.gov/committees-caucuses/ |archive-date=June 9, 2012 }}

• Congressional Western Caucus
• Unmanned Systems Caucus
• General Aviation Caucus
• Coal Caucus
• Friends of Norway Caucus
• Job Creators Caucus
• E-911 Caucus
• National Archives Caucus
• Rural Health Care Coalition
• Sportsman Caucus
• Sugar Caucus
• Congressional Prayer Caucus
• House National Guard and Reserve Caucus

{{see also|2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota}}

On May 16, 2011, Berg announced he would run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kent Conrad.Toeplitz, Shira [http://www.rollcall.com/news/house_freshman_berg_will_run_for_senate_in_north_dakota-205672-1.html House Freshman Berg Will Run for Senate in North Dakota] Roll Call, May 16, 2011.

Election night results indicated that Berg had lost to former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp by a vote of 161,337 (50%) to 158,401 (49%). As the difference was less than 1% of the ballots cast, Berg declined to concede immediately. The next day, however, Berg acknowledged his Democratic opponent's victory.[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121112094740/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrat-heidi-heitkamp-defeats-republican-rick-berg-to-win-us-senate-race-in-north-dakota/2012/11/07/3b5d20ea-290e-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html Democrat Heidi Heitkamp defeats Republican Rick Berg to win US Senate race in North Dakota] Associated Press November 7, 2012

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections#North_Dakota

• [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?cycle=2012&id=NDS2 Financial information] at OpenSecrets.org (U.S. Senate)
• [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?CID=N00031629 Financial information] at OpenSecrets.org (U.S. House)
• [https://archive.today/20121211050416/http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/S2ND00073 Campaign finance reports and data] at the Federal Election Commission (U.S. Senate)
• [https://archive.today/20121216152156/http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/H0ND00135 Campaign finance reports and data] at the Federal Election Commission (U.S. House)
• {{C-SPAN|1033803}}

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Category:1959 births

Category:American people of Norwegian descent

Category:Businesspeople from North Dakota

Category:Living people

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Category:State political party chairs of North Dakota

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Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota

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Category:21st-century members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly