David Dreier

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David Dreier
David Dreier, official portrait, 111th Congress.jpg
Chairman of the Annenberg-Dreier Commission, and former 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
Chairman of the House Rules Committee
In office
2011–2013
Preceded by Louise Slaughter
Succeeded by Pete Sessions
In office
1999–2007
Preceded by Gerald B. H. Solomon
Succeeded by Louise Slaughter
Personal details
Born (1952-07-05) July 5, 1952 (age 60)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Political party Republican
Residence Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Alma mater Claremont Graduate University
Claremont McKenna College
Occupation Commission chairman; entrepreneur
Religion Christian Science

David Timothy Dreier (born July 5, 1952) is Chairman of the Annenberg-Dreier Commission on the Greater Pacific, launched in February 2013. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981-2013, and was Chairman of the Rules Committee. He is a member of the Republican Party,

Dreier is a Distinguished Fellow of the Brookings Institution, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the board of the International Republican Institute. He was the founding chairman of the bi-partisan House Democracy Partnership, which works directly with legislatures in sixteen countries around the globe, helping to build democratic institutions in new and re-emerging democracies. Additionally, he was the founding chair of the Congressional Trade Working Group that has built support for trade agreements for more than twenty years.

Contents

Early life, education, and business career[edit]

Dreier was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where his family continues to be active in real estate development; he is vice president of Dreier Development Company in Kansas City. Dreier attended The Principia Upper School in St. Louis, Missouri, a private boarding school for Christian Scientists, where he served as student body president. After high school, Drier attended Claremont Men's College (now Claremont McKenna College) and graduated with a B.A. from the College in 1975 and an M.A. from the Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University) in 1976. He was director of corporate relations for Claremont McKenna College before entering the House.

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

Before 2004[edit]

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.[1] 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%.[2] He won the 1982 general election with 65%.[3] 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.[4]

2004 election[edit]

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.[5] Dreier was accused of not supporting reimbursement of expenses incurred by state and local governments to serve illegal immigrants, supporting increases in the numbers of H1B visas allowed for skilled workers, not acting effectively enough in obtaining the extradition of a suspect who allegedly killed a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy, and supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants. The immigration attacks were especially damaging.

The National Republican Congressional Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) against The "John and Ken Show" on Los Angeles AM radio station KFI alleging that the hosts, employees of Clear Channel Communications were engaging in an illegal contribution to Matthews' campaign. The hosts held regular anti-Dreier rallies at his Glendora field office, had Matthews on frequently to discuss her positions on immigration, and dissected statements made by Dreier to other media outlets. Following his "outing" by L.A. Weekly in late September 2004, Dreier's sexual orientation and relationship to chief-of-staff Brad Smith were also discussed on the show.

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.[6]

Dreier won with 54% of the vote.[7][8]

After 2004[edit]

In 2006, he won re-election in rematch against Matthews 57% to 38%, despite the fact Republicans lost the majority that year.[9] In 2008, Dreier won re-election against Democrat Russ Warner with 53% of the vote, his worst re-election performance of his career.[10][11] In 2010, he defeated Warner in a rematch with 54% of the vote.[12]

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.[13] He eventually decided to retire,[14] as did also Representative Lewis.

Tenure[edit]

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 chairmanshipn during the 112th Congress.[15]

Dreier has also served as chairman of California's Republican Congressional Delegation since 2001. Dreier was a major player in helping elect Arnold Schwarzenegger in California's 2003 recall election, and is a frequent guest on the political talk show circuit. Whenever Dreier recognizes his colleagues to yield time, he usually mentions the hometown of the member, not just the state that member represents as all other representatives do. He referred to former Rules Committee Chairman Gerald B. H. Solomon as the "gentleman from Glens Falls, New York" and current Rules Committee ranking member Louise Slaughter as the "gentlelady from Rochester".

Throughout his early congressional service, Dreier established a record as a strong supporter of tax cuts and of President Reagan's anti-Communist foreign policy. One of the youngest as well as the first Rules chairman from California, Dreier plays a pivotal role in fashioning legislation promoting Republican Party positions on Social Security, child education, taxes, and national security.

Locally, Dreier is well known for supporting local institutions such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Metro Gold Line, and advocates for transportation improvements such as railroad grade separations and highway expansion. He supported bipartisan efforts to create legislation to prevent runaway film production.

Dreier has served for many years as a trustee of Claremont McKenna College, his undergraduate alma mater, which falls within his Congressional district.[16]

According to Roll Call magazine, Dreier has a personal fortune in excess of $7.5 million[17] and as much as $29 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.[18]

Dreier is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership. He is a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute.[19]

Dreier was also involved in proposing the Peace Officer Justice Act. This bill, if it becomes law, would make it a federal offense to flee the United States after having murdered a police officer. This legislation was strongly opposed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.[20]

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.[21]

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,[22] 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."[23]

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus memberships[edit]

Leadership bid[edit]

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.[24] 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".[25]

Rumors about Dreier's 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.”[26][27]

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.[28] Rep. John Boehner was later elected House majority leader.

On February 29, 2012, Drier announced that upon completion of his current term as a member of the United States Congress that he would not be seeking re-election.[29] His tenure ended in the midst of the Fiscal Cliff.

Post-congressional career[edit]

Annenberg-Dreier Commission[edit]

On February 20, 2013 at a ceremony in Rancho Mirage, California, the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands announced that Dreier would lead the new Annenberg-Dreier Commission on the Greater Pacific. The mission of the Commission is to promote the free flow of goods, services, capital, information, ideas, and people throughout the Greater Pacific, in order to spur innovation and economic growth. The Commission draws on the expertise of a distinguished group of experts from the Asia-Pacific.

In remarks delivered at Sunnylands, the home of the late Lenore and Walter Annenberg. Dreier said “I have always believed it is important to overcome barriers between people and nations...Nations throughout the Greater Pacific are rapidly expanding financial, social, commercial, scientific, demographic, and political ties. These connections are reshaping national policies and highlighting shared interests in this region, which represents well over half the world’s population and GDP." He added: "Ongoing efforts to achieve an ambitious new multilateral trans-Pacific trade agreement underscore the centrality of these exchanges to our future economic competitiveness, growth, and security.”

Dreier is a longtime advocate of free trade as an engine of growth and opportunity. In Congress he was a strong ally of both Democratic and Republican administrations in support of passage of free trade agreements. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal April 12, 2013, “China Belongs in the Pacific Trade Talks,” Dreier made a case for engaging China in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, highlghting it as an "affirmative and inclusive" multilateral initiative that focuses on such issues as data flows, financial regulations, and intellectual property. "It is in the interests of the U.S. that China be part of this partnership. It is inconceivable that either nation could thrive if the other doesn't. . . . China and the U.S. are destined to be the two most important powers of the 21st century. As a practical matter, we must be able to reconcile somewhat divergent but not opposed views and interests. Today's opportunities are historic—and our response to them must be too.”

Personal life[edit]

Dreier is a descendant of Richard Bland Lee, a congressman from Virginia who served on the first Rules Committee empaneled by the House of Representatives.[30] He lives in Beverly Hills, California.

Electoral history[edit]

California's 35th congressional district: Results 1980[31]
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 1982–1990[31][32]
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 1992–2000[31][32]
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 2002–2010[31][32]
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[edit]

  1. ^ "CA District 35 Race". Our Campaigns. November 4, 1980. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  2. ^ "CA District 33 - R Primary Race". Our Campaigns. June 8, 1982. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  3. ^ "CA District 33 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 1982. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  4. ^ "Candidate - David Dreier". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  5. ^ "Dreier targeted on immigration". The Washington Times. October 31, 2004. 
  6. ^ David Dreier of the 26th Congressional district of California: Why he still needs to go in '06 - Calblog, 8 November 2004
  7. ^ "California". CNN. Retrieved May 1, 2010. 
  8. ^ "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2004. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  9. ^ "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  10. ^ http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/23_34_us_reps.pdf
  11. ^ "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 4, 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  12. ^ "CA - District 26 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  13. ^ "CA - District 31 - Open Primary Race". Our Campaigns. June 5, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  14. ^ Simon, Richard (29 February 2012). "Rep. David Dreier decides against seeking reelection". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2012. 
  15. ^ "Press Release: Dreier Selected as Rules Committee Chair for 112th Congress". Dreier.house.gov. December 16, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  16. ^ "Claremont McKenna Board of Trustees". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 
  17. ^ "David Dreier". NNDB. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  18. ^ David Dreier: Campaign Finance/ Money. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  19. ^ "Board of Directors and Officers". International Republican Institute. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  20. ^ www.escapingjustice.com
  21. ^ Gorman, Anna (May 17, 2008). "Tax rebate exclusions prompt protest". Los Angeles Times. 
  22. ^ Associated Press, 28 August 2007
  23. ^ "This House member is no stand-up guy". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2007. 
  24. ^ Republicans dump gay leader, pick House Whip Blunt - The Raw Story, 28 September 2005
  25. ^ Lochhead, Carolyn (September 29, 2005). "Californian looked likely, but Missouri lawmaker takes DeLay post". The San Francisco Chronicle. 
  26. ^ 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. 
  27. ^ "Barney Frank: Dreier's orientation cost him the House leadership". Advocate. October 15, 2005. Retrieved 2012-06-03. [dead link]
  28. ^ "DeLay blasts indictment, prosecutor". CNN. September 29, 2005. Retrieved 2012-06-03. 
  29. ^ Kane, Paul (February 29, 2012). "Rep. David Dreier to retire at end of year". The Washington Post. 
  30. ^ David Dreier, CQ's Politics in America 2006, 109th Congress, Congressional Quarterly Publications (2006)
  31. ^ a b c d "Office of the House Clerk – Electoral Statistics". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. 
  32. ^ a b c "Election Results". Federal Election Commission. 

External links[edit]

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 House Rules Committee
1999–2007		 Succeeded by
Louise Slaughter
New York
Preceded by
Louise Slaughter
New York		 Chairman of House Rules Committee
2011–2013		 Succeeded by
Pete Sessions
Texas
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