Jody Brownlow Hice is an American politician, radio show host, and political activist serving as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 10th congressional district since 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party.
During the battle between the ACLU and Barrow County, Georgia, regarding the public display of the Ten Commandments in the County Courthouse, Hice was asked by a local radio station to provide weekly updates and to address various other issues. From that weekly program a daily show, Let Freedom Ring, which was originally heard on WIMO 1300 AM, Bethlehem, Georgia was created. The show is heard on about 400 stations, the show focuses on Constitutional, moral, and religious liberty issues.
The congressional seat for Georgia's 10th congressional district opened up when the sitting representative, Paul Broun, announced his bid for U.S. Senate in 2014. Hice was the second to formally enter the race on April 15, 2013, citing government spending as his foremost concern. Hice was soon joined by 5 other candidates, leading to primary election of 7 for the open seat. Hice placed first in the primary on May 20, 2014 with 34% of the vote, followed closely by his run-off opponent Mike Collins who won 33% of the vote. With no candidate winning 50% of the vote, a run-off campaign was issued between the top two candidates, Hice and Mike Collins. The close race quickly grew heated amid accusations of campaign sign theft from both sides and reports of supporters being harassed at debates. Hice ultimately won the run-off, grabbing 54% of the vote. Hice faced a Democratic opponent in November election, which he won in a GOP wave on November 4, 2014.
2018 midterm election
After winning the Republican primary with 78% of the vote, Hice faced off in the 2018 general election against Democratic challenger, Tabitha A. Johnson-Green. During an October 2018 campaign event in which he appeared with Georgia Secretary of StateBrian Kemp, Hice decried former President Obama as having "pushed his own socialist agenda" during his two terms in office. Hice urged the small crowd gathered to oppose the resurgence of Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterm elections, declaring "it's time for this so-called blue wave to be body slammed!" Hice defeated Johnson-Green in the general election.
Hice supports a balanced budget amendment. Hice supports auditing the federal reserve and its activities around mortgages. He co-sponsored the Federal Reserve Transparency Act. Hice favors tax reform and voted in support of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He claims the new legislation creates a "competitive and fair tax system." He says it will create an improved economy, more opportunities, and "keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families and individuals." He also believes "It will also encourage American businesses to keep their jobs and revenue here, and our job creators will once again be competitive internationally."
Abortion
Hice is pro-life. He opposes abortions being used for race or sex selection. He believes that life begins at fertilization or cloning. He opposes family planning assistance that includes abortion.
Interest group ratings
Hice has a "D" rating from marijuana legalization advocacy organization NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related issues.
In September 2008, Hice was one of 33 pastors across America who participated in "Pulpit Freedom Sunday", an effort that challenged an Internal Revenue Service code threatening churches and pastors with loss of tax-exempt status and criminal behavior if they address political issues from the pulpit. In that sermon, Hice endorsed Senator John McCain for President. The IRS never publicly responded to the event, and Pulpit Freedom Sunday has since grown to include over 450 churches. Hice has argued that Christians have been "tricked" into a "false belief" in separation of church and state. National media outlets have drawn attention to Hice's views on Islam regarding his book, A Call to Reclaim America, in which he claims that Islam is not only a religion, but a geo-political structure and is therefore not deserving of First Amendment protection. Hice, in his book It's Now or Never, also quoted former U.S. general Jerry Boykin as stating that there is a Muslim Brotherhood plot to take over the United States.
Women's rights
In a 2004 interview with the Athens Banner-Herald, the largest newspaper in Hice's district, Hice stated that a woman had to be "within the authority of her husband" if she wanted to run for public office.
