Peter DeFazio
Encyclopedia
Peter Anthony DeFazio is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. The district includes Eugene
, Springfield
, Roseburg
and part of Corvallis
. As Oregon's most senior member of Congress, he is the dean
of Oregon's House of Representatives delegation. A native of Massachusetts
and a veteran of the United States Air Force
, he previously served as a county commissioner in Lane County, Oregon
.
, a suburb of Boston
. He credits his great-uncle with shaping his politics; when he was a boy, that great-uncle almost never said "Republican" without saying "bastard" (or "bastud," as it usually sounds in the Boston accent
). He served in the United States Air Force
from 1967 to 1971. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Tufts University
in 1969 and a Master of Arts
degree from the University of Oregon
in 1977.
DeFazio worked as a gerontologist
. From 1977 to 1982, DeFazio worked as an aide for U.S. Representative Jim Weaver
. He was elected as a Lane County
Commissioner in 1983 and served as chairman from 1985 to 1986.
, vacated by retiring incumbent Democrat Jim Weaver. DeFazio narrowly won in a competitive three-way primary against State Senators Bill Bradbury
and Margie Hendrikson 34%-33%-31%. He won the general election with 54% of the vote.
After his first election, he has won re-election with at least 61% of the vote, until 2010. He has forged a nearly unbreakable hold on a district which is only marginally Democratic on paper: it narrowly voted for George W. Bush
in 2000 and John Kerry
in 2004.
2008
DeFazio won 82% of the vote over two minor party candidates.
Earlier, he reportedly considered and re-considered running against Smith for the 2008 Senate election. On April 20, 2007, DeFazio announced he would not run for Smith's seat.
After Barack Obama
was elected president in 2008, it was reported that DeFazio was under consideration for nomination as Obama's Secretary of Transportation
.
However, fellow U.S. Representative Ray LaHood
was named to the post in December 2008.
2010
In 2010, DeFazio was challenged by Republican Art Robinson
and Pacific Green candidate Michael Beilstein. As a result of the SCOTUS decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
, a so-called Super PAC
group called The Concerned Taxpayers of America paid $300,000 for ads attacking De Fazio and $150,000 for ads attacking Frank Kratovil
of Maryland
. It was not revealed until the mid-October 2010 quarterly FEC
filings that the group was solely funded by $300,000 from Daniel G. Schuster Inc., a concrete firm in Owings Mills, Maryland
, and $200,000 from New York hedge fund executive Robert Mercer, the co-head of Renaissance Technologies of Setauket, New York. The FEC filings prior to then listed only a Capitol Hill address and Republican political consultant Jason Miller as treasurer. According to Dan Eggen
at The Washington Post
, the group claims "it was formed in September 'to engage citizens from every walk of life and political affiliation' in the fight against 'runaway spending.'" The only expenditures have been for these ads.
DeFazio won with 54% of the vote, his lowest winning percentage since he was first elected in 1986.
—one of only 16 congressmen to do so. DeFazio particularly objected to a provision that deregulated the cable television industry. According to DeFazio, many of his fellow Democrats later realized "they were idiots" for backing the bill. He was also the only Oregonian who voted against both NAFTA and GATT. On the issue of abortion, DeFazio is strongly pro-choice, earning a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood
in 2010. He is a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
, and was its chairman from 2003 to 2005.
In 2008, DeFazio and California representative Pete Stark
signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
proposing a one quarter of one percent transaction tax on all trades in financial instruments including stocks, options, and futures. Subsequently DeFazio introduced the No BAILOUT Act.
Somewhat controversially, DeFazio declined to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
, voting against the final stimulus package on February 13, 2009. He was one of only seven House Democrats to vote "nay" on the bill. DeFazio said that his vote against the bill was due to his frustration over compromises made to win support from moderate Republicans in the Senate
, saying, "I couldn't justify borrowing money for tax cuts," in reference to a bipartisan group's decision to cut funding for education and infrastructure initiatives the Oregon congressman had supported in favor of more tax reductions. He also advocated that the U.S. Senate
change its cloture
rules, doing away with the filibuster that, in the current 59–41 Democratic majority, gives Republicans the ability to block legislation from coming to a vote.
At a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus in late March 2009, President Obama reportedly upbraided DeFazio for his vote against the stimulus. "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother," Obama quipped, according to the Associated Press
, while urging DeFazio to support his budget proposal. DeFazio, speaking to press after the exchange, professed that he was honored that Obama recognized him and the issues of his constituents.
DeFazio made headlines in mid-November 2009 when he suggested, in an interview with liberal
MSNBC
commentator Ed Schultz
, that President Obama should fire Treasury Secretary
Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director
Lawrence Summers
. "We may have to sacrifice just two more jobs to get back millions for Americans," said DeFazio. The quote made top headlines at progressive news blog
The Huffington Post
. DeFazio also suggested that a formal call by the Congressional Progressive Caucus for Geithner and Summers to be removed might be forthcoming.
In 2009, DeFazio proposed a financial transaction tax
for within the United States
only (not internationally). (See DeFazio financial transaction tax.)
resigned in early September 1995, DeFazio ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate
in a special primary
, losing to 3rd District Congressman Ron Wyden
. Wyden started out with clear advantages over DeFazio; more seniority, a base in the large Portland
media market and more cash on hand in his campaign committee. However, DeFazio's scrappy campaign style, underscored by his TV ads featuring his populist musings while driving in his Dodge Dart
, made him a favorite among many Democratic activists. Ultimately, DeFazio lost to Wyden by only 5% in the early Dec. 1995 primary, despite his early lead of 20%. Wyden, bruised by the primary and trailing State Senator Gordon H. Smith, managed to pull of a 2% upset against Smith in the Jan. 1996 special general election.
. He and his wife, Myrnie Daut, reside in Springfield
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
, Roseburg
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and part of Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
. As Oregon's most senior member of Congress, he is the dean
Dean of the United States House of Representatives
The Dean of the United States House of Representatives is the longest continuously serving member of the House. The present Dean is John Dingell, a Democrat of Michigan....
of Oregon's House of Representatives delegation. A native of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and a veteran of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, he previously served as a county commissioner in Lane County, Oregon
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
.
Early life, education, and pre-congressional career
DeFazio was born in Needham, MassachusettsNeedham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, a suburb of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. He credits his great-uncle with shaping his politics; when he was a boy, that great-uncle almost never said "Republican" without saying "bastard" (or "bastud," as it usually sounds in the Boston accent
Boston accent
The Boston dialect is the dialect characteristic of English spoken in the city of Boston and much of eastern Massachusetts. The accent and closely related accents can be heard commonly in an area stretching into much of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and areas of south-western Nova Scotia...
). He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1967 to 1971. He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in 1969 and a Master of Arts
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
degree from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1977.
DeFazio worked as a gerontologist
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
. From 1977 to 1982, DeFazio worked as an aide for U.S. Representative Jim Weaver
James H. Weaver
James Howard "Jim" Weaver is a former Democratic U.S. congressman from Oregon.-Early life:Weaver enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of seventeen and served in World War II on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific...
. He was elected as a Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
Commissioner in 1983 and served as chairman from 1985 to 1986.
Elections
In 1986, DeFazio ran for Oregon's 4th congressional districtOregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
, vacated by retiring incumbent Democrat Jim Weaver. DeFazio narrowly won in a competitive three-way primary against State Senators Bill Bradbury
Bill Bradbury
Bill Bradbury is an American politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he grew up in Chicago and Pennsylvania before moving to the West Coast where he worked in broadcast journalism before running for public office. Democrat, he served as Oregon Secretary of State from 1999...
and Margie Hendrikson 34%-33%-31%. He won the general election with 54% of the vote.
After his first election, he has won re-election with at least 61% of the vote, until 2010. He has forged a nearly unbreakable hold on a district which is only marginally Democratic on paper: it narrowly voted for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2000 and John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in 2004.
2008
DeFazio won 82% of the vote over two minor party candidates.
Earlier, he reportedly considered and re-considered running against Smith for the 2008 Senate election. On April 20, 2007, DeFazio announced he would not run for Smith's seat.
After Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
was elected president in 2008, it was reported that DeFazio was under consideration for nomination as Obama's Secretary of Transportation
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
.
However, fellow U.S. Representative Ray LaHood
Ray LaHood
Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood is a Republican politician from Illinois who is currently the United States Secretary of Transportation, having served since 2009. Previously, he represented the Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms .-Early life and...
was named to the post in December 2008.
2010
In 2010, DeFazio was challenged by Republican Art Robinson
Arthur B. Robinson
Arthur B. Robinson is an American scientist and activist. He is the founder, president, and professor of chemistry at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, which describes itself as a research institute that studies protein chemistry, nutrition, and predictive and preventive medicine...
and Pacific Green candidate Michael Beilstein. As a result of the SCOTUS decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, , was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that the First Amendment prohibits government from censoring political broadcasts in candidate elections when those broadcasts are funded by corporations or unions...
, a so-called Super PAC
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
group called The Concerned Taxpayers of America paid $300,000 for ads attacking De Fazio and $150,000 for ads attacking Frank Kratovil
Frank Kratovil
Frank Michael Kratovil Jr., is the former U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He was defeated in his bid for reelection on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It was not revealed until the mid-October 2010 quarterly FEC
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
filings that the group was solely funded by $300,000 from Daniel G. Schuster Inc., a concrete firm in Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 20,193 at the 2000 census. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus for the Baltimore Metro Subway and to Owings Mills Mall....
, and $200,000 from New York hedge fund executive Robert Mercer, the co-head of Renaissance Technologies of Setauket, New York. The FEC filings prior to then listed only a Capitol Hill address and Republican political consultant Jason Miller as treasurer. According to Dan Eggen
Dan Eggen
Dan Eggen is a Norwegian football coach and former player. He is currently coaching Kolbotn IL in the Norwegian Premier League for women. He was capped 25 times for Norway, scoring two goals.-Biography:...
at The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, the group claims "it was formed in September 'to engage citizens from every walk of life and political affiliation' in the fight against 'runaway spending.'" The only expenditures have been for these ads.
DeFazio won with 54% of the vote, his lowest winning percentage since he was first elected in 1986.
Tenure
DeFazio has a progressive voting record. He voted against the Telecommunications Act of 1996Telecommunications Act of 1996
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major overhaul of United States telecommunications law in nearly 62 years, amending the Communications Act of 1934. This Act, signed by President Bill Clinton, was a major stepping stone towards the future of telecommunications, since this was the...
—one of only 16 congressmen to do so. DeFazio particularly objected to a provision that deregulated the cable television industry. According to DeFazio, many of his fellow Democrats later realized "they were idiots" for backing the bill. He was also the only Oregonian who voted against both NAFTA and GATT. On the issue of abortion, DeFazio is strongly pro-choice, earning a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
in 2010. He is a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Congressional Progressive Caucus
The Congressional Progressive Caucus is the largest caucus within the Democratic caucus in the United States Congress with 83 declared members, and works to advance progressive issues and positions....
, and was its chairman from 2003 to 2005.
In 2008, DeFazio and California representative Pete Stark
Pete Stark
Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently he is the 5th most senior Representative, as well as 6th most senior member of Congress overall...
signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
proposing a one quarter of one percent transaction tax on all trades in financial instruments including stocks, options, and futures. Subsequently DeFazio introduced the No BAILOUT Act.
Somewhat controversially, DeFazio declined to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
, voting against the final stimulus package on February 13, 2009. He was one of only seven House Democrats to vote "nay" on the bill. DeFazio said that his vote against the bill was due to his frustration over compromises made to win support from moderate Republicans in the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, saying, "I couldn't justify borrowing money for tax cuts," in reference to a bipartisan group's decision to cut funding for education and infrastructure initiatives the Oregon congressman had supported in favor of more tax reductions. He also advocated that the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
change its cloture
Cloture
In parliamentary procedure, cloture is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end. It is also called closure or, informally, a guillotine. The cloture procedure originated in the French National Assembly, from which the name is taken. Clôture is French for "ending" or "conclusion"...
rules, doing away with the filibuster that, in the current 59–41 Democratic majority, gives Republicans the ability to block legislation from coming to a vote.
At a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus in late March 2009, President Obama reportedly upbraided DeFazio for his vote against the stimulus. "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother," Obama quipped, according to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, while urging DeFazio to support his budget proposal. DeFazio, speaking to press after the exchange, professed that he was honored that Obama recognized him and the issues of his constituents.
DeFazio made headlines in mid-November 2009 when he suggested, in an interview with liberal
Liberalism in the United States
Liberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process...
MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
commentator Ed Schultz
Ed Schultz
Edward Andrew "Ed" Schultz Is an American television and radio host and a liberal political commentator . He is the host of The Ed Show, a daily news talk program on MSNBC, and The Ed Schultz Show, a talk radio show, nationally syndicated by Dial Global, promising "straight talk."-Early...
, that President Obama should fire Treasury Secretary
United States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director
National Economic Council
The National Economic Council of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering economic policy matters, separate from matters relating to domestic policy, which are the domain of the Domestic Policy Council...
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
. "We may have to sacrifice just two more jobs to get back millions for Americans," said DeFazio. The quote made top headlines at progressive news blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
. DeFazio also suggested that a formal call by the Congressional Progressive Caucus for Geithner and Summers to be removed might be forthcoming.
In 2009, DeFazio proposed a financial transaction tax
Financial transaction tax
A financial transaction tax is a tax placed on a specific type of financial transaction for a specific purpose.This term has been most commonly associated with the financial sector, as opposed to consumption taxes paid by consumers. However, it is not a taxing of the financial institutions themselves...
for within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
only (not internationally). (See DeFazio financial transaction tax.)
Committee assignments
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Water and PowerUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and PowerThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Water and Power
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on AviationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on AviationThe Subcommittee on Aviation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over civil aviation, including most aspects of the Federal Aviation Administration , the Transportation Security Administration, and the National...
- Subcommittee on Highways and TransitUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and TransitThe House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee oversees highway, transit, and highway safety programs in the United States, as well as policy governing how highway and transit projects...
(Ranking Member) - Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsThe Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...
- Subcommittee on Aviation
Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Biomass CaucusCongressional Biomass CaucusThe Congressional Biomass Caucus is a bipartisan caucus of the United States House of Representatives co-chaired by Representatives Charles Bass and Peter Welch . It was officially registered with the Committee on House Administration, the house committee responsible for regulating caucuses, on...
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- House Small Brewer's Caucus (Founder and Co-Chair)
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Organic Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Northwest Energy Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Animal Protection Caucus
- Bike Caucus
- Coast Guard Caucus
- Community Health Care Caucus
- Democratic Caucus
- Healthy Forest Caucus
- Human Rights Caucus
- Indian Caucus
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
- Pro-Choice Caucus
- Rural Caucus
- Waterways Caucus
1995
After Senator Bob PackwoodBob Packwood
Robert William "Bob" Packwood is a U.S. politician from Oregon and a member of the Republican Party. He resigned from the United States Senate, under threat of expulsion, in 1995 after allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and assault of women emerged.-Early life and career:Packwood was born in...
resigned in early September 1995, DeFazio ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in a special primary
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, losing to 3rd District Congressman Ron Wyden
Ron Wyden
Ronald Lee "Ron" Wyden is the senior U.S. Senator for Oregon, serving since 1996, and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996....
. Wyden started out with clear advantages over DeFazio; more seniority, a base in the large Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
media market and more cash on hand in his campaign committee. However, DeFazio's scrappy campaign style, underscored by his TV ads featuring his populist musings while driving in his Dodge Dart
Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart is an automobile built by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1960-1976 in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a...
, made him a favorite among many Democratic activists. Ultimately, DeFazio lost to Wyden by only 5% in the early Dec. 1995 primary, despite his early lead of 20%. Wyden, bruised by the primary and trailing State Senator Gordon H. Smith, managed to pull of a 2% upset against Smith in the Jan. 1996 special general election.
1996
Many Democrats wanted DeFazio to then run for the seat of Senator Mark Hatfield, who announced right after the special primary election that he would not seek re-election in 1996. However, Democrats with influence over campaign cash, chiefly Senator and Democratic Senate Campaign Committee chair Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and former Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt strongly recruited and promoted self-made millionaire and Mentor Graphics founder, Tom Bruggere. Faced with the prospect of having to raise huge sums of money to take on Bruggere in the primary and then millionaire Smith in the General Election, DeFazio announced in February 1996 that he would not run. Bruggere easily won the primary but lost to Smith narrowly in November, 1996Personal life
DeFazio is a member of the Roman Catholic ChurchCatholicism and American politics
Members of the Catholic Church have been active in the politics of the United States since the mid 19th century. The U.S. has never had an important religious party...
. He and his wife, Myrnie Daut, reside in Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
.
See also
- DeFazio financial transaction tax
- National Security and Homeland Security Presidential DirectiveNational Security and Homeland Security Presidential DirectiveThe National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive , created and signed by United States President George W...
- Continuity of Operations PlanContinuity of Operations PlanContinuity of Operations is a United States Federal initiative, required by Presidential directive, to ensure that agencies are able to continue performance of essential functions under a broad range of circumstances....
External links
- Congressman DeFazio official U.S. House site
- DeFazio for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...