Dana Rohrabacher - U.S. House of Representatives - Tenure

Tenure

A friend and fellow White House aide, Christopher Cox, won a southern Orange County seat in the same election. The pair remain close although Cox was chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission until he was forced to resign as chairman of the SEC on January 20, 2009 due to multiple allegations of fraud.

In 2011, Rohrabacher voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.

2011 Visit to Iraq

During a trip to Iraq in June 2011, he said that Iraq should pay back the U.S. for all the money it had spent since the invasion, when it becomes a wealthy country. Rohrabacher also commented he would be holding a hearing with the Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations into if Iraq committed "crimes against humanity" at Camp Ashraf when a massacre occurred last April. The incident left 34 residents killed and over 300 wounded. The delegation was denied access to the camp by Iraqi government, citing their sovereignty. Rohrabacher's delegation was subsequently asked to leave the country.

Payment for 30-year-old screenplay

On November 4, 2005, the Los Angeles Times reported that Rohrabacher was paid 23,000 dollars for a thirty year old screen play of his" .At issue was whether the producer paid him for the screenplay or for the introductions to congressional and federal officials. Rohrabacher claims that the introductions were made in good faith, were nothing that was not done regularly for legitimate causes, and that the introductions have only become an issue because of Joseph Medawar's misdeeds.

In May 2006, Rohrabacher, through his press secretary, announced that he would return the $23,000. The decision was made public shortly before Medawar took responsibility in a United States District Court for bilking $3.4 million from about 50 investors.

Voting Record

Taxes

  • Voted NO on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income. (Jun 2008)
  • Voted NO on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes. (Dec 2007)
  • Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
  • Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
  • Voted YES on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
  • Voted YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
  • Voted YES on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
  • Voted YES on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
  • Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"). (Apr 2001)
  • Voted YES on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000)
  • Voted YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
  • Phaseout the Federal Estate tax. (Mar 2001)
  • Rated 72% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
  • Rated 17% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
  • Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes. (Aug 2010)
  • Repeal marriage tax; cut middle class taxes. (Sep 1994)

Foreign policy

  • Voted NO on supporting democratic institutions in Pakistan. (Jun 2009)
  • Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Sep 2008)
  • Voted YES on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
  • Voted YES on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
  • Voted NO on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
  • Voted YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
  • Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
  • Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
  • Voted NO on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
  • Member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. (Jan 2001)
  • Urge China to respect religious freedom. (Mar 2001)
  • Ban foreign aid to oil-producers who restrict production. (May 2001)
  • Keep sanctions against Syria until WMDs are dismantled. (May 2007)
  • Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee. (Mar 2011)
  • Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s. (Mar 2007)
  • Condemn Iran for state-sponsored persecution of Baha'i. (Feb 2009)
  • Commitment to unbreakable U.S.-Israel bond. (Mar 2010)

Environment

  • Voted NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009)
  • Voted NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros. (Jul 2009)
  • Voted NO on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008)
  • Voted NO on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
  • Voted NO on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
  • Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
  • Voted YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
  • Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
  • Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
  • Regulating 15 more contaminants under Clean Water Act. (Oct 1993)

Healthcare

  • Voted NO on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Apr 2009)
  • Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
  • Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
  • Voted NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
  • Voted NO on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
  • Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
  • Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
  • Voted YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
  • Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
  • Voted YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
  • Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
  • Voted YES on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
  • Voted YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
  • Voted YES on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
  • Voted YES on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage. (Jun 2000)
  • Voted NO on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
  • Voted YES on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
  • Rated 11% by APHA, indicating an anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
  • Repeal any federal health care takeover. (Jul 2010)
  • Expand medical savings accounts for employers & individuals. (Feb 1999)

Free trade

  • Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Nov 2007)
  • Voted NO on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization. (Oct 2007)
  • Voted YES on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
  • Voted YES on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
  • Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
  • Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
  • Voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
  • Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
  • End economic protectionism: let dairy compacts expire . (Aug 2001)
  • Rated 56% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
  • Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy. (Jun 2007)
  • Tariffs against countries undervaluing their currency. (May 2009)

Government reform

  • Voted NO on Senate pay raise. (Jun 2009)
  • Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations. (May 2007)
  • Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination. (Mar 2007)
  • Voted YES on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
  • Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
  • Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
  • Voted YES on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
  • Voted YES on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
  • Voted NO on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
  • Voted YES on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
  • Voted NO on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
  • Prohibit non-legislated earmarks. (Jul 2005)
  • Limit punitive damages; term limits on Congress. (Sep 1994)
  • Voted NO on extending PATRIOT Act. (May 2011)
Miscellaneous

In January 2004, Rohrabacher proposed giving Washington, D.C. residents the right to vote for congressional representation by treating them as Maryland residents for the purpose of Congressional elections.

In a debate at Orange Coast College, he voiced his support for Proposition 8, which defines marriage in California as only between a man and a woman, and said that he "would suggest not changing the definition of marriage in our society to make a small number of people feel more comfortable."

Congressional scorecards

See also

  • Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart

Project Vote Smart provides the following results from congressional scorecards.

  • American Civil Liberties Union – 9% for 2005–2006
  • Americans for Democratic Action – 15% for 2006
  • American Land Rights Association – 100% for 2006
  • Americans for Tax Reform – 100% for 2006
    • Rohrabacher is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
  • AFL-CIO – 7% in 2006
  • Campaign for America's Future – 0% for 2005–2006
  • Conservative Index-John Birch Society – 80% for Fall 2004
  • Children's Defense Fund – 0% for 2006
  • Drug Policy Alliance – 83% for 2006
  • Drum Major Institute – 13% for 2005
  • Family Research Council – 71% for 2006
  • FreedomWorks – 92% for 2006
  • Gun Owners of America – 100% for 2006
  • Humane Society of the United States – 28% for 2005–2006
  • League of Conservation Voters – 17% for 2006
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America – 0% for 2006
  • National Association of Wheat Growers – 75% for 2005
  • National Education Association – 0% for 2005–2006
  • National Federation of Independent Business – 100% for 2005–2006
  • National Journal – Composite conservative score of 73.7% for 2006
  • National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – +30 for 2006
  • National Organization for Women – 14% for 2005–2006
  • National Rifle Association – A for 2006
  • National Right to Life Committee – 80% for 2005–2006
  • National Taxpayers Union – 75% for 2006
  • Population Connection – 0% for 2006
  • Republican Liberty Caucus – 95% for 2005
  • Secular Coalition for America – 30% on 2006 scorecards
  • United States Chamber of Commerce – 93% for 2006

Read more about this topic:  Dana Rohrabacher, U.S. House of Representatives

Famous quotes containing the word tenure:

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