As so often happens with Washington scandals, it isn't the original scandal that gets people in the most trouble - it's the attempted cover-up.

On November 2 2005 Petri voted against the Online Freedom of Speech Act. Petri's three largest contributors in the 2012 campaign cycle are labor unions and Petri has often voted with labor unions on closely contested issues. On August 1 2011 Petri voted for the Budget Control Act of 2011 which raised the nation's debt limit and included the creation of the "super committee" that was empowered to produce legislation that would be immune from amendments or filibuster.

The district includes most of the east-central part of the state. S. He is a member of the Republican Party.