After graduating from law school, Fleischmann moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and founded an independent law firm, Fleischmann and Fleischmann, in 1987. He is a former president of the Chattanooga Bar Association[8] and former chair of the Chattanooga Lawyers Pro Bono Committee.[10]
Republican incumbent Zach Wamp retired in order to run for governor, leaving this an open seat. Fleischmann entered an 11-way Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district. None of the candidates had ever run for elected office before. Fleischmann's biggest competition came from former state GOP chair Robin Smith, who was considered the front-runner.[11] She was endorsed by former speaker of the U.S. HouseNewt Gingrich and the Club for Growth. Fleischmann won the primary with a plurality of 30% of the vote, defeating Smith by 1,415 votes. He won most of the counties in the district, which were mostly in the northern part of the district, while Smith won three counties: Rhea, Hamilton (home to Chattanooga), and Polk counties. Third-place finisher Tim Gobble won only Bradley County, his home county.[12][13]
Fleischmann's Democratic opponent in the general election was John Wolfe, a fellow attorney. Fleischmann had faced Wolfe in his first case as an attorney. He said he won that case and the appeal "and now I want to defeat him a third time."[14] His other opponent was independent candidate Savas Kyriakidis, an attorney, restaurant owner and Iraq War veteran.[15] Fleischmann won the race with 57% of the vote.[16]
In his first reelection campaign, Fleischmann defeated Scottie Mayfield and Weston Wamp in the Republican primary, 39%-31%-29%.[17] He defeated Democratic nominee Mary Headrick in the general election with a large majority of the vote.[18]
Fleischmann tends to vote conservative. The conservative policy advocacy organization, Heritage Action, gave Fleischmann a lifetime score of 74 percent.[20] The conservative and libertarian advocacy group, FreedomWorks, gave him a lifetime score of 70.6 percent.[21]
The largest federation of unions in the United States, the AFL-CIO, gave Fleischmann a lifetime score of 12 percent.[22]
Economy
In July 2011, Fleischmann originally supported Speaker John Boehner's debt limit bill, but voted against the final debt ceiling agreement.[23]
In November 2011, Fleischmann filed a new bill, the Stop Green Initiative Abuse Act of 2011, which would repeal the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program. This program attempts to assist low-income families in lowering their energy bills by adding energy-efficient caulking and insulation to homes. A December 2010 Tennessee Comptroller's Office report concluded that funds for the program had been "wasted or misspent".[citation needed] Fleischmann's office estimated that if this bill passed it would save taxpayers $2.1 billion over the next decade. This was the third bill he proposed.
House speakerNancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." She also reprimanded Fleischmann and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[32][33] New Jersey representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Fleischmann and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit, arguing that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[34]
Fleischmann was one of 120 Republicans who voted against removing Confederate statues from inside the Capitol building.[39]
On November 16, 2011, Fleischmann voted for a bill that encourages the display of "In God We Trust" in public buildings and schools and reinforces it as the motto of the United States.[citation needed]
Gun laws
Fleischmann in 2017
Fleischmann has been a firm opponent of gun control. He has received an "A" rating from the interest groups "National Rifle Association Political Fund Positions on Gun Rights" and "Gun Owners of America Positions on Gun Rights". He supports legislation that "allows licensed firearm owners to carry out their God-given right more freely" because "the right to carry a firearm is a right that allows law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and is crucial to the freedom of our country." On November 16, 2011, Fleischmann voted for the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, which would allow a resident of a state that allows concealed carry to possess a firearm while visiting another state that has different firearm laws.
Health care
Fleischmann's first vote in office was for the 2011 motion Repealing the Health Care Bill.
Spending
In 2023 Fleishmann led the US Congress in self-appointed earmark spending, securing $273.3 million for his district out of the 2024 federal budget.[40] The majority of this spending is destined for the Chickamauga Dam project, which is the single highest-cost project in the country in the 2024 budget.[41]
^ abSalvemini, Chris (March 7, 2024). "'I will tell you to your face: Goodbye to Palestine' Congressman from East TN says Israel not guilty of genocide in widely shared video". WBIR-TV. Retrieved March 8, 2024. The man then asks Fleischmann if Israel would stay an ally of the U.S., even if it commits genocide. Fleischmann said "that's your term," and the man started discussing the number of Palestinian deaths in the Israel-Gaza Crisis. "Let me tell you a statistic. Israel will exist. The Jewish state will exist, and that is for God to do," said Fleischmann."I will always support Israel, and you can tell the Palestinians I will never support them." The man then tells him that he is Palestinian in the video. "Then I will tell you, I will never support you. I will tell you to your face: Goodbye to Palestine,'" Fleischmann said. "Goodbye! ... The Jewish people will never suffer again under Palestinian terrorism, under Hamas, under Hezbollah. Israel will be secure forever."
^Sergey, Bobok (October 20, 2022). "With GOP skeptics of Ukraine aid poised to gain seats in Congress, lawmakers look to lock in a huge military assistance package". NBC News. Retrieved March 8, 2024. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee that controls spending, said providing weapons and other assistance to Ukraine is crucial to halting Russia's unprovoked invasion. "I voted for the first funding bill, and I would be open to discussing more funding," Fleischmann said. "If we do not take the necessary steps for Ukraine to protect its nation and sovereignty against Russia, I think the ripple effects will end up costing not only the United States but the world a lot more."
^"Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. n.d. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
^"Members". USJapanCaucus-Castro.house.gov. U.S.-Japan Congressional Caucus. n.d. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
