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John Taylor Doolittle
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 4th district
In office
1993 - present
Preceded byVictor H. Fazio
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
This page is about the politician; for the fictional animal doctor, see Doctor Dolittle.

John Taylor Doolittle (born October 30 1950), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the 4th District of California (map). Currently he holds a leadership role as a Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House.[1]

Early life and education

Doolittle was born in Glendale, California. He grew up in Cupertino, California, graduating from Cupertino High School in 1968. He graduated with honors with a B.A. in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Doolittle spent two years as a missionary in Argentina for the Mormon Church before going to law school. He received a law degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in Sacramento, in 1978.

Avoiding Vietnam

During Vietnam Doolittle (a fierce opponent of Communism) got several student deferments. But in March of 1972, John Doolittle was ordered to report for physical examination. In April of of that year, his classification history remarks say FTR (Failure to Report).

John Doolittle's lottery number, according public records was 38.[1]

Career prior to the U.S. House

In 1979, Doolittle worked as an aide to state senator H.L. Richardson, the conservative founder of Gun Owners of America and the Law and Order Campaign Committee.

In a 1980 race for the California State Senate, Doolittle, then 29, stunned everyone by narrowly defeating Democrat Al Rodda. In the Senate, one memorable stunt was when Doolittle try to get square dancing designated as the official dance of California.[2]

In 1981, the Democratic state legislature's redistricting plan, which used creatively drawn districts to squeeze out Republican lawmakers, dumped Doolittle into a Democratic district, where he lost to then-Assemblyman Leroy Greene in 1982. But by a quirk of redistricting, Doolittle was able to keep his original seat until 1984, when he won another term by beating Ray Johnson, a Republican turned independent from Chico.[3] An administrative law judge later found him guilty of violating campaign finance laws when his campaign helped his Democratic opponent, to pull votes away from Johnson.[4] Doolittle won re-elections in 1986 and 1988. From 1987 to 1990, he was chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1990, Republican Norman D. Shumway, also a Mormon, retired from Congress. Doolittle defeated Patty Malberg, a Democrat from Lincoln, to win the seat, in what was then the 14th Congressional District.

Doolittle is member of the House Appropriations Committee. He also serves on the Budget and Administration committees.

Political positions and actions

In his first years in Congress, Doolittle was a member of the group known as the Gang of Seven, which had a role in exposing the House banking scandal.

According to the Associated Press, "Doolittle is a generally loyal supporter of the Bush administration — though like many House Republicans he opposes Bush's support for an immigration guest worker program." He is in favor of partial privatization of Social Security, saying he would like to see people "gain ownership over their own funds". He is against gun control, and opposes abortion rights.

Doolittle is known for boosterism of the Auburn Dam project, despite uncertainties about the impact that such a dam would have on seismic activity in the area. A mid-1990s preliminary United States Geological Survey report cited concerns about the likelihood of earthquakes caused by that project.[5] Doolittle's stated reason for supporting the Auburn Dam is for flood control of Sacramento. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he portrayed the flooding in New Orleans as an example of why the project was needed. Critics replied that the Gulf Coast, with its hurricane season and the torrential rainfalls associated with it, is not a valid comparison to a region of the country which historically often has droughts, and said that Folsom and Nimbus Dams should suffice in an intense rainy season. Opponents of the project point out that the proposed Auburn Dam, despite its potential for breaking in the event of an earthquake, will also accelerate urban sprawl east of Sacramento and downriver from the proposed dam. Placer County has one of the highest growth rates in the country. In 2005, Doolittle secured funding for studies on moving the project forward.

In January 2006, the Sacramento Union quoted Doolittle as saying that "A liberal front is underway to find God and all things pertaining to him unconstitutional."[6]

In February, 2006, Doolittle was praised by the El Dorado Irrigation District for his assistance in obtaining funds for hydroelectric power projects.[7]

Re-election campaigns

2002

In 2002, Doolittle defeated Republican challenger Dr. Bill Kirby of Auburn, California, 78%-22%.[8] In the general election, Doolittle defeated Mark Norberg, 65%-35%, while raising $1,024,986 compared to Norberg’s $8,202.[9]

2004

In 2004, Doolittle's Democratic opponent, David Winters raised only $2,300 and won 35 percent of the vote. For that race, Doolittle took in more than $1 million in contributions.[9]

2006

Primary

In the Republican primary on June 6, 2006, Doolittle was challenged for his party's nomination by Mike Holmes, the mayor of Auburn. Citing Doolittle's score of -4 on its scorecard, Republicans for Environmental Protection endorsed Holmes. Doolittle raised more than $1.1 million in campaign contributions, more than 14 times that of Holmes, as of the last reporting deadline before the election. Doolittle won the primary with 67% of the vote.[10] Doolittle’s tally in the GOP primary was a decline in both real numbers and margin of victory, however, compared to previous years and represented less than 42% of the overall votes cast in all parties' primaries for the 4th-district seat.[11]

General election

Doolittle faces the Democratic nominee, retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Charles Brown, in the general election on November 7, 2006. Although the 4th District of California has generally been considered a safe seat for Republicans, as of the end of September, the race was considered even.[12]

Doolittle raised $216,000 during the second quarter of 2006, for a total of $1.2 million for the campaign. He's spent just over $1 million and had $261,000 cash on-hand at the end of the period. Brown raised $109,000 during the period, for a total of $254,000 during the campaign. He has spent $179,000 and has about $70,000 cash on-hand.[13] Brown took in about $200,000 in campaign contributions in July and August. [14]

Debates

On July 17, 2006, Doolittle agreed to engage in debates at a later date.[15] At the last moment Doolittle decided not to participate in a debate that was to be held in Nevada County.

The single remaining debate was held on October 11, 2006.[16]

The Debate can be seen here [2]

Controversies

On September 20, 2006, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its second annual report on the most corrupt members of Congress, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and five to watch)". Doolittle was one of the 20. The organization said "His ethics issues stem from his wife’s relationship to his campaign and political action committees, as well as campaign contributions and personal financial benefits he accepted from those who sought his legislative assistance." [17]

Abramoff connections

Main article: Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal

John Doolittle has been entangled in the scandal involving Jack Abramoff. Doolittle has denied any wrongdoing, and on April 18, 2006 he hired a former prosecutor from Ken Starr's office as his media adviser on the matter.[18]

Campaign contributions from Abramoff and his clients

Doolittle estimated that he received about $50,000 from clients of Abramoff, mostly Indian tribes.[19] Abramoff also personally donated $14,000 over the period 1999-2004 to Doolittle's congressional campaigns.[20] According to the Washington Post, Doolittle "was particularly close to Abramoff." Doolittle said he always thought of Abramoff as "a friend" for a single reason: "I liked him, frankly, because he was a partisan, conservative Republican activist."[3]. Unlike many lawmakers, Doolittle has refused to give away any of the Abramoff money.

Fund raising by Abramoff for Doolittle

An "ardent opponent of casino gambling," Doolittle held a fundraiser at Jack Abramoff's skybox at the MCI Center in February, 1999. Abramoff, who rented the boxes himself, billed Indian tribes lobbying fees to cover his cost. These tribes had hired Abramoff to represent their casino interests.

Under federal campaign finance law, Doolittle was required to pay Abramoff for use of the box, or to report the use as an "in-kind" contribution from Abramoff to his campaign. Doolittle initially failed to report the use of the sky-boxes in his Federal Election Committee filings. In late 2004, his spokesperson, Laura Blackman, said "It was an in-kind contribution, and it was an oversight that it wasn't reported, but we are taking steps to correct that."[21]

In January 2005, Doolittle reported that his campaign fund had sent a check for $1,040 to one of Abramoff's former employers, the Preston Gates lobbying firm, to pay for the skybox. The lobbying firm returned the check because it had never owned the skybox. In May 2005, Doolittle campaign-fund spokesman Richard Robinson acknowledged that the rejection of the check should have been reported to the FEC and said a corrected accounting would be filed. Robinson said Doolittle's fund is determined to rectify the six-year lapse in paying for the box. "If we find out that Jack Abramoff paid for the suite, then we'll reimburse Jack Abramoff, because we want to reimburse the person or entity who paid for the box," Robinson said. "We thought we were doing that in January." [22]

Payments to Doolittle's wife by Abramoff

From August 2002 through February 2004, Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig paid Julie Doolittle $66,000. Initially her work to help plan a fundraiser for Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation, called the Spy Game Gala, that was to be MC'ed by Tony Snow. The event never happened because it coincided with the beginning of the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003. According to the initial statement by her attorney, the $66,000 in payments from Abramoff were because she "primarily performed public relations and other event planning services for the Spy Museum event."[23]

She was paid a total of $27,000 through February of 2003, when payments stopped. In July 2003, Abramoff (via Greenberg Traurig) began paying her again, $5,000 per month; this continued through mid-February 2004, when the first story on what would become the Abramoff scandal was published.

In a statement in June 2006, her attorney, William Stauffer, said that "Sierra Dominion, a small business owned by Julie Doolittle, provided marketing, event planning, and related services to the Greenberg Traurig law firm, and its partner, Jack Abramoff, from August 2002 through March 2004." "Sierra Dominion had a retainer arrangement with Greenberg Traurig under which it provided services concerning the Spy Museum event and also the Signatures and Stacks restaurants". (The two restaurants were owned by Abramoff.)[24]

Julie Doolittle's records in connection with her work for Abramoff have been subpoenaed by the United States Department of Justice.[25] The DOJ has not filed any charges in either case.

No explanation has been given as to why Greenberg Taurig made the payments to Julie Doolittle, rather than the foundation (for whom the charity event was planned) or the restaurants or Abramoff personally (as restaurant owner).[24]

Doolittle's actions on behalf of Indian tribes

In February, 2002, Doolittle was among more than two dozen lawmakers who signed a letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton urging her to reject an Indian casino opposed by Abramoff's tribal clients. [26]

In early June 2003, Kevin Ring, a former staffer to Doolittle and a lobbyist at Greenberg Taurig, brought members the Iowan Sac & Fox tribe to meet with Doolittle in his office. In mid-June, Doolittle wrote a letter to Norton complaining that the tribe's casino was wrongly shut down because the Bureau of Indian Affairs had refused to recognize a newly elected tribal council.[27] Another lobbyist involved in the matter was Michael D. Smith, formerly Al Gore's Midwest political director, and a member of Team Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig.[28] Doolittle's action helped the Tribe to reopen the casino, a major enterprise for the tribe and its reservation. Eventually, the faction supported by Doolittle won control of the Tribal government in a government supervised election, by a 4-1 margin. Others involved in the effort included Senator Byron Dorgan (D- N.D).[28]

In October, 2003, Doolittle appealed in a letter to Norton for quicker action for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts, which was seeking federal recognition; the tribe was also a client of Greenberg Traurig, and Kevin Ring was a lobbyist on the account.[27]

Doolittle's actions on behalf of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

One of Abramoff's major clients was the government (Commonwealth) of the Northern Mariana Islands. Doolittle visited the islands in February of 1999 as part of a congressional delegation. In April of 2000 and April of 2001, he met with CNMI House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial in Washington D.C. On May 25, 2001, the Saipan Tribune printed a letter from Doolittle to Fitial, which noted a recent $150,000 earmark, mentioned two possible Army Corps of Engineers projects on the islands, and said "I will urge the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee to include funding for the feasibility study for both projects in the FY 2002 appropriations bill."[29] In August 2001, he backed Fitial's candidacy for governor. [30] Doolittle was successful in securing $400,000 in Corps study funds in 2001, his first year on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.[31]

Doolittle accepted $14,000 in contributions from Jack Abramoff just weeks before Doolittle endorsed the election of Fitial, a CNMI politician who had been crucial to Abramoff in obtaining a lobbying contract from that government. The final Abramoff donation to Doolittle came just as the last CNMI lobbying contract was set to expire in December 2001.[32] In the governor's election in early 2002, Fitial lost. The new governor, Juan N. Babauta, cancelled the contract with Greenberg Traurig.

Justice Department actions and hiring of lawyer

Doolittle challenged the Justice Department to "investigate me" if federal authorities were thinking he was caught up in the Abramoff scandal.[33] Since then, "The congressman has not been subpoenaed or questioned by the Justice Department," as of December, 2005.[34]

On January 27, 2006, three weeks after Abramoff pleaded guilty to three federal felonies, Doolittle retained the legal services of the Virginia law firm of Williams Mullen. Doolittle's chief of staff, Richard Robinson, said the attorney handling Doolittle's inquiry is David Barger. Barger is the former president of the Virginia Bar Association's criminal law section and a former assistant US attorney who later was an associate of special prosecutor Kenneth Starr in the Whitewater investigation during the Clinton administration.[35]

Robinson said the campaign (which paid a $10,000 retainer) has hired Barger to address Doolittle's concerns about how he should respond to questions from the press as he contemplated having to talk about the scandal as part of his campaign for re-election. "The congressman has not retained an attorney to respond to any Justice Department inquiries as there have been none," Robinson said.[35]

Activities of Julie Doolittle

John Doolittle, Steve Lund (President of the Roseville Rotary) and Julie Doolittle at a Rotary lunch on August 1, 2006.

During the 2001-2005 period, Julie Doolittle had at least three different occupations: she worked for Jack Abramoff doing event planning (see above); she worked as a bookkeeper for a lobbying firm; and she worked on commission as a fundraiser for her husband. (Richard Robinson, Doolittle's chief of staff, said Julie Doolittle had other clients. But he refused to provide their names "out of respect for the privacy of the clients."[36]

Payments to Julie Doolittle during the period were done via a company called Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions.[36] It was founded in March 2001, just after Congressman Doolittle gained a seat on the Appropriations Committee. It is based at the couple's home in Oakton, Virginia; Julie is the only employee. The company (that is, Julie) has continued to do fundraising, but no event planning or other work, since the Abramoff scandal first became public in early 2005.[36]

Work for lobbying firm

From 2002 until mid-2005,[23] the Alexander Strategy Group, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm with close ties to Congressman Tom DeLay, paid Sierra Dominion for bookkeeping work for a nonprofit group called the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council (KORUSEC), created by Ed Buckham, a partner in the firm,[37] and located at the ASG headquarters. KORUSEC is also connected to Kevin Ring, one of Doolittle's former assistants.

ASG is now closed due to the scandals surrounding Jack Abramoff. Julie Doolittle's records regarding her work there were subpoenaed by the Department of Justice. The DOJ has not filed any charges.[citation needed]

Fundraising commissions from Doolittle campaign revenues

Sierra Dominion, Julie Doolittle's one-person company, charges Doolittle's campaign and his Superior California Political Action Committee a fifteen percent commission on any contribution she helps bring in. As of March 2006, federal and state campaign records show that Julie Doolittle had received nearly $180,000 in commissions from her husband's political fundraising since late 2001.[36]

During the 2004 campaign cycle (November 2002 to November 2004), her company received payments from her husband's leadership PAC of $68,630, exactly 15 percent of the $457,533 the PAC raised. So far in this campaign cycle (November 2004 to November 2006), Sierra Dominion has taken in $69,896, again exactly 15 percent of the $465,973 raised by the PAC. Doolittle aides said she was entitled to 15 percent of all money the PAC brought in because those donations were raised at events she helped organize, even though the PAC had made payments to other fundraisers.[38]

All told, her firm has received commissions totaling $169,146, from the PAC and her husband's campaign funds, from its founding in March 2001 to mid-2006, according to FEC records and Taxpayers for Common Sense.[38]

These commissions have allowed Doolittle to financially benefit from campaign contributions given by contributors such as Brent Wilkes, who Doolittle helped win government contracts, as described below. The commission structure has been criticized by government watchdog groups.[36] In June 2006, Democracy 21, a watchdog group, called for an investigation of Doolittle by the House ethics committee.[38]

In December, 2005, Richard Robinson, Doolittle's Chief of Staff, defended the commission structure. "Sierra Dominion's compensation is based entirely on performance in that it receives a percentage in what it is directly involved in raising. This arrangement is not only consistent with that of other fund raisers but is designed to avoid the appearance that Sierra Dominion is compensated for anything other than its tireless and effective work. Any suggestion otherwise is completely without merit."[25]

In April, 2006, Paulette Maehara, the head of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, wrote Doolittle's office to complain. "This is absolutely not the standard in the industry", she said. "This is a big deal for us," she also said. "We've worked hard to eradicate this practice, and our prohibition on commission-based fund-raising has really changed the industry practice." Another professional organization, the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, similarly regards commission-based fund-raising as unethical, according to the organization's Web site. Robinson said he thinks Maehara simply doesn't do enough work with political fundraisers to understand that commission-based fund-raising is not unusual. "Such an arrangement is common in the political community because candidates want to ensure that fundraisers are only compensated for their performance and do not collect a salary without producing results," he said.[39]

Federal funds for interchange project

On December 15, 2005, The Union, a newspaper for western Nevada County, reported that Doolittle had secured $3 million for eight projects in his district from a recently passed $65.9 billion federal appropriation, and that none of those funds fell within Nevada County borders, part of Doolittle's district. Laura Blackann, communications director for Doolittle, called the newspaper to say the story was incomplete and that "Nevada County didn't receive any money because they didn't ask for any."[40]

In response, several Nevada County officials said that Blackann's comments were not true. Their response focused on the Dorsey Drive Interchange project, which the County Transportation Commission (CTC) has described as providing direct access to high use sites, including the only hospital within an hour's drive.[41]

Nevada City's mayor, Conley Weaver, who is also on the CTC, told The Union that "The county begged. We said we'll do anything for money for Dorsey Drive." Weaver said Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Nevada County all passed resolutions asking Doolittle to seek federal funding for the Dorsey Drive project.[42]

Blackann then further clarified her comments: "The Dorsey Drive project was submitted by the city for $11 million. It is such a large project it needed to be funded through the highway bill. (The most recent appropriations bill) doesn't fund projects that large." She said that "The congressman is going to try for the Dorsey Drive project next year."[40]

Small towns pressured to hire lobbyists

Dan Landon, a Republican and the executive director of the Nevada County CTC, said that he was told recently by Doolittle's staff that "it also doesn't hurt to have a lobbyist". Sharon Atteberry, city administrator for the city of Oroville, said she had also been urged to hire a lobbyist by Doolittle's staff. "They encouraged us that a lobbyist is very important to any city or county government" she said.[40]

Campaign funds for babysitting

Doolittle has had his campaign reelection committee and his leadership PAC pay about $6,000 in child-care costs between 2001 for 2006 for his daughter, now 14. Such payments are legal, according to a Federal Election Commission ruling in 2001.

Doolittle's spokesman, Richard Robinson, said that Doolittle is "one of a handful of members of Congress who has a child who lives and attends school in Virginia. Congressman Doolittle regularly travels home to California to attend official and campaign-related events. Because Mrs. Doolittle's attendance is often vital to these events, she frequently accompanies Congressman Doolittle, requiring that child care be provided to their daughter, who cannot be taken out of school to attend with them. These expenses are directly related to Congressman Doolittle's candidacy and his duties as an officeholder and would not exist otherwise."[43] Robinson told the Sacramento Bee that "This job is especially hard on the one thing that John Doolittle values most - his family."[44]

Connections to Brent Wilkes

PerfectWave is a company owned by Brent Wilkes; Doolittle has had significant involvement with both. Wilkes has become controversial because disgraced Congressman Duke Cunningham admitted receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and favors from Wilkes for his efforts to help another of Wilkes' companies, ADCS Inc.

In 2002, Wilkes hired the Alexander Strategy Group (ASG) to do lobbying for the PerfectWave.[45] PerfectWave also gave generously to a certain number of key politicians who were in positions to help the company - members of the House Appropriations Committee.[46]

During the period 2002 to 2005, Doolittle received at least $118,000 in campaign contributions from Wilkes, PerfectWave associates and their wives, and from ASG lobbyists Edwin A. Buckham and Tony C. Rudy (two former aides of Tom DeLay and their wives). In November, 2003, Wilkes hosted a fund-raising dinner for Doolittle.[47]

Doolittle, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, told the Washington Post in January, 2006, that he had helped steer defense funds totaling $37 million to PerfectWave ($1 million in 2002, $18 million in 2003, and then $18 million in 2004.) Doolittle claims that his support was based "on the project's merits and the written support of the military."[48] But the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "The money was not requested by the Navy but was instead inserted by the Appropriations Committee as part of the closed-door congressional earmarking process."[49] They further reported that "[T]he only evidence Doolittle's office could provide to show military support for the project was a letter of praise from Robert Lusardi, a program manager for light armored vehicles at the Marine Corps dated Feb. 25 – two and a half years after PerfectWave got its first earmark. By the time Lusardi wrote his letter, the company had received at least $37 million in earmarks."[45]

In his own defense, on February 24, 2006, Doolittle made the following comment:

I'm glad I supported PerfectWave. I would do it again .... Because it has unique technology. It's a unique technology that ensures the safety of our armed forces in the war on terror. It's a sound isolation technology. It allows the driver of a tank or an armored personnel carrier, in which it's very difficult to hear the commands you've been given. This isolates the sound so it's perfectly quiet and you can hear what people are telling you over your microphone or helmet. The other use it has, I don't really understand how it works, somehow this allows you to detect the location of these improvised explosive devices which continue to be a major problem for our personnel over there. To my knowledge they're the only company that has this.[50]

Blocking of sale of land to U.S. government

The 2007 spending bill for the U.S. Interior Department contains a provision by Doolittle -- a House Appropriations Committee member -- that prohibits the Forest Service from spending any money from any source to buy the Homewood Mountain Resort in fiscal year 2007. Jeff Yurosek, the owner, and the Forest Service had agreed on a deal to sell the 1,086 acres for $60 million to $65 million with an arrangement that would keep the struggling ski business open. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency also backed the deal.

According to a funding request from the Forest Service, the biggest threat to the land would be its sale to private developers for subdivision. "The owner has secured county certification of 23 separate lots on the property, which could be developed into very exclusive lake-view estates," it said. "This new development and the consequential extensive road system would be a threat to the water quality and natural scenic values of Lake Tahoe," the report said. "A valuable public recreational resource and potential access to adjacent national forest lands would be lost."

Doolittle believes that the government already owns too much property that it cannot manage properly and that putting more land into federal hands means lower property-tax revenue for local governments, said his district director, Brian Jensen. We don't see a real environmental benefit because there's no change in land use," Jensen said. "The landowner would be selling property to the federal government and then leasing back that portion it actually uses. We don't see how that's an improvement."[51][52]

But Doolittle's biggest gripe is that the advocates of the project never sat down to work out the terms of a deal with him. Project advocates had been in Doolittle's office three times in the past year talking about how they want the federal purchase and why it would be a good for taxpayers and the environment. But Jensen said they never attempted to address Doolittle's concerns. "Being that this is Mr. Doolittle's district, he'd like to have those discussions before the federal government takes on this additional burden," Jensen said. "He is not drawing a line in the sand on this, but there are issues that need to be discussed."

Yurosek and JMA Ventures, his partner for a related commercial development, made their first-ever contributions to Doolittle's re-election campaign -- JMA for $2,250, and Yurosek for $2,100 -- in connection with the appearance of Vice President Dick Cheney at an event for Doolittle four days after the House had approved the spending bill and the text of Doolittle's rider became public. Art Chapman, JMA Ventures president, said Yurosek had been contacted by Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz and told that a contribution to the congressman would be "appropriate." But Chapman said he didn't learn of the congressman's opposition to the project until the morning of the fundraiser, which was several days after he and Yurosek had written their checks.[53]

Investigation of Charles Hurwitz

On January 8, 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported, "Reps. John T. Doolittle and Richard W. Pombo joined forces with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas to oppose an investigation by federal banking regulators into the affairs of Houston millionaire Charles Hurwitz, documents recently obtained by The Times show."[54] Furthermore, "When the FDIC persisted, Doolittle and Pombo — both considered proteges of DeLay — used their power as members of the House Resources Committee to subpoena the agency's confidential records on the case, including details of the evidence FDIC investigators had compiled on Hurwitz."[54] "The investigation was ultimately dropped."[54]

The Times reported that "Although Washington politicians frequently try to help important constituents and contributors, it is unusual for members of Congress to take direct steps to stymie an ongoing investigation by an agency such as the FDIC."[54] The article concluded, "in the Hurwitz case, Doolittle and Pombo were in a position to pressure the FDIC and did so."[54][55]

Ozone

Doolittle was a prominent critic of proposals to phase out the use of CFCs which lead to the depletion of the ozone layer. Doolittle argued that the science underlying the ban was debatable. Shortly afterward Doolittle made such arguments, Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland were awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work demonstrating the relationship between CFCS and ozone depletion.[56]

Trivia

Doolittle appeared briefly but memorably in Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, turning from Moore and briskly walking away, intoning a frank and almost accusing "Oh, no no no no no no no" when approached to sign a petition.

References

  1. ^ "Committees". Representative John T. Doolittle. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
  2. ^ Jeff Ackerman (publisher), "Perhaps it's time for a fresh face in D.C.", The Union (Grass Valley, California), September 26, 2006
  3. ^ Jeff Kearns, "Boss Doolittle: In the foothills, Representative John Doolittle hovers over local government and party politics with a presence that shapes government at all levels", Sacramento News and Review, July 22, 2004
  4. ^ California Political Fair Practices Commission, Enforcement cases
  5. ^ "Review of seismic-hazard issues associated with the Auburn Dam project, Sierra Nevada foothills, California". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
  6. ^ "Doolittle and God". The Union. 2006-01-20. Retrieved 2006-08-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "EID Board thanks Congressman John Doolittle" (PDF). El Dorado Irrigation District. 2006-02-24. Retrieved 2006-08-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Miller, Michelle (2006-06-07). "Doolittle wins easily". Auburn Journal. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b Butler, Pat (2006-02-04). "Is a competitive House race possible?". The Union. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "U.S. Congress District 4 election results". 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Drop in turnout hurts Doolittle", Scripps Howard News Service, Jun. 7, 2006
  12. ^ "Charlie Brown has lots of reasons to be happy". Plumas County News. 9/27/06. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Pombo, Doolittle lead rivals in latest campaign finance reports". Associated Press. 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Doolittle spends $53,617 on fliers: Mass mailings beat pre-election deadline", The Union, August 31, 2006
  15. ^ "Doolittle accepts Brown's challenge to debate". Tahoe Daily Tribune. 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Terrorism, Iraq and Abramoff dominate Doolittle debate", Nevada Appeal, October 13, 2006
  17. ^ CREW summary of ethics issues of Doolittle, September 2006
  18. ^ "Doolittle Taps Ken Starr To Fight Abramoff Fallout". Associated Press. 2006-04-18. Retrieved 2006-08-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Johnson, C. (2006-01-23). "Doolittle Chooses Talk Show to Discuss Abramoff Connections". KXTV. Retrieved 2006-08-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Willis, Derek and Stanton, Laura (2005-12-12). "How Abramoff Spread the Wealth". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Schmidt, Susan and Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. (2004-12-26). "Tribal Money Linked to GOP Fundraising". Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Jon Kamman, "Hayworth, 2 others account for skyboxes: New filings omit links to lobbyist", Arizona Republic, May 10, 2005
  23. ^ a b Kiel, Paul (2006-06-23). "Totalling Mrs. Doolittle's Take". TPMmuckraker. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ a b Kiel, Paul]] (2006-07-03). "Abramoff's Payments to Rep's Wife Coincided with Favors". TPMmuckraker. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ a b Thomson, Gus (2005-12-28). "Doolittle draws increased scrutiny". Roseville Press Tribune. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Erica Werner, "Ties to ex-lobbyist Abramoff haunt NorCal Rep. Doolittle", Associated Press, January 12, 2006
  27. ^ a b Werner, Erica (2006-01-29). "Papers Link GOP Lawmaker, Abramoff Clients". Associated Press. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ a b Whitney, David (2006-02-12). "Doolittle defends helping Iowa tribe". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Letter from Congressman John T. Doolittle, Republican of California, to Speaker Ben Fitial on various issues pertaining to the NMI", Saipan Tribune, May 25, 2001
  30. ^ "Doolittle backs Fitial's candidacy", Saipan Tribune, August 20, 2001
  31. ^ Paul Kiel, "Doolittle was Abramoff Island Client's 'Hero'", TPMMuckraker.com, August 4, 2006
  32. ^ David Whitney, "California congressman helped Abramoff win contract", McClatchy Newspapers, August 4, 2006
  33. ^ Furillo, Andy (2006-01-23). "Doolittle defends relationship with Abramoff". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Lucas, Greg (2005-12-27). "Rep. Doolittle awaits fallout in lobbyist case". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ a b David Whitney, "Legislator tied to Abramoff hires lawyer", McClatchy News Service, April 18, 2006
  36. ^ a b c d e Calbreath, Dean (2006-03-19). "Congressman Doolittle, wife profited from Cunningham-linked contractor". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. and Grimaldi, James V. (2006-01-10). "Lobby Giant Is Scandal Casualty". Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ a b c Weisman, Jonathan and Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. (2006-07-11). "Lawmaker Criticized for PAC Fees Paid to Wife". Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Whitney, David (2006-04-20). "Fundraising group assails the Doolittles". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ a b c Retherford, Brittany (2005-12-17). "County rebuffs funding fracas - copy of letter to Rep. Doolittle included". The Union. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Nevada County 2005 Regional Transportation Plan" (PDF). 2005-11-02. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Tassone, Gerald (2005-02-25). "Letter to Congressman Doolittle" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ "Congressional Child Care". Washington Post. 2006-05-16. p. A16. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Yamamura, Kevin (2006-05-22). "The Buzz: Doolittle gets spanked on baby sitter issue". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ a b Calbreath, Dean (2006-02-05). "The power of persuasion". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Scahill, Jeremy (2006-02-02). "Exile on K Street". The Nation. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ "Brent Wilkes Fetes Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA)". Talking Points Memo. 2003-11-14. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ Weisman, Jonathan and Babcock, Charles R. (2006-01-27). "K Street's New Ways Spawn More Pork". Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ Calbreath, Dean (2006-01-25). "Four linked to area firm subpoenaed". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Probst, Jason (2006-02-24). "Doolittle offers answers to media questions". Roseville Press Tribune. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ "Tahoe land sale snarled in Congress". Associated Press. 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ "Congressman halts Fed purchase of Tahoe land". The Oakland Tribune. 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ Whitney, David (2006-05-29). "Doolittle stalls resort land sale". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ a b c d e Serrano, Richard A. and Braun, Stephen (2006-01-08). "A Donor Who Had Big Allies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. ^ Grimaldi, James and Stanton, Laura (2005-12-29). "The Abramoff Galaxy". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  56. ^ Teich, Albert H, and Cassidy, Bonnie Bisol (Winter 1995). "Sparks fly at hearings on ozone, global change". Issues in Science and Technology. Retrieved 2006-08-18.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Preceded by U.S. Representative from California 's 14th Congressional District
1991-1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Representative from California 's 4th Congressional District
1993- 		Succeeded by
Incumbent


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