Luis Gutiérrez

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Luis Gutiérrez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1993
Preceded by	George E. Sangmeister
Born	December 10, 1953 (1953-12-10) (age 55) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Soraida Arocho Gutierrez
Residence	Chicago, Illinois
Alma mater	Northeastern Illinois University
Occupation	high school teacher, social worker, taxi driver
Religion	Roman Catholic

Luis Vicente Gutiérrez (born December 10, 1953) has served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1992, representing Illinois's 4th congressional district (map).

[edit] Personal

Gutiérrez was born in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 1975.^[1] He held jobs as a high school teacher, cab driver, and social worker with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services before entering politics.^{[citation needed]}

Of Puerto Rican descent, he is a supporter of Puerto Rican independence^{[citation needed]} (although not necessarily of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, PIP), the Vieques movement,^{[citation needed]} and other liberal causes.^{[which?][citation needed]} He is a member of the US Congressional Progressive Caucus.^{[citation needed]} Gutiérrez has assembled support from a broad section^[vague] of Chicagoans, including Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans.

[edit] Chicago City Council

Gutiérrez was a member of the Chicago City Council from 1986 to 1992 before entering the House.^{[citation needed]} Representing the 26th Ward, his debut in the City Council in 1986 marked the end of the infamous Council Wars.

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

Gutiérrez became the first Hispanic to be elected to Congress from the Midwest.^{[citation needed]} The representative of a culturally diverse district,^[vague] he has run programs^[vague] on a local level to increase education levels and knowledge of the English language among immigrants. He has run workshops^[vague] within his district, which have helped approximately 40,000 people begin the process of becoming US citizens.^{[citation needed]}

Gutiérrez has also attempted to pass legislation banning immigration bills that contain language that he considers xenophobic.^{[citation needed]} He was appointed the chair of the Immigration Task Force for the 110th Congress.^{[citation needed]}

Gutierrez explored running for mayor of Chicago against incumbent Richard M. Daley but announced in November 2006 that he would remain in Congress.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade
• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law

[edit] Party leadership and Caucus membership

• Chair of the Democratic Caucus Immigration Task Force
• Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force

[edit] Payday lending legislation

In February 2009, Gutierrez introduced H.R. 1214,^[3] the "Payday Loan Reform Act of 2009,"^[4] co-sponsored by other members of the House of Representatives, including members of the House leadership.^[5]

H.R. 1214 would cap the annual percentage rate (APR) for payday loans at 391 percent in the 23 states where it is now allowed to exceed 391 percent.^[6] In testimony before Congress, a representative of the Louisiana payday lending industry opposed the bill, saying that the industry is a fee-based business similar to a short-term tool-rental store and that applying APR to it "skews reality and is illogical".^[7] An industry lobbyist said, “If Gutierrez’s bill passes, two-thirds of the payday lending businesses in America are going to go out of business.”^[8]

The bill has also been criticized by consumer advocacy groups who oppose it as "condon[ing] the predatory payday loan business model" and a gift to payday lenders.^[6][9] Consumer groups submitted testimony before the House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit on April 2, 2009, stating that H.R. 1214 authorizes interest rates of up to 391 percent APR for two-week loans, up to 782 percent APR for one-week loans, and that the language of the bill opens loopholes for exploitation by lenders, leaving consumers exposed to what the groups' testimony calls "The Payday Lending Debt Trap."^[10]

H.R. 1846,^[11] the "C.L.E.A.R. Act"^[12] submitted by California's Joe Baca on April 1 would also regulate payday lenders. While the Gutierrez bill would ban "rollovers" that renew loans when borrowers can't pay them off, the Baca bill would allow some rollovers. The Baca bill would preempt all state laws, effectively paving the way for payday lending in all states, and would also allow online lenders to charge higher fees than brick-and-mortar stores.^[6]

Gutierrez received $10,100 in contributions from payday loan company QC Holdings, his largest contributor, in the 2008 election cycle.^[13][14] Both Gutierrez and Baca have received financial support from the industry, which favors the Baca bill.^[6]

[edit] Controversies

In October 2008, Gutiérrez became subject to federal scrutiny as a result of a $200,000 loan he received from a campaign contributor on whose behalf he personally lobbied the mayor of Chicago to back a real estate development. The contributor, Calvin Boender, was the developer of the Galewood Yards residential and commercial real estate project who received support from Gutiérrez in a July 7, 2004 letter to the mayor, Richard M. Daley. Gutierrez used the loan to help buy a vacant lot from Boender. Federal authorities have subpoenaed Gutierrez's letter and other city records related to the project as part of a grand jury investigation into Chicago's zoning process. Gutierrez defended his lobbying at "entirely appropriate" and provided bank documents stating he repaid the loan, and has said he never gets involved in local zoning matters.^[15][16]

In discussing his request for a moratorium on immigration raids, Gutierrez remarked:

“You know who is in charge now? The Gestapo agents at [the Department of] Homeland Security. They are in charge, I think it is election season, and they have decided it did not work for us one way [with comprehensive reform], so let’s try to exploit it politically another way”^[17].

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Luis Gutiérrez official House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• SourceWatch Congresspedia - Luis Gutierrez profile

Articles

• BuzzFlash Interviews: Congressman Luis Gutierrez June 20, 2001