Jaime Herrera Beutler

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Jaime Herrera Beutler
Jaime Herrera Beutler, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Brian Baird
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 18th district
In office
November 2007 – January 2011
Preceded by Richard Curtis
Succeeded by Ann Rivers
Personal details
Born (1978-11-03) November 3, 1978 (age 34)[1]
Glendale, California[1]
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Daniel Beutler
Residence Camas, Washington
Religion Christian[1]
Website Official website

Jaime Herrera Beutler (pron.: /ˈbʌtlər/ BUT-lər;[2] born Jaime Lynn Herrera; November 3, 1978) is an American politician, who is currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district, serving since January 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party, and is the second youngest female U.S. Representative. She is a former Senior Legislative Aide for U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane) and a former state representative for the 18th Legislative District in Washington State. In November 2012, she was reelected in a landslide over Jon T. Haugen.[3] She began her second term in January 2013.

Contents

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

Jaime Lynn Herrera was born in Glendale, California, and raised in Southwest Washington. She graduated from Prairie High School, where she played basketball and the University of Washington. She earned a B.A. in Communications. She often alludes to growing up in Washington, as shown in a 2012 campaign ad.

Herrera served as an intern in both the Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of Political Affairs. In 2004 she was an intern in the office of Washington State Senator Joe Zarelli, who would later support her campaigns.[4] She was a Senior Legislative Aide for U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane).

W.A. House of Representatives [edit]

Elections [edit]

Herrera moved back to the 18th legislative district to run for state representative (map), and was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives in 2007 to replace former Rep. Richard Curtis, who resigned amid a sex scandal. She went on to win the election to retain her seat in 2008 with 60% of the vote, a similar percent as to what she would win in her 2012 US Congressional reelection.[5]

Tenure [edit]

She was elected as Assistant Floor Leader, the youngest member of her party's leadership in the State House. Her first sponsored bill gave tax relief to business owners serving in the military. It was signed into law by Democrat Governor Christine Gregoire on March 27, 2008.[6]

She opposed Senate Bill 5967, which would require cities, school districts, and private leagues to adopt polices assuring that their community athletic programs to have gender equality. She thought it was unnecessary.[7]

Committee assignments [edit]

  • Health Care and Wellness
  • Human Services
  • Transportation[8]

U.S. House of Representatives [edit]

Elections [edit]

2010
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2010#District 3

Herrera ran for Washington's 3rd congressional district, which was an open seat of retiring Democratic incumbent Brian Baird. Herrera advanced to the general election with 28% of the vote, well ahead of fellow Republican candidates David Hedrick and David Castillo. State Representative Denny Heck, a Democrat, ranked first with 31% of the vote.[9][10][11]

During her campaign Herrera raised $1,557,220.57 in donations with 62% of contributions coming from individual contributors and 35% coming from political action committees.[12] The biggest single contributor was the construction and mining contactor Kiewit Corporation, one of the largest contractors in the world.[12] Herrera pledged to provide solutions in Southwest Washington to help stimulate their economy. She praised the “Pledge to America” released by Congressional Republican leadership, which included ideas such as extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and offering small businesses 20% tax deductions.[13] She distinguished her plans for economic recovery from Democratic nominee Denny Heck’s asserting that the country is going in the wrong direction, and she would offer a new approach. Herrera stated in a press release that government needs to be reigned in and that “More government spending won't create permanent, private sector jobs; it will jeopardize them…we need government to let entrepreneurs and investors do what they do best and grow businesses. Only then will new jobs be created in Southwest Washington.”[14] Although she received support from state Republican leaders U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, Herrera stresses her independence with statements such as, "Neither political party has all the answers."[15] The Columbian has called her "a rising star in the Republican Party".[15]

In the November general election, Herrera defeated Heck 53%-47%. She won the five of the district's six counties.[16]

2012
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2010#District 3

Herrera announced her intention to seek re-election in January 2012. She quickly outraised her two opponents, Democrat Jon Haugen, and Independent Norma Jean Stevens. She won the open primary with 61% of the vote.[3] By the end of the election, she had raised more than $1.5 million, to Haugen's $10,000.[17] In the November general election, she defeated Haugen 60%-40%.[18]

Tenure [edit]

Hererra speaking on the house floor on November 30, 2012 concerning the Stem Jobs ACT of 2012.

On December 22, 2010, she announced that she has taken her husband's name and will now go by Jaime Herrera Beutler.[2]

On January 24, 2011, Jaime Herrera Beutler cosponsored a U.S. Constitutional Amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget every year. The balanced budget amendment would require the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress for approval, but provides an exception in times of national emergencies.[19]

On March 10, Herrera introduced her first bill as a member of Congress. The "Savings Start With Us" Act would reduce the salaries of Members of Congress, the President and the Vice President of the United States by 10%. In a letter to Congress, Herrera said it was unfair that Congress has voted to remove billions from the budget without cutting their own paychecks, and that this bill would “bring us [Congress] in line with the reductions we're asking the rest of the federal government to absorb.”[20][21] The bill has been co-sponsored by Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin.

On November 15, 2011, Herrera announced that she would co-sponsor a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing insider trading among members of Congress. The "Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act", originally introduced by her predecessor, Democrat Brian Baird, would prohibit members of Congress from profiting from nonpublic information they obtain through their positions.[22]

In September 2012, Herrera praised the FAA for delaying restrictions on Vancouver's Pearson Airport that were to go into effect in that month. She had encouraged the FAA to table the decision on September 17, and it was tabled on September 24.[23] Herrera joined a group of 15 congressman, including fellow Washingtonians Doc Hastings, Dave Reichert, and Jim McDermott, in October 2012, in writing a letter to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and Trade asking them to reconsider two new regulations imposed on goods exported to or imported from the United States, as Indonesia has consistently been one of the top five importers of Washington's apples, bringing in $57 million 2010 alone.[24]

On January 17, 2012, in Congressional Quarterly annual study, CQ found Hererra as being very republican, voting with her party 92% of the time, while she only supports The President 25% of the time.[25] Herrera's partisan reputation has softened however as her stay in Congress has lengthened.[26]

Committee assignments [edit]

Personal life [edit]

In August 2008, Herrera Beutler married her husband, Daniel Beutler, who works for SeaPort Airlines.[2] The couple lives in Camas, Washington.[8] In May 2013, Herrera Beutler announced they were expecting their first child. She will only be the 9th woman in history to give birth while in office. [28] [29]

Electoral history [edit]

Washington's 3rd congressional district: Results 2010
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2010 Denny Heck 133,480 47% Jaime Herrera 151,220 53%
Washington's 3rd congressional district: Results 2012
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2012 Jon T. Haugen 116,438 39.62% Jaime Herrera 177,446 60.38%

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c "NPR Elections 2010: Jaime Herrera". 
  2. ^ a b c "Jaime Herrera takes husband's name, belatedly". The Seattle Times. December 22, 2010. 
  3. ^ a b Reed, Sam. [SOS.WA.GOV "Secretary of Washigton State"] Check |url= scheme (help). Sam Reed. Retrieved December 10, 2012. 
  4. ^ The Columbian July 23, 2010
  5. ^ Washington Secretary of State – Legislative District 18 – State Representative Pos. 1 – November 04, 2008 General Election Results
  6. ^ http://www.gop.gov/republicans/jaimeherrerabeutler/bio
  7. ^ http://tdn.com/business/local/capitol-dispatch-senate-democrats-argue-for-income-tax/article_ab10e5ed-f04c-53ad-b77f-455c2f4aee87.html
  8. ^ a b "Biography". State House Republicans' official website. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
  9. ^ "Jaime Herrera info". House Republicans. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
  10. ^ Rachel La Corte (August 17, 2010). "Heck, Herrera take early lead in 3rd District race". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
  11. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=572617
  12. ^ a b "Herrera Campaign Finance". Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  13. ^ "Press Release: Herrera Applauds GOP for Providing Solutions". September 27, 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  14. ^ "Press Release: New Direction Needed". September 16, 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  15. ^ a b Kathie Durbin (July 23, 2010). "Jaime Herrera: Staying ‘true to the principles’: Republican state legislator doesn’t hesitate to criticize both parties". The Columbian. Retrieved 2010-09-01. 
  16. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=487803
  17. ^ Mathieu, Stevie. "Herrera Beutler wins second term". The Columbian. 
  18. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=773791
  19. ^ "Press Release: Herrera Cosponsors a Balanced Budget Amendment". January 24, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  20. ^ "Press Release: Proposes 10% Salary Cut". March 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  21. ^ "Press ReleaseIntroduces First Bill". March 10, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  22. ^ The Columbian November 15, 2011
  23. ^ Herrera Beutler, Jaime (September 24, 2012). "Jaime Herrera Beutler applauds FAA decision to delay restrictions on Pearson Field". Office of Jaime Herrera. 
  24. ^ Wood, Kate (October 31, 2012). "Hastings, Reichert and McDermott Advocate for Washington Growers". Office of Doc Hastings. 
  25. ^ CQ Staff (January 17, 2012). "Vote Studies 2011". Congress Quarterly. 
  26. ^ The Columbian January 20, 2013
  27. ^ a b H.Res. 17 (R)
  28. ^ Foley, Elise (May 1, 2013). "Jaime Herrera Beutler Pregnant With First Child". Huffington Post. 
  29. ^ Camia, Catalina (May 1, 2013). "Is there a mom in the House? GOP rep is pregnant". USA Today. 

External links [edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Brian Baird		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 3rd congressional district
January 3, 2011 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Joe Heck
R-Nevada		 United States Representatives by seniority
308th		 Succeeded by
Tim Huelskamp
R-Kansas
Senators
Representatives
(ordered by district)
Other states'
delegations
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