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Mimi Walters

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Mimi Walters
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 45th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded byJohn B. T. Campbell III
Member of the California Senate
from the 37th district
33rd district (2008–12)
In office
December 1, 2008 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byDick Ackerman
Succeeded byJohn Moorlach
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 73rd district
In office
December 6, 2004 – November 30, 2008
Preceded byPatricia Bates
Succeeded byDiane Harkey
Personal details
Born
Marian Elaine Krogius

(1962-05-14) May 14, 1962 (age 62)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDavid Walters
Children4
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA)
WebsiteHouse website

Marian Elaine "Mimi" Walters (née Krogius; born May 14, 1962) is an American businesswoman and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 45th congressional district, elected in 2014. She is a Republican.

Before running for office, Walters was an investment banker from 1988 to 1995, and served as chair of Laguna Niguel's investment and banking committee.[1][2] She was a member of the California State Senate for the 37th district (2012–2015) and the 33rd district (2008–2012) and previously served in the California State Assembly (2004–2008). Since January 2015, she serves in the United States House of Representatives on behalf of California's 45th congressional district.

Early years and education

Marian Elaine Krogius was born in 1962 in Pasadena, California. Her father was Tristan Krogius.[3] She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1984.[citation needed]

Walters was an investment banker from 1988 to 1995.[2] She was an investment executive at the firm of Drexel Burnham Lambert and later joined the firm of Kidder, Peabody & Co.[4][1]

Political career

Laguna Niguel city council

Walters served as chair of Laguna Niguel's investment and banking committee, then joined the Laguna Niguel city council in 1996 after a member vacated his seat. Walters was chosen as a replacement without an election.[1] She later became Mayor.[citation needed]

During her time on the council, Walters opposed efforts to convert Marine Corps Air Station El Toro into a commercial airport.[3]

California Assembly

In 2004, Walters was elected to represent the 73rd Assembly District, which includes coastal Orange and San Diego county communities of Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Oceanside, Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Aliso Viejo.[5] Her term ran from January 2005 to January 2007. In November 2006 she was re-elected to a second term in the Assembly.[6]

California State Senate

Walters was elected to the State Senate in November 2008.[6]

In 2013, the California Fair Political Practices Commission cleared Walters of wrongdoing in a conflict of interest investigation "into phone calls made by her office on behalf of a company once co-owned by her husband."[7]

2010 California State Treasurer election

In January 2010, Walters announced that she would run for California State Treasurer against Democratic incumbent Bill Lockyer.[8] Walters became the Republican nominee for State Treasurer but lost to Lockyer in the general election.[9]

2012 California State Senate race

Democratic candidate and trial lawyer Steve Young filed an unsuccessful civil lawsuit in an attempt to keep Walters' name off of the 2012 ballot. Young's lawsuit challenged Walters' residency in the 37th District; after the California Citizens Redistricting Commission redrew the state's legislative districts in 2011, Walters announced that she had moved from Laguna Nigel to Irvine in order to be eligible to run in the 37th Senate District.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives

Walters' 2015 portrait

2014 election

On July 2, 2013, Walters formally announced her candidacy for Congress, to replace Congressman John B. T. Campbell III, who announced he would not be seeking another term.[11]

She was endorsed by a number of Republican member of Congress from California, including Campbell, Kevin McCarthy, Darrell Issa, and Ed Royce.[12] Prior to the 2014 election, she set up the Blessings of Liberty Leadership PAC.[13]

Walters was placed in the National Republican Congressional Committee's (NRCC) "Contender" category of their "Young Guns" program.[14] In September 2014, the NRCC named Walters along with 13 other candidates to their "Vanguard" program.[15] In the nonpartisan blanket primary, she came in first place in a field of three candidates with 45% of the vote. In the general election, she defeated Democratic candidate Drew Leavens with 65% of the vote.[16]

2016 election

In November 2016, Walters won re-election by 17 points over her Democratic opponent, Ron Varasteh.[17] For the campaign, Walters raised over $2 million.[18]

2018 election

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2018 § District 45

On May 14, 2018, Politico reported that Democrats were confident they would oust Walters given that in 2016, Hillary Clinton had carried the district Walters represents, but does not live in, and that she had "backed some of the most polarizing planks of President Donald Trump's agenda," Walters was "upbeat about surviving the much-predicted Democratic wave." Politico noted her support for a popular November ballot referendum. "The only reason I'm a target is because Hillary Clinton won my district," said Walters. "I got 37,000 more votes than President Trump did."[19] However, Paul Ryan's Superpac will not be spending spending money on television network advertising in support of Walters, as it concentrates on districts in which Republicans have better chances. Her general election opponent, Katie Porter said, "Unfortunately for the families of Orange County, Mimi Walters continues to vote 100 percent with Donald Trump against what’s best for them, so I am here to make sure everyone is aware of what she's doing and the harm that she's creating in our communities and for our families."[20] Porter, a consumer advocate and law professor at UC Irvine, finished ahead of two other Democrats and an Independent in the primary.[21][22]

Committee assignments

Political positions

Abortion and Planned Parenthood

Walters opposes abortion, but has deemphasized the issue during her political campaigns.[25] In 2015, during her freshman term, she served on the Select Panel to Investigate Planned Parenthood.[26]

Campaign finance reform

End Citizens United, a group that is dedicated to pushing big money out of politics, put Walters on its Big Money 20 list — a list of members of Congress who, they say, have favored special interests over their own constituents. Its executive director describes them as, "the worst of the worst in Congress." [27]

Cannabis

Walters has a "D" rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an advocacy group supporting the legalization of marijuana.[28][non-primary source needed]

Donald Trump

In July 2016, FiveThirtyEight labeled Walters an "Eager Unifier", for having endorsed Trump wholeheartedly, but not until after the Indiana primary.[29][30]

In February 2017, Walters voted against a resolution that would have directed the House to request 10 years of Trump's tax returns, which would then have been reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee in a closed session.[31]

FiveThirtyEight has found that Walters votes with President Trump 99% of the time, and is the eighth-most partisan Trump supporter in the House when compared to her district's voting patterns.[32]

Federal taxation legislation of 2017

In November 2017, Walters voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the house version of the Republican Party's tax reform bill.[33][34] The House bill removes state and local tax breaks that many Californians use, such as the mortgage interest deduction.[34] Several House Republicans representing Californian districts voted against the legislation because it raised taxes on Californians.[34] Walters said after the vote that she had received assurances from House Speaker Paul Ryan that a reconciliation version of the bill with the Senate would restore the lost tax breaks that had been removed in the House version.[34] According to the Los Angeles Times, immediately after the vote, the Senate version of the bill "contains even deeper cuts to state and local tax breaks that are popular with Californians but maintains the mortgage interest deduction at its current level instead of cutting it in half as the House plan does. It also repeals Obamacare’s individual mandate, a move that could further complicate the situation for California members who represent districts with a lot of Obamacare enrollees."[34]

Environment

In 2015, Walters sponsored and voted for H.R. 1732, a bill that opposed the Waters of the United States rule, which expands the federal government’s jurisdiction to regulate waters and certain adjacent lands.[35]

Also in 2015, Walters voted to repeal the limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants set by the Clean Power Plan. “Forcing a shift away from traditional energy resources,” she explained, “would ultimately stifle the economy for years to come and harm consumers’ pocketbooks.” Walters also co-sponsored the Stopping EPA Overreach Act of 2017, which became law, and which declares that there is no legal requirement to regulate global warming.[36]

Walters was originally a climate change skeptic, but she began to shift her views after meeting with the Orange County Central chapter of the Citizens' Climate Lobby in 2014. After they explained to her how the market-based approach of Carbon Fee and Dividend could have a positive impact on the climate without expanding government. Walters replied, "You guys are doing it the right way". In July 2017, Walters voted to veto the Perry Amendment, which would have defunded Defense Department efforts to track climate change and its threats to military bases.[37]

In October 2017, after President Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement, “Walters officially changed from a climate-change skeptic to a believer...and joined the Congressional Climate Solutions Caucus.[38][39]

Healthcare

Walters supports the repeal of Obamacare and voted in 2015 for H.R. 596, the House bill to repeal Obamacare.[40] She also voted for H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which would have repealed Obamacare.[41]

Walters supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare) with the American Health Care Act, the GOP's replacement plan for Obamacare, which did not come to a vote initially.[42][43] She said that passing the American Health Care Act "is a critical step" towards the goal of rescuing "this failing healthcare system".[44]

On May 4, 2017, Walters voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.[45][46] In early 2017, Walters tweeted that she was "committed to protecting patients w/ pre-existing conditions to ensure their access to quality, affordable healthcare".[47] However, USA Today noted that the version of the American Health Care Act that she voted in favor of allows insurance companies to charge higher premiums to individuals with pre-existing conditions (such as cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and pregnancy).[47] Walters was an original cosponsor of H.R. 4684, the Access to Quality Sober Living Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to establish best practices for sober living facilities for opioid addicts. This legislation was written after a subcommittee hearing exposed scams at such facilities.[48]

Gun control

A May 2018 profile of Walters noted her longtime “reputation as a gun-rights advocate.” In the State Assembly, “she twice voted against bills requiring the microstamping of bullets from automatic firearms,” against “background checks for ammunition buyers,” against a ban on “large-capacity conversion kits,” and against “prohibiting people under domestic violence restraining orders from obtaining firearms.” But during her years in the House, “California voters’ concerns about school shootings had risen dramatically, with 73 percent of respondents admitting they were worried about a mass shooting at their public school,” with high-school students in Walters's district holding anti-gun rallies.[39]

Keystone pipeline

Walters voted in support of the Keystone XL Pipeline Act (H.R. 3) in 2015.[49]

LGBT rights

As an Assemblywoman, Walters endorsed Proposition 8, which declared same-sex marriage illegal in the state of California.[50] Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) named Walters as one of seven Republican representatives who switched their votes regarding a bill upholding an executive order prohibiting defense contractors from discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. The identities of the seven vote-switchers were not publicly recorded and none of those named by Hoyer confirmed his claims.[51] PBS reported that under shouts of 'shame', Walters voted against this protection, which ended up narrowly failing.[52]

Military

In January 2018, Walters voted for H.R. 695, the 2018 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, saying that she had acted to “fully fund the Department of Defense to ensure our men and women in uniform have the tools and resources they need to keep our country safe... It is imperative our armed forces are properly equipped and ready to meet current and future challenges.”[53]

She voted against allowing veterans access to medical marijuana, if legal in their state, per their Veterans Health Administration doctor's recommendation.[28][non-primary source needed]

Nuclear waste

In March 2018, Walters signed a bipartisan letter in support of funding to restart the licensing process for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. “Just south of California's 45th district,” she stated, “1,800 tons of spent nuclear fuel sits at the inactive San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Unfortunately, our Nation's nuclear waste management system is broken and spent fuel sits at nuclear sites like SONGS with nowhere to go. By law, the Federal government is obligated to take ownership of, and safely store, spent fuel at a permanent repository.”[54]

Strikes

In 2014, Walters voted for a bill in committee that banned public transit workers from going on strike.[55]

Human trafficking

In February 2018, the House passed H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), introduced by Walters, Ann Wagner (R-Missouri), and Carolyn Maloney (D-New York). It included an amendment written by Walters that would permit enforcement of criminal and civil sex trafficking laws against websites that facilitate online sex trafficking. The amended legislation passed with bipartisan support.[56]

Personal life

Walters is married and has four children.[2] Her husband, David, is the owner of a boutique investment bank, Monarch Bay Associates. In 2010, financial disclosure forms showed that Mimi Walters' holdings include between $100,000 and $1 million in Goldman Sachs.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Messina, Frank (1996-12-19). "Council Names Walters to Seat Wilson Vacated". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  2. ^ a b c "Mimi Walters' background". Los Angeles Times. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  3. ^ a b Moxley, R. Scott (1999-07-29). "This Is War?". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  4. ^ "Biography". Congresswoman Mimi Walters. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  5. ^ "California-45: Mimi Walters". National Journal. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Calif". Roll Call. Congressiona Quarterly. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  7. ^ "State Sen. Walters cleared in conflict investigation". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  8. ^ a b Goldmacher, Shane (2010-10-29). "Actions of two top state treasurer hopefuls raise questions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  9. ^ "2010 State Treasurer General Election Results". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  10. ^ Joseph, Brian (October 22, 2012). "Mimi Walters' name to remain on ballot". Orange County Register. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Mimi Walters Formally Enters Congressional Race in 45th District - Mimi Walters for U.S. Representative". Mimi Walters. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  12. ^ "Endorsements - Mimi Walters for U.S. Representative". Mimi Walters. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  13. ^ "Profile: campaignmoney.com". Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  14. ^ "17 Republican Candidates Announced as 'Contender' as Part of NRCC's 'Young Guns' Program - National Republican Congressional Committee". National Republican Congressional Committee. 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  15. ^ "Young Guns Vanguard - NRCC Young Guns". National Republican Congressional Committee. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  16. ^ "California Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  17. ^ California U.S. House 45th District Results: Mimi Walters Wins; New York Times; https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/california-house-district-45-walters-varasteh
  18. ^ "Rep. Mimi Walters: Campaign Finance/Money - Summary". Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  19. ^ Bade, Rachel; A GOP surprise: House midterm hope in California; Politico; May 14, 2018; https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/california-republicans-midterms-walters-584289
  20. ^ Democratic hopefuls look to unseat Republicans in 2018, KQED-TV. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  21. ^ Wisckol, Martin (April 5, 2017). "All the facts on Katie Porter, challenger to Rep. Mimi Walters's re-election bid". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  22. ^ "California politics updates: The rush to push back against Trump's offshore drilling directive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  23. ^ "Members". Republican Mains Street Partnership. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  25. ^ Martin Wisckol, County’s GOP women lead charge, Orange County Register (July 23, 2015).
  26. ^ Congresswoman Mimi Walters (2015-10-07), Rep. Mimi Walters on Select Panel to Investigate Planned Parenthood, retrieved 2017-03-26
  27. ^ Estepa, Jessica (Dec. 4, 2017). "Democratic PAC End Citizens United names 'Big Money 20' targets for 2018". USA Today. Retrieved October 24, 2018. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ a b "California Scorecard - NORML.org - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws". norml.org. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  29. ^ "The 7 Levels Of Trump Support In Congress". FiveThirtyEight. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  30. ^ Wire, Sarah D. "Endorsement tracker: Some California Republicans still not ready for Trump". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  31. ^ "These are all the Republicans who don't want you to see Donald Trump's tax returns". indy100. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  32. ^ Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump, accessed September 25, 2018
  33. ^ CNN, Lauren Fox and Deirdre Walsh,. "House Republicans pass tax plan". CNN. Retrieved 2017-11-17. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ a b c d e "Most California GOP House members vote to pass tax bill, with some hoping the Senate will help fix it". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  35. ^ "Rep. Mimi Walters Supports Bill to Block EPA Water Regulations". Congresswoman Mimi Walters. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  36. ^ Mosko, Sarah; Mosko: Is Mimi Walters Changing Her Stance on Climate Change?; Voice of OC; March 27, 2018; https://voiceofoc.org/2018/03/mosko-is-mimi-walters-changing-her-stance-on-climate-change/
  37. ^ Murphy, Breene; ‘Keep going’ attitude brought Rep. Mimi Walters to Climate Caucus; Citizen's Climate Lobby; October 30, 2017; https://citizensclimatelobby.org/keep-going-attitude-brought-rep-mimi-walters-climate-caucus/
  38. ^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  39. ^ a b Mernit, Judith Lewis; California Politics: The Education Of Rep. Mimi Walters; International Business Times; http://www.ibtimes.com/california-politics-education-rep-mimi-walters-2677747
  40. ^ "Rep. Mimi Walters Votes to Repeal Obamacare". Congresswoman Mimi Walters. 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  41. ^ "Rep. Walters Votes to Strip Core Provisions of Obamacare". Congresswoman Mimi Walters. 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  42. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  43. ^ "The fight's on in 4 California districts where Republicans represent people who voted for Hillary". Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  44. ^ Rubin, Jennifer; Rubin, Jennifer (2017-03-15). "Republicans who voted for the AHCA better watch out". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  45. ^ "How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  46. ^ Heidi M Przybyla (May 4, 2017). "Health care vote puts pressure on dozens of vulnerable GOP reps". USA Today. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  47. ^ a b "Health care vote puts pressure on dozens of vulnerable GOP reps". USA Today. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  48. ^ The Access to Sober Living Act will stop unethical practices at sober living homes; OC Register; June 16, 2018; https://www.ocregister.com/2018/06/16/the-access-to-sober-living-act-will-stop-unethical-practices-at-sober-living-homes/
  49. ^ "Rep. Mimi Walters Stands for Jobs in Keystone Pipeline Vote". Congresswoman Mimi Walters. 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  50. ^ "Proposition 8 Endorsements". ProtectMarriage.com. 2008-11-04. Archived from the original on 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2018-02-25. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ "7 Republicans Flipped Their Vote on LGBT Amendment, Setting Them Up for Attack". Roll Call. 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  52. ^ "Amid shouts of 'shame,' House GOP defeats gay rights measure". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  53. ^ Congressional Roll Call June 22, 2018; Concord Monitor; June 24, 2018; https://www.concordmonitor.com/Congressional-roll-call-18370098
  54. ^ Taking responsibility for spent nuclear fuel; OC Register; July 15, 2017; https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/15/taking-responsibility-for-spent-nuclear-fuel/
  55. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (2014-01-13). "Panel defeats bill banning public transit strikes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  56. ^ Jackman, Tom; House passes anti-online sex trafficking bill, allows targeting of websites like Backpage.com; Washington Post; February 27, 2018; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2018/02/27/house-passes-anti-online-sex-trafficking-bill-allows-targeting-of-websites-like-backpage-com/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.06b9566c6a34
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 45th congressional district
2015–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
357th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mimi_Walters&oldid=865615206"