View source for Jim Nussle

{{Short description|American businessman and politician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Jim Nussle
|image         = Jim Nussle small.jpg
|order         = 36th Director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]]
|president     = [[George W. Bush]]
|deputy        = Stephen McMillin
|term_start    = September 10, 2007
|term_end      = January 20, 2009
|predecessor   = [[Rob Portman]]
|successor     = [[Peter R. Orszag|Peter Orszag]]
|office1       = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on the Budget|House Budget Committee]]
|term_start1   = January 3, 2001
|term_end1     = January 3, 2007
|predecessor1  = [[John Kasich]]
|successor1    = [[John Spratt]]
|state2        = [[Iowa]]
|term_start2   = January 3, 1991
|term_end2     = January 3, 2007
|predecessor2  = [[Tom Tauke]]
|successor2    = [[Bruce Braley]]
|constituency2 = {{ushr|IA|2|C}} (1991–2003)<br>{{ushr|IA|1|C}} (2003–2007)
|birth_name    = James Allen Nussle
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1960|6|27}}
|birth_place   = [[Des Moines, Iowa]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (before 2021)<br>[[Independent politician|Independent]] (2021–present)
|spouse        = {{marriage|Leslie Nussle||1996|end=div}}<br>Karen Nussle
|education     = [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Drake University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|module        = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Jim Nussle Speaks in Support of H.R.4890, the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006.ogg |title=Nussle's voice |type=speech |description=Nussle supporting the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006.<br>Recorded June 22, 2006}}
}}
'''James Allen Nussle''' (born June 27, 1960) is an American businessman and retired politician who has been president and chief executive officer of the [[Credit Union National Association]] from 2014 to 2024 and of its successor group [[America's Credit Unions]] since 2024. Nussle served as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1991 to 2007 and was the Republican nominee for the [[2006 Iowa gubernatorial election]], losing to Democrat [[Chet Culver]]. He was then appointed director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]] (OMB) in 2007 by President [[George W. Bush]], an office he retained until 2009.

==Early life and career==
Nussle was born in [[Des Moines, Iowa]]. After high school, Nussle studied in [[Denmark]]. He then received a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in international studies, political science, and economics from [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]] in 1983,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yang|first=John|date=14 July 1997|title=Vote This Week On a House GOP Post May Reflect Discontent with Gingrich|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/07/14/vote-this-week-on-a-house-gop-post-may-reflect-discontent-with-gingrich/41548459-61ce-4f93-83fd-5384bc61a704/|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from [[Drake University]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] in 1985.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Glover|first=Mike|date=28 April 2006|title=Nussle's political career began while in college|url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/nussles-political-career-began-while-in-college/article_14f28b4d-5a80-578e-9cc0-68a9ac30d369.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Iowa State Daily|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=DeWitt|first=Jennifer|title=Nussle to lead trade group|url=https://qctimes.com/business/nussle-to-lead-trade-group/article_9866addd-d52f-56f8-ba19-347d0c4abb39.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Quad-City Times|date=10 September 2014 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Locin|first=Mitchell|date=26 November 1994|title=GINGRICH TURNS TO FRESH VOICE TO ASSIST THE TAKEOVER|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-11-26-9411260119-story.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref> After graduation from Drake University law school, Nussle was elected as the [[Delaware County, Iowa]] [[district attorney|attorney]] in [[Manchester, Iowa|Manchester]].<ref name=":0" />

==Political career==

===Congressional career===
In 1990, then 2nd congressional district representative, [[Tom Tauke]], ran against [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Tom Harkin]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Glover|first=Mike|date=1990-09-16|title=Iowa Senate Race Sets Spending Record|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-16-mn-949-story.html|access-date=2020-07-15|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> Nussle ran as the Republican candidate for Tauke's House seat against Eric Tabor and won.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iowa Attorney General's aide charged with drunken driving|url=https://www.thegazette.com/2010/04/20/iowa-attorney-generals-aide-charged-with-drunken-driving|access-date=2020-07-15|website=The Gazette|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Morgan|first1=Dan|last2=Priest|first2=Dana|date=1990-11-08|title=THE MIDWEST|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/11/08/the-midwest/68b3407f-f739-4b33-a131-5b1085491430/|access-date=2020-07-15|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

In 1992, as a result of redistricting, Nussle's district was merged with the 3rd congressional district of Democrat [[David R. Nagle]]. Nussle defeated Nagle and won reelection.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1992-11-04|title=NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : THE MIDWEST|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-04-mn-1366-story.html|access-date=2020-07-15|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

Nussle's first exposure to national attention came when he made a speech from the well of the House while wearing a paper bag over his head to protest the "shameful" ethical behavior involved in the [[House banking scandal]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cummings|first=Jeanne|date=1998-06-12|title=Shift by Rebel GOP Congressman Reflects Party's Philosophical Split|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB897534103317948000|access-date=2020-07-15|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

He became Chairman of the [[House Budget Committee]] in 2001, the first Iowan to serve as chair of the committee. His position brought national and international interest to his district, including the [[ONE Campaign]], the lobbying group formed by [[Bono]] of the rock band [[U2]]. The group has targeted Nussle's district with billboard and radio ads. On March 23, 2006, they placed a statement in Nussle's article on [[English Wikipedia]], regarding poverty in [[Africa]] and Nussle's budget influence, hoping to influence Nussle. The statement was quickly removed by editors as it violated English Wikipedia policies on maintaining a neutral point of view. On March 24, 2006, ''[[The Des Moines Register]]'' contained a story about this revision in which ONE confirmed that they had placed the statement.

Nussle's voting record was relatively conservative, despite representing a district with a slight Democratic lean.  He had a lifetime rating of 85 from the [[American Conservative Union]].  His district has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1988. Typical conservative positions Nussle embraced are supporting restrictions on abortion and supporting President Bush's tax cuts. His district was renumbered as the 1st District as a result of the 2000s (decade) round of redistricting, and became even more Democratic with the addition of much of Iowa's share of the [[Quad Cities]]. However, Nussle was reelected handily in 2002 and 2004.

===2006 gubernatorial bid===
{{Main|2006 Iowa gubernatorial election}}
When Iowa Governor [[Tom Vilsack]] announced that he would not seek a third term in 2006, a number of people from both parties began exploring running for the governorship. That included Nussle, who began considering a run shortly after Vilsack made his announcement. On June 2, 2005, Nussle announced he would run for the position. His only serious primary challenger, [[Bob Vander Plaats]], withdrew from the race to endorse Nussle and become his running mate.

On February 21, 2006, the Iowa Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Nussle for not reporting any in-kind donations from the federal "Nussle for Congress Committee". On July 12, 2006, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board unanimously voted to close the investigation with a finding of no probable cause to believe that a violation of a statute or rule under the board's jurisdiction occurred.

On June 6, 2006, Nussle won the Republican primary, but lost the general election to Iowa Secretary of State [[Chet Culver]] on November 7 by a wide margin.<ref name=":1" /> After the defeat, he first started his own consulting business.<ref name=":1" /> In 2007, he was nominated to become Director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]] by President Bush.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Silva|first=Mark|date=24 July 2007|title=Budget chief: 'Do I really need to know this stuff?'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/chinews-mtblog-2007-07-budget_chief_do_i_really_need-story.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>

Three Republicans and four Democrats announced their intentions to seek the House seat Nussle was vacating in January, 2007. The primaries pared the candidates down to Democrat [[Bruce Braley]] and Republican Mike Whalen. Braley won Nussle's former seat.

===OMB Director===
[[File:President George W. Bush Nominates Congressman Jim Nussle as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.jpg|thumb|right|Nussle with [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] in 2007]]
Nussle was nominated by George W. Bush to replace [[Rob Portman]] as OMB Director. He was sworn in on September 10, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070910/NEWS/70910007/1006/NEWS |title=Nussle sworn in as budget chief |author=E. Michael Myers |date=2007-09-10 |access-date=2008-10-26}}</ref> A March 9, 2005 quote of Nussle's was included in the ''2006 [[World Almanac]] and Book of Facts'''s list of notable quotes in 2005 (p.&nbsp;39): "''Everyone wants to get to heaven, but no one wants to die.''" According to the almanac, the quote refers to opposition to his proposed budget, which included cuts to several earmarks and programs; the statement was made during Nussle's tenure as House Budget Committee Chairman.

==Post-political career==
After leaving the Bush administration in January 2009, Nussle founded the Nussle Group, a media and strategic consulting firm. In November 2010, Nussle became president and COO of Growth Energy. In September 2014, it was announced that he would become the president and chief executive officer of the [[Credit Union National Association]], a trade group for [[credit union]]s.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Raab|first1=Marian|title=CUNA Picks Former Congressman As New Chief Executive|url=http://www.cujournal.com/news/cuna-picks-former-congressman-as-new-chief-executive-1023192-1.html|access-date=September 9, 2014|work=Credit Union Journal|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref>

In 2021, Nussle said that he would no longer affiliate with the Republican Party, following the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/07/former-iowa-u-s-rep-jim-nussle-i-no-longer-claim-am-republican-capitol-riots-donald-trump/6583079002/|title = Former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle: 'I will no longer claim I am a Republican' after Capitol riots|last = Pfannenstiel|first = Brianne|date = January 7, 2021|accessdate = November 5, 2022|newspaper = [[Des Moines Register]]}}</ref>

==Election history==

* '''For the United States House of Representatives'''
** 1990: defeated Eric Tabor 50% to 49.8%
** 1992: defeated [[David R. Nagle]] 51% to 49%
** 1994: defeated [[David R. Nagle]] 56% to 43%
** 1996: defeated Donna Smith 51% to 48%
** 1998: defeated Rob Tully 55% to 44%
** 2000: defeated Donna Smith 55% to 44%
** 2002: defeated Ann Hutchinson 57% to 43%
** 2004: defeated [[Bill Gluba]] 55% to 44%
* '''For Governor of Iowa'''
** 2006: lost to [[Chet Culver]] 44% to 53%

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110202222918/http://thenusslegroup.com/ The Nussle Group]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130510120000/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040322/22nussle.htm 2004 profile of Nussle in ''U.S. News & World Report'']
{{CongLinks | congbio=N000172}}
*{{C-SPAN|20673}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nussle, Jim}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:American Lutherans]]
[[Category:American people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Iowa]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2006 United States elections]]
[[Category:Directors of the Office of Management and Budget]]
[[Category:Drake University Law School alumni]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Luther College (Iowa) alumni]]
[[Category:People from Manchester, Iowa]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa]]