Friday, November 30, 2012

Lamar Smith

Science and Technology Committee Chairman – 113th Congress

Lamar Smith

Congressman                            21st District, Texas                    Republican
Elected 1986

Committees:
Homeland Security
Judiciary – Chairman, 112th Congress
Science and Technology

Ratings for 2010:

ADA    Americans for Democratic Action                                                      0
            Liberal:             less defense spending   
                                     protect civil liberties, human rights

ACLU  American Civil Liberties Union                                                        13
            Protect individuals from legal infringements on rights

AFS     American Federation of Government Employees                           0       
            Liberal labor

LCV    League of Conservation Voters                                                       10
            Pro-environmental protection

ITIC     Information Technology Industry Council                                         50
            Promote electronic commerce and innovation

NTU    National Taxpayers Union                                                                 89
            Pro-taxpayer rights

COC    US Chamber of Commerce                                                            88
            Pro-business

ACU    American Conservative Union                                                      100
            Conservative:    foreign policy
                                       social and budget issues

CFG    Club for Growth                                                                               100
            Pro-tax limitation

FRC     Family Research Council                                                             100
            Conservative:    promotes marriage and family
                                       oppose abortion

Votes in 111th Congress:           2009 - 2010

No       Overturn Ledbetter
            Extend statute of limitations in pay discrimination
No       $820 billion stimulus   
            Funds to revive U.S. economy
Yes      Let guns in national parks
            Permit people carrying guns in parks
No       Cap and Trade
            Industry measure to reduce greenhouse gases               
Yes      Bar federal abortion funds
            No federal funds for health plans covering abortion
No       Health Care Bill
            Provides insurance for people without health insurance              
No       Financial Firm Regulation
            Regulations on financial services firms
No       Pass tax cuts for some
            Bush era tax cuts to continue for incomes under $250,000
Yes      Stop detainee transfers
            Prohibit defense funds used to transfer detainees to U.S. facilities                      
No       Legalize Immigrants’ Kids
            Give children of illegal parents path to legal status
No       Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
            Lift ban on openly gay people in military           
No       Limit Campaign Funds
            Requires sponsors of campaign ads to identify themselves

Year                 Candidate                     Vote                                         Campaign Chest

2010                Lamar Smith (R)           162,924  69%                          1,312,958
                        Lainey Melnick (D)           65,927  28                                   34,987
                        James Strohm (Lib)           7,694    3                                      5,765
                       
2010 primary    Lamar Smith (R)             61,923  81%
                        Stephen Schoppe (R)       14,166  19

2008                Lamar Smith (R)           243,471  80%                          1,069,346
                        James Strohm (Lib)        60,879  20                                      3,353

2006 special*   Lamar Smith (R)           122,486  60                             1,632,039
                           John Courage (D)           49,957  25                                352,243
                           Gene Kelly (D)                 18,355    9
                       
2004                Lamar Smith (R)           209,774  61%                             606,121
                         Rhett Smith (D)             121,129  36
                       
2002                Lamar Smith (R)           161,836  73%                             798,990
                        John Courage (D)            56,206  25                                167,000

2000                Lamar Smith (R)           251,049  76%                             543,754
                         Jim Green (D)                 73,326  22                            

1998                Lamar Smith (R)           165,047  91%                             531,538
                          Jeffrey Blunt (Lib)           15,561    9                                  27,860
                       
1996                Lamar Smith (R)           205,830  76%                             443,571
                          Gordon Wharton (D)      60,338  22                                  18,844

1994                Lamar Smith (R)           165,595  90%                             538,347
                         Kerry Lowry (I)                 18,480  10

1994 primary    Lamar Smith (R)             44,600  82%
                          Scott Campbell (R)         10,050  18

1992                Lamar Smith (R)           190,979  72%                             476,501
                         James Gaddy (D)           62,827  24                                     5,694
                         W. Grisham (Lib)            10,847    4    

                        * Redistricting mooted results of March primary
                        I           Independent
                        Lib       Libertarian Party


Population 2010:                      856,954
Change since 2000:                 up 31.5%

Urban:                                      81%
Rural:                                       19

Median Age:                             36 years
Over 65:                                    12%
Under 18:                                  25

High School Graduate:              91%
College Graduate:                     39
Graduate Degree:                     15

Median Income:                           60,769
Median Home Value:                177,400                      

Private Employment:                 75%
Government Employment:        17
Self Employed:                             8
Blue Collar:                              14
White Collar:                            70

White:                                      60%
Black:                                         6
Hispanic:                                  28
Asian                                          4

2008 Presidential Vote:
John McCain (R) -                    215,006           59%
Barack Obama (D) -                148,477           40

2004 Presidential Vote:
George W. Bush (R) -            212,196           66%
John Kerry (D) -                      110,288           34
Lamar Smith's Voting History

Votes in 110th Congress:           2007 – 2008

Yes      Increase Minimum Wage
            Raise minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour
No       Expand SCHIP
            Expand State Children’s Health Insurance Program
No       Raise CAFE Standards
            Increase fuel efficiency to 35 mpg by 2020
Yes      Bail Out Financial Markets
            $700 billion to bail out financial industry
Yes      Share Immigration Data
            Bar funds to governments refusing to share immigration information
Yes      Foreign Aid Abortion Ban
            Bar funds for abortions in foreign aid programs
No       Ban Gay Bias in Workplace
            Prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation
Yes      Repeal DC Gun Law
            Repeal local prohibition of firearms
No       Withdraw Troops 8/08
            Requires withdrawal of troops by August, 2008
No       No Operations in Iraq
            Bar military funds for contingency operations in Iraq
Yes      Free Trade with Peru
            Implement free trade agreement with Peru
Yes      Overhaul FISA
            Overhaul Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

Votes in 109th Congress:           2005 – 2006

Yes      Estate Tax Repeal
            Permanently repeal federal estate and gift taxes
Yes      Limit CAFE standards
            Less stringent auto fuel efficiency standards
Yes      FY06 Spending Curb
            Curb federal entitlement spending
Yes      Drilling in ANWR
            Oil and gas leases for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Yes      Limit Interstate Abortion
            No minors across state lines for abortions without parental consent
Yes      Extend Patriot Act
            Reauthorize USA Patriot Act expanding law enforcement authority
Yes      Bar Same Sex Marriage
            Amend Constitution to define marriage as between man and woman
No       Stem Cell Research Funds
            Override veto to fund embryonic stem cell research
Yes      Build Border Fence
            700 miles of fencing along border with Mexico
Yes      CAFTA
            Approve Central American Free Trade Agreement
Yes      Oppose Iraq Withdrawal
            Oppose setting date for withdrawal of US forces from Iraq
Yes      Detainee Tribunals
            Create military tribunals to try detainees
Votes in 108th Congress:           2003 – 2004

Yes      Drilling in ANWR
            Permit oil drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Yes      Approve Bush Tax Cuts
            Reduce taxes by $350 billion through 2013
Yes      Medicare/Rx Bill
            Medicare prescription drug legislation
No       Bar Overtime Pay Regulations
            Oppose federal overtime pay regulations
Yes      DC School Vouchers
            Funds for private schools in DC
Yes      Ban Human Cloning
            Criminal sanctions for human cloning
Yes      Restrict Gun Liability
            Restrict liability lawsuits against gun manufacturers, sellers
Yes      Ban Partial Birth Abortion
            Criminal sanctions for “partial birth” abortions
Yes      Ban Same-Sex Marriage
            Amend Constitution to ban same-sex marriage
Yes      Fund Iraq War
            Approve appropriations for U.S. military operations in Iraq
No       Bar Cuba Embargo Funds
            Prohibit funds to enforce economic embargo of Cuba
Yes      Intelligence Reorganization
            Reorganize intelligence agencies; create national director

Votes in 107th Congress:           2001 – 2002

Yes      Approve Bush Tax Cuts
            $1.35 trillion in tax cuts
Yes      Limit Patients’ Bill of Rights
            Limit non-economic damages in liability awards
No       Campaign Finance Reform
            Eliminate most uses of soft money; limit pre-election advertising
No       Ban ANWR Development
            Protect Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development
Yes      Faith Based Charities
            Federal incentives for religious social services
Yes      Bar Gays in the Boy Scouts
            Do not enforce anti-discrimination rulings against Boy Scouts
Yes      Ban Partial Birth Abortions
            Criminal penalties for “partial birth” abortions
Yes      Arm Commercial Pilots
            Commercial pilots able to carry fire arms in flight
Yes      Trade Promotion Authority
            Authority for president to negotiate international trade agreements
Yes      Bar Funds for International Court
            No federal funds for International Criminal Court
Yes      Authorize Force in Iraq
            Authorizes U.S. military force in Iraq
Yes      Deny Home Security Department Union
            Deny employees of Homeland Security from joining union

Votes in 106th Congress:           1999 – 2000

No       Patient Bill of Rights
            Bill of Rights dealing with health maintenance organizations
No       Accelerate Minimum Wage
            Increase minimum wage by $1.00 in two instead of three years
No       Strike Ban on Ergonomic Standards
            Strike ban on federal standard for ergonomic protection
Yes      Override Estate Tax Veto
            Override veto of phase-out of estate and gift taxes
Yes      Bar RU-486 Funds for FDA
            Bar FDA funding of chemical induced abortion drug
Yes      Display 10 Commandments
            Permit state and local governments display Ten Commandments
No       Gun Show Background Checks
            Require gun show dealers to perform background checks
Yes      Ban Partial Birth Abortion
            Ban partial birth abortions
No       NATO War in Serbia
            Authorize deployment of US military forces for Kosovo
Yes      Permanent Trade with China
            Authorize permanent trade relations with China
No       Debt Relief for Third World
            Provide debt relief for heavily indebted nations
No       Drop Cuba Economic Embargo
            Drop enforcement of US economic embargo of Cuba
Votes in 105th Congress:           1997 - 1998

Yes      Clinton Budget Deal                          
            Approve budget reconciliation bill implementing required tax cuts
Yes      Education IRAs
            Expand retirement accounts to be spent on education expenses
Yes      Required 2/3 vote to Raise Taxes
            Amend Constitution for 2/3 votes to raise taxes
Yes      Fast Track Trade
            Negotiate trade agreements on “fast track” congressional authority                                
No       Puerto Rico Statehood Referendum    
            Referendum on statehood in Puerto Rico
Yes      End Highway Set-asides
            End minority set-aside funding benefits in highway program
Yes      School Prayer Amendment
            Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing right of prayer in school
Yes      Override Partial Birth Veto
            Override President Clinton’s veto of partial birth abortions ban             
No       Cut money for B-2 Bombers    
            Cut funding for additional B-2 stealth bombers 
No       Human Rights in China
            Require preference to U.S. firms in China with human rights code of conduct    
Yes      Withdraw Bosnia Troops
            Invoke War Powers Resolution to withdraw U.S. military forces in Bosnia        
No       End Cuban TV – Marti
            End funding for television broadcasts to Cuba   

Votes in 104th Congress:           1995 - 1996

Yes      Reduce Medicare Growth
            Reduce projected spending for Medicare                     
Yes      Override Product Liability Veto
            Override veto of bill to limit damages in product liability
No       Increase Minimum Wage
            Increase minimum wage to $5.15 an hour                     
Yes      Welfare Reform
            Five year restriction on benefits; beneficiaries find work                        
Yes      Flag Amendment
            Constitutional amendment barring desecration of U.S. flag                    
No       Drop EPA Limits
            Drop limitations on enforcement authority of EPA                                 
Yes      Repeal Assault Weapons Ban
            Repeal ban on manufacture and sale of assault weapons                       
Yes      Override Partial Birth Veto    
            Override veto of bill barring “partial birth” abortions     
Yes      Cuban Embargo
            Tighten embargo on trade with Cuba                
Yes      Bar Bosnia Troop Money
            Bill prohibiting funds for U.S. troops deploying to Bosnia          
No       Cut Anti-Missile Defense
            Reduce funding for anti-missile defense program           
Yes      Bar U.N. Uniforms
            Prohibits U.S. forces from wearing U.N. uniforms        

Votes in 103rd Congress:           1993 – 1994

No       Clinton Deficit Plan
            Clinton Administration deficit reduction plan
Yes      NAFTA
            North American Free Trade Agreement
No       Brady Handgun Purchase
            Waiting period and background check on handguns
Yes      Strike Race/Death Penalty
            Strike provisions barring racial discrimination death penalties
Yes      Limit UN Command of Forces
            Restrict placing US forces under UN command
No       Cut Missile Funds
            Cut $1.2 billion from Navy weapons procurement fund


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