Charles Bass

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Charlie Bass
Charles Bass 112th Congress Portrait.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Paul Hodes
Succeeded by Ann McLane Kuster
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by Richard Swett
Succeeded by Paul Hodes
Member of the New Hampshire Senate for District 11
In office
1988–1992
Preceded by Jean White
Succeeded by David Wheeler
Personal details
Born (1952-01-08) January 8, 1952 (age 61)
Boston, Massachusetts
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Lisa Bass
Residence Peterborough, New Hampshire
Alma mater Dartmouth College
Religion Episcopalian

Charles Foster "Charlie" Bass (born January 8, 1952) is a former U.S. Representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party. He held the seat from 1995 to 2007 and from 2011 to 2013.[1] He is the son of Perkins Bass, who also represented the same New Hampshire district from 1955 to 1963. In 2012, Bass lost his reelection bid to the Democratic nominee Ann Kuster.

Contents

Early life, education, and early political career [edit]

Bass was born in Boston to Katharine and Perkins Bass.[2] His father served as a Republican U.S. Congressman from New Hampshire in the 1950s and 1960s. Bass's grandfather Robert Bass served as Republican governor of New Hampshire from 1911 to 1912, founded the Progressive Republican movement, and was a friend/confidant of President Teddy Roosevelt.

Charles Bass attended the Holderness School in Holderness, New Hampshire, where he was elected President of the school in his senior year. Bass graduated from Dartmouth College in 1974.

During 1974 Bass worked for Maine Republican U.S. Congressman William Cohen. From 1975 to 1979 Bass worked for Maine Republican U.S. Congressman David F. Emery. Bass served in the New Hampshire General Court from 1982 to 1988.

New Hampshire Senate [edit]

In 1988, he ran for the New Hampshire Senate and defeated incumbent Jean White in the Republican primary.[3] He served there until 1992. While in the State Senate, he represented Peterborough.[4] He was a supporter of tort reform and some abortion rights.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Elections [edit]

1980

After incumbent Republican U.S. Congressman James Cleveland of New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district decided to retire, Bass decided to run. Judd Gregg won the Republican primary with 34% of the vote. Susan McLane ranked second with 25%, Bass ranked third with 22%, Robert Sweet ranked fourth with 7%, and three other candidates obtained 3% each.[6]

1994

Bass ran for the 2nd District again. He won the Republican primary with a plurality of 29% of the vote.[7] In the general election, he defeated incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman Dick Swett 51%-46%.[8]

1996

In the Republican primary, he was challenged by four candidates. He won with 66% of the vote.[9] In the general election, he won re-election to a second term against Arnie Arnesen 51%-44%.[10]

1998

He won re-election to a third term against Mary Rauh 53%-45%.[11]

2000

He won re-election to a fourth term against Barney Brannen 56%-41%.[12]

2002

He won re-election to a fifth term against Katrina Swett 57%-41%.[13]

2004

He won re-election to a sixth term against Paul Hodes 59%-38%, his best election performance of his career.[14]

2006
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2006#District 2

Hodes ran against Bass in a rematch. Hodes defeated the incumbent 53%-46%.[15]

2010
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2010#District 2

Incumbent Democrat Paul Hodes, who ousted Bass in 2006, decided to retire in 2010 to run for the U.S. Senate. Bass ran for his old seat and narrowly defeated Democratic nominee Ann McLane Kuster, Libertarian nominee Howard Wilson, and Independent candidate Tim vanBlommesteyn.

2012
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2012#District 2

Bass sought reelection in 2012. He again faced Ann McLane Kuster. On Novermber 6th he lost his reelection bid to Kuster by 50%-45% [16]

Tenure (1994-2006; 2011-2013) [edit]

Bass was elected to Congress in 1994, where he served for twelve years.[17] As part of the 1994 Republican Revolution, he signed Newt Gingrich's Contract With America.[18]

Bass was among the first and most vocal congressmen to demand that Tom DeLay step aside as House Majority Leader in 2005 and led the petition that resulted in DeLay's removal from House leadership.[citation needed]

Bass is a member of the Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans For Choice PAC, and Republicans for Environmental Protection. He is a Director and former head of The Republican Main Street Partnership, a coalition of centrist Republicans.[19]

Abortion

Bass believes that abortion should be legal and supports the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade.[20] He receives strong ratings from pro-choice interest groups and relatively low ratings from pro-life groups. In 2005, NARAL Pro-Choice America reported that his voting record aligned with the group’s interests 100% of the time, and in 2006, Planned Parenthood reported an 82% rating for the same statistic. From 2003 to 2004, the National Right to Life Committee reported that he supported the group’s interests in 27% of his votes.[21] Although Bass supports the continued legalization of abortion, he does not support federal funding for abortion, or the legalization of partial-birth abortions.[22] In 2010, he stated, “I support the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision; however, I oppose federal funding of abortions (Hyde Amendment) and support banning of so-called partial-birth abortions.”[22] He consistently voted for bills banning the practice of late term or partial- birth abortion, including H.R. 3660 [106th]: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2000 and H.R. 760 [108th]: Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.[23]

Environment

Bass supports environmental protection regulations and alternative energy sources. He voted against Republican amendments of the FY 2011 spending bill, which would defund many environmental protection measures, such as the modification of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the designation of fossil fuel combustion waste as hazardous material, and the enforcement of mining regulations from the EPA.[24] He states on his official website that he supports the promotion of "clean, alternative energies that will lessen our dependence on foreign sources of oil," a position he has upheld by voting for the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which appropriates large amounts of funding for the pursuit of renewable energy.[25] He defines his position on climate change, stating, “The overwhelming scientific evidence points to the existence of global climate change.” [26]

Publicly Administered Health Insurance

Although Congressman Bass recognizes a need for health care reform, he opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and supports its repeal. He believes that the act will saddle “future generations of Americans with mountains of unsustainable debt" and, instead, advocates creating an interstate health insurance market to increase competition and form a larger risk pool.[26] Congressman Bass voted for H.R. 1217 – To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund in 2011, a bill that would end funding to the Prevention and Public Health Fund of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[27]

Gay Rights

After losing reelection in 2012, Bass came out in favor of same-sex marriage as a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.[28]

Committee assignments [edit]

Caucus Memberships [edit]

  • Congressional Arts Caucus
  • Congressional Biomass Caucus (co-chair)
  • Bipartisan Medical Technology Caucus
  • Congressional Fire Services Caucus
  • Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus
  • Congressional Rural Caucus
  • Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
  • Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
  • General Aviation Caucus
  • House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
  • House Republican Cyber-Security Team
  • The New England Congressional Caucus (co-chair)
  • Northeast Agriculture Caucus
  • Rural Health Care Caucus, Steering Committee[29]

Business career (2007–2009) [edit]

Bass is a business consultant to renewable energy companies. He has been on the Board of Managers of New England Wood Pellet, a producer of clean burning wood pellets, located in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, since January 2007.

In March 2006, the company publicly credited Bass with setting up a February 2006 meeting in New Hampshire between its president, Steven Walker, and Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. In March 2007, Bass reported on his financial disclosure statement that he had bought shares in the company in January and November 2006. But in October 2010 he said that his initial purchase had been in January 2007, after he left office.[30]

In 2009, Bass joined the Board of Directors of Laidlaw Biopower, LLC,[31] a developer of biomass power plants in the northeastern United States.[32]

Electoral history [edit]

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district: Results 1996–2006; 2010–[33]
Year Republican Votes Pct Democrat Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
1994 Charlie Bass 83,121 51.44 Richard Swett 74,243 45.95 John Lewicke Libertarian 2,986 1.85 Linda Spitzfaden Natural Law 1,223 0.76
1996 Charlie Bass 123,001 50.50 Arnie Arnesen 105,867 43.46 Carole Lamirande Independent 10,757 4.42
1998 Charlie Bass 85,740 53.13 Mary Rauh 72,217 44.75 Paula Werme Libertarian 3338 2.07
2000 Charlie Bass 152,581 56.19 Barney Brannen 110,367 40.64 Brian Christeson Libertarian 3338 2.07 Roy Kendel Constitution 2204 0.81
2002 Charlie Bass 125,804 56.81 Katrina Swett 90,479 40.86 Rosalie Babiarz Libertarian 5,051 2.28
2004 Charlie Bass 191,188 58.25 Paul Hodes 125,280 38.17 Richard Kahn Libertarian 11,311 3.45
2006 Charlie Bass 94,012 45.61 Paul Hodes 108,634 52.71 Ken Blevens Libertarian 3,305 1.60
2010 Charlie Bass 108,630 48.35 Ann McLane Kuster 105,060 46.76 Howard L. Wilson Libertarian 4,796 2.13 Tim vanBlommesteyn Independent 6,195 2.76

Personal life [edit]

Bass currently resides in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

References [edit]

  1. ^ POSTED: 11:09 pm EDT November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02). "Bass Wins Tight 2nd District Race - Politics News Story - WMUR New Hampshire". Wmur.com. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  2. ^ "Ancestry.com". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  3. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hN4lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1fkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6182,3583935&dq=charlie+bass+new+hampshire&hl=en
  4. ^ Nyhan, David (September 15, 1992). "Past v. future in N.H". Boston Globe. 
  5. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KAogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HWUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1739,6351520&dq=charlie+bass+new+hampshire&hl=en
  6. ^ "NH District 2 - R Primary Race - Sep 09, 1980". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  7. ^ "NH District 2 - R Primary Race - Sep 13, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  8. ^ "NH District 2 Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  9. ^ "NH District 2 - R Primary Race - Sep 10, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  10. ^ "NH District 2 Race - Nov 05, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  11. ^ "NH District 2 Race - Nov 03, 1998". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  12. ^ "NH District 2 Race - Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  13. ^ "NH District 2 Race - Nov 05, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  14. ^ "NH - District 02 Race - Nov 02, 2004". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  15. ^ "NH - District 02 Race - Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  16. ^ "WCAX.com". 
  17. ^ "BASS, Charles Foster - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  18. ^ ""Kuster ties Bass to Bush" (October 5, 2010)". Concord Monitor. Retrieved 2012-01-20. 
  19. ^ "Board of Directors". Republican Main Street Partnership. Retrieved 2009-10-04. 
  20. ^ "2nd Congressional District Candidates On the Issues- Commitment 2010". Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  21. ^ "Interest Group Rating". Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  22. ^ a b "2nd Congressional District Candidates On The Issues - Commitment 2010". WMUR New Hampshire. Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  23. ^ "Legislation". Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  24. ^ Kasperowicz, Pete. "Bass, Reichert oppose GOP environmental measures in budget debate". The Hill. Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  25. ^ "2nd Congressional District Candidates On The Issues - Commitment 2010". Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  26. ^ a b "Issue Positions". Vote Smart. Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  27. ^ "Legislation". Vote Smart. Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  28. ^ http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/the-pro-freedom-republicans-are-coming-131-sign-gay-marriage-brief.html
  29. ^ a b "Biographical". Vote Smart. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
  30. ^ Kevin Landrigan (October 14, 2010). "House candidate admits mistake on financial form". Nashua Telegraph. 
  31. ^ "Former NH Congressman Bass to Join Laidlaw’s Board". Laidlaw Energy. March 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-010-04. 
  32. ^ Aaron Blake (2009-09-30). "Former Rep. Bass opens committee for old seat". The Hill. Retrieved 2009-10-04. 
  33. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 

External links [edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Richard Swett		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district
1995–2007		 Succeeded by
Paul Hodes
Preceded by
Paul Hodes		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district
2011–present		 Succeeded by
Ann McLane Kuster
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Bass&oldid=543781808"