Rick Outman
{{Short description|American politician (born 1963)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
|name=Rick Outman
|image name=
|state_senate=Michigan
|district=33rd
|term_start=January 1, 2019
|term_end=
|predecessor = Judy Emmons
|succeeded=
|state_house1=Michigan
|district1=70th
|term_start1=January 1, 2011
|term_end1= January 1, 2017
|predecessor1 = Mike Huckleberry
|succeeded1= Jim Lower
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1963|12|15}}
|birth_place=Lakeview, Michigan
|spouse=
|relatives = Pat Outman (son)
|party=Republican
}}
Rick Outman (born December 15, 1963) is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Since 2019, he has been a member of the Michigan Senate, elected from the 33rd Senate district. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 70th district, from 2011 to 2017. He was term limited out in 2017.
Early life, education, and business career
Outman was born on December 15, 1963, in Lakeview, Michigan.{{cite book|url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(sdfnrmvwcvsyvdozzyxg5rme))/documents/2019-2020/michiganmanual/2019-MM-P0160-p0160.pdf|title=State Senator RICK OUTMAN (R–33rd Senate District)|edition=2019-2020|publisher=Michigan Legislature|page=160}} He grew up in Montcalm County, Michigan. He received a bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University.Michael Kransz, [https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2022/03/state-sen-rick-outman-seeks-re-election-in-new-district-covering-all-or-parts-of-7-west-michigan-counties.html State Sen. Rick Outman seeks re-election in new district covering all or parts of 7 West Michigan counties], MLive (March 2, 2022). He is the owner and operator of Outman Excavating, a third-generation family business.Jonathan Oosting, [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/03/01/senator-aide-switch-jobs-michigan-legislature/3019355002/ Senator, aide switch jobs in Michigan Legislature], Detroit News (March 1, 2019). He formerly was a member of the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, and a substitute teacher.
Political career
=State House=
Outman unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Michigan House of Representatives in the 70th district in 2008.[https://www.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/07/married_state_rep_candidate_dr.html Married state rep candidate drops out after girlfriend gets pregnant], Chronicle News Service (July 26, 2008). He was defeated in the primary election, coming in fourth place among six candidates.[https://mielections.us/election/results/08PRI/# August 2008 official primary results], Michigan Secretary of State. Thomas A. Ginster won the Republican nomination, and was in turn defeated in the November 2008 general election by Mike Huckleberry, the first Democrat to hold the seat since 1932.Jim Harger, [https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2008/11/huckleberry_wins_70th_state_ho.html Huckleberry wins 70th state House seat -- first win by Democrat since 1932]. MLive (November 2008). Outman ran again in 2010 and defeated Huckleberry.Matt Vande Bunte, [https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2012/10/mike_huckleberry_rick_outman_t.html Mike Huckleberry, Rick Outman to debate in Greenville], MLive (October 22, 2012). Outman was elected to two additional terms in the state House, in 2012 and 2014. His campaign manager in 2012 and 2014 was James Lower, who in 2016 was elected to the state House from the 70th district, after Outman was term-limited out.Emily Lawler, [https://www.mlive.com/news/2017/01/meet_michigans_new_representat.html Meet Michigan's new state lawmakers], MLive (January 9, 2017).
In 2012, Outman voted in favor of a "right-to-work law" that barred labor unions from collecting fees from workers represented under collective bargaining agreements.[https://www.mlive.com/politics/2012/12/how_michigan_lawmakers_voted_o.html How Michigan lawmakers voted on right-to-work law], Associated Press (December 19, 2012). In 2013, he voted against Medicaid expansion bill, which passed on a 76–31 vote (original version) and then a 75–32 vote (final version).Tim Martin, [https://www.mlive.com/politics/2013/06/michigan_medicaid_expansion_vo_1.html How they voted: Medicaid proposal splits Republicans in Michigan House], MLive (June 14, 2013).Jonathan Oosting, [https://www.mlive.com/politics/2013/09/how_they_voted_medicaid_expans.html How they voted: Medicaid expansion wins final approval in Michigan House], MLive (September 3, 2013). Medicaid expansion was supported by almost every Democrat, but Republican members were split, with a little more than half voting no and the rest voting yes. In 2014, Outman voted against a compromise bill to increase Michigan's minimum wage to $9.25 an hour by 2018. The bill passed the House on a 76–34 vote and the Senate on a 24–12 vote, and was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder.Jonathan Oosting, [https://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/2014/05/how_they_voted_michigan_lawmak.html How they voted: Michigan lawmakers approve, Snyder signs new $9.25 minimum wage law], MLive (May 28, 2014).
=State Senate=
He was ineligible to run for reelection to the House in 2016 due to term limits, and was hired as a legislative staffer (district liaison) by Republican state Senator Judy Emmons at the end of 2016. Emmons was ineligible to run for reelection to the Senate due to term limits. In 2018, Outman won election to fill her state Senate seat. The district is solidly Republican; Outman won the August 2018 Republican primary election with 72 percent of the vote, and won the 2018 general election by a margin of about 20 percentage points. He took office in 2019. Outman then hired Emmons to be his district liaison.
Outman cosponsored, with Senator Marshall Bullock, bipartisan legislation to ban minors from using electronic cigarettes (vaping).David Eggert, [https://apnews.com/article/92c8814761f04cc88c0878090746f24a Michigan Senate OKs state ban on e-cigarettes for minors], Associated Press (April 23, 2019).
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, Outman criticized Governor Gretchen Whitmer for coronavirus restrictions.David Eggert, [https://apnews.com/article/health-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-coronavirus-pandemic-restaurants-b63a7ede0b366c8c77ec1d4ebaff515d Michigan loosens virus limits for businesses, nursing homes], Associated Press (March 2, 2021).
In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump; Biden won by three percentage points in Michigan.Craig Mauger, [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/11/15/trump-pushes-election-claims-michigan-needs-new-legislature/8628299002/ Donald Trump, pushing election claims, says, 'Michigan needs a new Legislature'], Detroit News (November 15, 2021).Clara Hendrickson & Dave Boucher, [https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/06/23/michigan-senate-investigation-election-trump/5035244001/ Michigan Republican-led investigation rejects Trump's claim that Nov. 3 election was stolen], Detroit Free Press (June 23, 2021). Trump subsequently launched an effort to overturn the election result and remain in power. In January 2021, Outman was one of 11 Republican Michigan state senators who promoted Trump's false claims of fraud in the 2020 election; in a letter sent to Congress on January 6, 2021, ahead of the formal counting of the electoral votes, Outman and the other members of the group baselessly suggested that there were "credible allegations of election-related concerns surrounding fraud and irregularities."[https://www.mlive.com/politics/2021/01/more-than-half-of-michigans-gop-senators-air-unfounded-election-concerns-in-letter-to-congress.html More than half of Michigan's GOP senators air unfounded election concerns in letter to Congress], MLive (January 6, 2021).
As of 2022, Outman was chair of the Department of Health and Human Services sub-committee budget and the Environmental Quality Committee.
Outman's 33rd state Senate district originally encompassed Montcalm, Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, and Mecosta counties. In the 2020 redistricting cycle, the district was redrawn to cover seven counties in West Michigan: all of Montcalm and Newaygo counties and portions of Kent, Ionia, Lake, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties. Outman is seeking reelection in 2022 in the new district. During his campaign, he accused Whitmer of attempting "to centrally plan our society."
Personal life
Outman lives in Six Lakes, Michigan.John Flesher, [https://apnews.com/article/legislature-environment-wastewater-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-981fa840eb97ab02962f10e53fc9e3d5 Whitmer releases $500 million water infrastructure plan], Associated Press (October 1, 2020). He is married and has three children. His son Pat Outman has been a member of the Michigan House since 2021, filling his father's old seat.Lauren Gibbons, [https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/01/whos-new-in-the-michigan-house-of-representatives.html Who's new in the Michigan House of Representatives], MLive (January 5, 2021).Elisabeth Waldon, [https://www.thedailynews.cc/articles/following-in-his-fathers-footsteps/ Following in his father's footsteps: Pat Outman announces candidacy for 70th District], Daily News (October 21, 2019).
References
{{reflist}}
{{Michigan State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Outman, Rick}}
Category:People from Montcalm County, Michigan
Category:Grand Valley State University alumni
Category:Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives