David Dreier

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David Dreier
Chairman of the House Committee on Rules
In office
January 3, 2011  January 3, 2013
Preceded by Louise Slaughter
Succeeded by Pete Sessions
In office
January 3, 1999  January 3, 2007
Preceded by Gerald B. H. Solomon
Succeeded by Louise Slaughter
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 26th district
In office
January 3, 2003  January 3, 2013
Preceded by Howard Berman
Succeeded by Julia Brownley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 28th district
In office
January 3, 1993  January 3, 2003
Preceded by Julian Dixon
Succeeded by Howard Berman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 33rd district
In office
January 3, 1983  January 3, 1993
Preceded by Wayne Grisham
Succeeded by Lucille Roybal-Allard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 35th district
In office
January 3, 1981  January 3, 1983
Preceded by James F. Lloyd
Succeeded by Jerry Lewis
Personal details
Born (1952-07-05) July 5, 1952
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Political party Republican
Residence Beverly Hills, California

Malibu, California [1]

Alma mater Claremont Graduate University
Claremont McKenna College
Occupation Commission chairman; entrepreneur
Religion Christian Science

David Timothy Dreier (born July 5, 1952) is an American entrepreneur and Republican Party politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013, and was Chairman of the powerful Rules Committee.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Rep. David Dreier

Before 2004

In 1978, Dreier decided to run for the United States House of Representatives at the age of 25. He ran against incumbent Democrat James Fredrick Lloyd, who had first won in an upset in a Republican-leaning district in 1974. Though unknown, Dreier ran a spirited campaign. Lloyd won that race by 54% to 46%. In 1980, Dreier ran again and defeated Lloyd 52% to 45%, winning on the coatails of former California Governor Ronald Reagan's presidential election.[2] After the 1980 United States Census, his district was renumbered to the 33rd, and defeated U.S. Congressman Wayne Grisham in the Republican primary of 1982, 57% to 43%.[3] He won the 1982 general election with 65%.[4] He won re-election every two years after that with at least 57% of the vote until his 2004 re-election campaign. His district was renumbered to the 28th after the 1990 United States Census and to the 26th district after the 2000 United States Census.[5]

2004 election

Rep. David Dreier's congress photo for the 109th Congress.

In 2004, Dreier faced strong criticism on his stances on illegal immigration from opponent Cynthia Matthews.[6]

Dreier was not the originator of the NRCC complaint and disavowed orchestrating the complaint. The hosts continued the allegedly infringing activity through the election and on February 24, 2006, the FEC declared that the charges were without merit. In an interview on KABC's Doug McIntyre program, Dreier denied the charges regarding immigration.[7]

Dreier won with 54% of the vote.[8][9]

After 2004

In 2006, he won re-election in rematch against Matthews 57% to 38%, despite the fact Republicans lost the majority that year.[10] In 2008, Dreier won re-election against Democrat Russ Warner with 53% of the vote, his worst re-election performance of his career.[11][12] In 2010, he defeated Warner in a rematch with 54% of the vote.[13]

After the 2010 United States Census, the voter-created California Citizens Redistricting Commission put Dreier and longtime Republican congressman Jerry Lewis, into the newly drawn 31st congressional district.[14] He eventually decided to retire.[15]

Tenure

Dreier served as chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee from 1999 until 2007. The Democrats gained control of the House in the 2006 midterm elections and Drier served as ranking member for the 110th and 111th Congresses. With the Republicans regaining control of the House in the 2010 midterm elections, Dreier again assumed the chairmanship during the 112th Congress.[16]

Dreier supported the Defense of Marriage Act and against inclusion of homosexuals as a protected class in hate crime. However, he did vote for employment discrimination legislation to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2007.[17]Dreier voted against the Matthew Shepard Act and voted against the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. In December 2010, Dreier voted in favor of repealing the policy in a standalone bill.[18]

Dreier has served for many years as a trustee of Claremont McKenna College, his undergraduate alma mater, which falls within his Congressional district.[19]

According to Roll Call magazine, Dreier has a personal fortune in excess of $7.5 million[20] and as much as $29 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.[21]

Dreier is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership. He was a leading member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute.[22]

Dreier also publicly supported a provision in the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 that excludes many U.S. troops and legal immigrants from receiving federal tax rebates.[23]

Dreier has been a longstanding supporter of closer ties between the United States and countries of Latin America, and has met frequently with executive and legislative branch leaders throughout the region. On one occasion, during his visit to Colombia's lower house chamber on August 28, 2007,[24] he drew criticism from some opposition lawmakers when he sat on the edge of a podium during informal remarks to Colombian legislators. Dreier later apologized and insisted he intended no disrespect. In comments released August 30, 2007 he said "I meant absolutely no offense ... I simply wanted to demonstrate my warm feeling and affection."[25]

Dreier was elected to the Board of Trustees of the California Institute of Technology in 2013.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Leadership bid

Congressman David Dreier at the Walnut Family Festival Parade in Walnut, California

Following the indictment of Tom DeLay on September 28, 2005, Dreier was widely expected to temporarily assume the position of House Majority Leader.[26] Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert favored Dreier for the position, presumably because Dreier has consistently adhered to the views of the Republican leadership and would have been willing to relinquish the title immediately should DeLay be able to return to the Majority Leader position. However, a conference of rank-and-file Republican representatives disapproved of the choice of Dreier in such a senior position largely because many conservative Republican House members believe that Dreier is too politically moderate. According to Dreier spokeswoman Jo Maney, Dreier declined the temporary Majority Leader position because he "would have had to give up his chairmanship of the Rules Committee to move to another position, and that's not something that he wanted to do".[27]

Rumors about Dreier's speculated homosexuality may have affected his leadership bid. When openly gay congressman Barney Frank was asked whether Dreier was passed over for the position because of his "moderate" views, told a crowd of reporters "Yes, in the sense that I marched in the `moderate' pride parade last summer and went to a `moderate' bar.”[28][29]

The House Majority Leader position instead went to then Majority Whip Roy Blunt, though both Dreier and then Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia shared in some duties.[30]

On February 29, 2012, Dreier announced that upon completion of his current term as a member of the United States Congress that he would not be seeking re-election.[31]

Personal life

Dreier is a descendant of Richard Bland Lee, a congressman from Virginia who served on the first Rules Committee impaneled by the House of Representatives.[32] He lived in Beverly Hills and Malibu with his chief of staff, Brad Smith.[33] He currently resides in San Dimas, California.[34]

Electoral history

California's 35th congressional district: Results 1980[35]
Year Republican Votes % Democratic Votes %
1980 David Dreier 100,743 52% James Lloyd 88,743 46% James Noonan Peace and Freedom 5,492 3%
California's 33rd congressional district: Results 19821990[35][36]
Year Republican Votes % Democratic Votes % Third Party Party Votes % Third Party Party Votes %
1982 David Dreier 112,362 65% Paul Servelle 55,514 32% Phillips Franklin Libertarian 2,251 1% James Noonan Peace and Freedom 2,223 1%
1984 David Dreier 147,363 71% Claire McDonald 54,147 26% Gail Lightfoot Libertarian 4,738 2% James Noonan Peace and Freedom 2,371 1%
1986 David Dreier 118,541 72% Monty Hempel 44,312 27% James Noonan Peace and Freedom 2,500 2%
1988 David Dreier 151,704 69% Nelson Gentry 57,586 26% Gail Lightfoot Libertarian 6,601 3% James Noonan Peace and Freedom 3,492 2%
1990 David Dreier 101,336 64% Georgia Webb 49,981 31% Gail Lightfoot Libertarian 7,840 5%
California's 28th congressional district: Results 19922000[35][36]
Year Republican Votes % Democratic Votes % Third Party Party Votes % Third Party Party Votes % Third Party Party Votes %
1992 David Dreier 122,353 58% Al Wachtel 76,525 37% Walter Sheasby Green 6,233 3% Thomas Dominy Libertarian 4,271 2%
1994 David Dreier 110,179 67% Tommy Randle 50,022 30% Jorj Baker Libertarian 4,069 2%
1996 David Dreier 113,389 61% David Levering 69,037 37% Ken Saurenman Libertarian 4,459 2%
1998 David Dreier 90,607 58% Janice Nelson 61,721 39% Jerry Douglas Libertarian 2,099 1% Walter Sheasby Green 1,954 1% Lawrence Allison Natural Law 819 1%
2000 David Dreier 116,557 57% Janice Nelson 81,804 40% Randall Weissbuch Libertarian 2,823 1% Lawrence Allison Natural Law 2,083 1% Joe Haytas American Independent 1,932 1%
California's 26th congressional district: Results 20022010[35][36]
Year Republican Votes % Democratic Votes % Third Party Party Votes % Third Party Party Votes %
2002 David Dreier 95,360 64% Marjorie Mikels 50,081 33% Randall Weissbuch Libertarian 4,089 3%
2004 David Dreier 134,596 54% Cynthia Matthews 107,522 43% Randall Weissbuch Libertarian 9,089 4%
2006 David Dreier 102,028 57% Cynthia Matthews 67,878 38% Ted Brown Libertarian 5,887 3% Elliott Graham American Independent 3,351 2%
2008 David Dreier 140,615 53% Russ Warner 108,039 40% Ted Brown Libertarian 18,476 7%
2010 David Dreier 112,774 54% Russ Warner 76,093 37% David Miller American Independent 12,784 6% Randall Weissbuch Libertarian 6,696 3%

References

  1. http://sunnylands.org/page/391/annenberg-dreier-commission-at-sunnylands/parent:393
  2. "CA District 35 Race". Our Campaigns. November 4, 1980. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  3. "CA District 33 - R Primary Race". Our Campaigns. June 8, 1982. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  4. "CA District 33 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 1982. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  5. "Candidate - David Dreier". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  6. "Dreier targeted on immigration". The Washington Times. October 31, 2004. 
  7. David Dreier of the 26th Congressional district of California: Why he still needs to go in '06 - Calblog, 8 November 2004
  8. "California". CNN. Retrieved May 1, 2010. 
  9. "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2004. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  10. "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  11. http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/23_34_us_reps.pdf
  12. "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 4, 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  13. "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  14. "CA - District 31 - Open Primary Race". Our Campaigns. June 5, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  15. Simon, Richard (29 February 2012). "Rep. David Dreier decides against seeking reelection". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2012. 
  16. "Press Release: Dreier Selected as Rules Committee Chair for 112th Congress". Dreier.house.gov. December 16, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  17. Open Congress, House Roll Call Vote #1057
  18. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010. clerk.house.gov
  19. "Claremont McKenna Board of Trustees". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 
  20. "David Dreier". NNDB. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  21. David Dreier: Campaign Finance/ Money. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  22. "Board of Directors and Officers". International Republican Institute. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  23. Gorman, Anna (May 17, 2008). "Tax rebate exclusions prompt protest". Los Angeles Times. 
  24. Associated Press, 28 August 2007
  25. "This House member is no stand-up guy". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2007. 
  26. Republicans dump gay leader, pick House Whip Blunt - The Raw Story, 28 September 2005
  27. Lochhead, Carolyn (September 29, 2005). "Californian looked likely, but Missouri lawmaker takes DeLay post". The San Francisco Chronicle. 
  28. Byrne, John (October 12, 2005). "Republicans rebuffed congressman in part due to speculation he was gay, congressman and reporters say". The Raw Story. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  29. "Barney Frank: Dreier's orientation cost him the House leadership". Advocate. October 15, 2005. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  30. "DeLay blasts indictment, prosecutor". CNN. September 29, 2005. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  31. Kane, Paul (February 29, 2012). "Rep. David Dreier to retire at end of year". The Washington Post. 
  32. David Dreier, CQ's Politics in America 2006, 109th Congress, Congressional Quarterly Publications (2006)
  33. http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/david_dreier_outed_brad_smith_gay_920.htm
  34. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/02/rep-david-dreier-decides-against-seeking-reelection.html
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 "Office of the House Clerk – Electoral Statistics". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. 
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 "Election Results". Federal Election Commission. 

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
James F. Lloyd
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 35th congressional district

1981–1983
Succeeded by
Jerry Lewis
Preceded by
Wayne R. Grisham
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 33rd congressional district

1983–1993
Succeeded by
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Preceded by
Julian C. Dixon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 28th congressional district

1993–2003
Succeeded by
Howard Berman
Preceded by
Howard Berman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 26th congressional district

2003–2013
Succeeded by
Julia Brownley
Political offices
Preceded by
Gerald B. H. Solomon
New York
Chairman of the House Rules Committee
1999–2007
Succeeded by
Louise Slaughter
New York
Preceded by
Louise Slaughter
New York
Chairman of the House Rules Committee
2011–2013
Succeeded by
Pete Sessions
Texas
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