Doug Lamborn
Encyclopedia
Doug Lamborn is the U.S. Representative
for , in office since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party
. The district is based in Colorado Springs.
. He attended the University of Kansas
where he received a bachelor's degree
in journalism
in 1978 and graduated with his Juris Doctor
in 1986. Lamborn practiced law before entering politics.
in 1997.
He successfully ran for a Colorado Senate seat in 1998, where he was elected President Pro-tem in 1999. Lamborn served in the Colorado Senate until winning a seat in Congress. Lamborn was the ranking Republican on the Colorado State Military and Veterans Affairs, and Appropriations committees. While in the State Senate Lamborn sponsored the largest tax cut in Colorado State history, and was named the highest-ranking tax cutter in the Senate five times, by a conservative activist group called the Colorado Union of Taxpayers.
On February 16, 2006, Joel Hefley
announced he would retire after 10 terms in Congress. In the August 8, 2006 Republican
primary, Lamborn defeated five other candidates to win the party nomination, includling one supported by Hefley.
Lamborn ran on conservative positions: opposing gun control
, abortion
except when the mother's life is threatened, federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, providing public benefits to illegal immigrants, and new eminent domain
rulings.
Lamborn earned the endorsement in the primary
of numerous national organizations, including National Right to Life, National Pro-life Alliance, National Rifle Association
, Gunowners of America, Club for Growth
, National Right to Work, Eagle Forum
, and Minuteman PAC
. He ran against Jay Fawcett, the Democratic nominee for the open seat in Colorado's 5th congressional district
. Lamborn won the election on November 7, 2006.
2008
Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn both challenged Lamborn in the 2008 Republican primary. Both lost to Lamborn in the 2006 primary. Lamborn won the primary election on August 12, 2008 with 45 percent of the 56,171 votes cast. Crank got 29 percent and Rayburn got 26 percent. Lamborn defeated Democratic challenger Hal Bidlack
in the 2008 election.
2010
Lamborn was challenged by Democratic nominee Kevin Bradley, Libertarian nominee Jerell Klaver, and American Constitution Party nominee Brian "Barron X" Scott. He won re-election.
.
There has also been a Brigade Combat Team in his district since December 2007. The Brigade Combat Team consisting of almost 5,000 soldiers, their families, support personnel as well as increased military construction.
Congressional Quarterly
said that through the first August recess, Lamborn had voted by strict partisan lines the most of any member in the U.S. House and more than any other Republican. Lamborn led an effort among conservative Republicans to force the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA
) to discard proposed regulations that would have affected accessibility to small arms ammunition, which were opposed by Second Amendment
groups. In February 2010, The National Journal
named Lamborn the most conservative member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lamborn is one of the House Republicans leading the effort against public funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
and NPR (National Public Radio). "I have been seeking to push Big Bird
out of the nest for over a year, based on the simple fact that we can no longer afford to spend taxpayer dollars on nonessential government programs. It's time for Big Bird to earn his wings and learn to fly on his own."
On August 24, 2007, Jonathan Bartha, who works for Focus on the Family (headquartered in Colorado Springs), and his wife Anna wrote a letter to the editor in a community newspaper expressing concerns about Lamborn's opposition to more restrictions on dog fighting. They were also concerned that he'd taken several campaign contributions from the gaming industry. A few days later, Lamborn left two voice mails threatening "consequences" if they didn't renounce their "blatantly false" letter. He also said that he would be "forced to take other steps" if the matter wasn't resolved "on a Scriptural level." The Barthas were shocked by the messages, and Anna Bartha called Lamborn's behavior "not anything we would ever anticipate an elected official would pursue."
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , in office since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. The district is based in Colorado Springs.
Early life, education, and early career
Lamborn was born in Leavenworth, KansasLeavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. He attended the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
where he received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
in 1978 and graduated with his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1986. Lamborn practiced law before entering politics.
Colorado legislature
In 1994, Lamborn was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives and was elected Republican WhipWhip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in 1997.
He successfully ran for a Colorado Senate seat in 1998, where he was elected President Pro-tem in 1999. Lamborn served in the Colorado Senate until winning a seat in Congress. Lamborn was the ranking Republican on the Colorado State Military and Veterans Affairs, and Appropriations committees. While in the State Senate Lamborn sponsored the largest tax cut in Colorado State history, and was named the highest-ranking tax cutter in the Senate five times, by a conservative activist group called the Colorado Union of Taxpayers.
Elections
2006On February 16, 2006, Joel Hefley
Joel Hefley
Joel M. Hefley is a U.S Republican politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 5th Congressional District of Colorado from 1987 to 2007. His wife, Dr. Lynn Hefley, is, like he, a former member of the Colorado State House of Representatives...
announced he would retire after 10 terms in Congress. In the August 8, 2006 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary, Lamborn defeated five other candidates to win the party nomination, includling one supported by Hefley.
Lamborn ran on conservative positions: opposing gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
except when the mother's life is threatened, federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, providing public benefits to illegal immigrants, and new eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
rulings.
Lamborn earned the endorsement in the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
of numerous national organizations, including National Right to Life, National Pro-life Alliance, National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, Gunowners of America, Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, National Right to Work, Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC. The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes...
, and Minuteman PAC
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
. He ran against Jay Fawcett, the Democratic nominee for the open seat in Colorado's 5th congressional district
Colorado's 5th congressional district
Colorado's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. The district lies in the center of the state and mostly comprises Colorado Springs and its suburbs including Cimarron Hills and Fort Carson....
. Lamborn won the election on November 7, 2006.
2008
Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn both challenged Lamborn in the 2008 Republican primary. Both lost to Lamborn in the 2006 primary. Lamborn won the primary election on August 12, 2008 with 45 percent of the 56,171 votes cast. Crank got 29 percent and Rayburn got 26 percent. Lamborn defeated Democratic challenger Hal Bidlack
Hal Bidlack
Hal Bidlack is a retired United States Air Force officer and national security aide. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives in Colorado's 5th congressional district as the Democratic nominee in the 2008 election....
in the 2008 election.
2010
Lamborn was challenged by Democratic nominee Kevin Bradley, Libertarian nominee Jerell Klaver, and American Constitution Party nominee Brian "Barron X" Scott. He won re-election.
Tenure
An office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was established in Colorado Springs in Lamborn's district. The office opened in February 2009 and increased immigration enforcement agents in the area from two to ten. “The immediate need is to address those that have committed a crime and make sure they’re sent out of the country,” Lamborn said. However this would not place in jeopardy employers who hire illegal immigrants in the first place or who pay these workers without any withholding tax or below the minimum wageMinimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
.
There has also been a Brigade Combat Team in his district since December 2007. The Brigade Combat Team consisting of almost 5,000 soldiers, their families, support personnel as well as increased military construction.
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
said that through the first August recess, Lamborn had voted by strict partisan lines the most of any member in the U.S. House and more than any other Republican. Lamborn led an effort among conservative Republicans to force the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
) to discard proposed regulations that would have affected accessibility to small arms ammunition, which were opposed by Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
groups. In February 2010, The National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
named Lamborn the most conservative member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lamborn is one of the House Republicans leading the effort against public funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
and NPR (National Public Radio). "I have been seeking to push Big Bird
Big Bird
Big Bird is a protagonist of the children's television show Sesame Street. Big Bird, like many of the other Sesame Street characters, is a Muppet character. He is sometimes referred to simply as "Bird" by his friends....
out of the nest for over a year, based on the simple fact that we can no longer afford to spend taxpayer dollars on nonessential government programs. It's time for Big Bird to earn his wings and learn to fly on his own."
On August 24, 2007, Jonathan Bartha, who works for Focus on the Family (headquartered in Colorado Springs), and his wife Anna wrote a letter to the editor in a community newspaper expressing concerns about Lamborn's opposition to more restrictions on dog fighting. They were also concerned that he'd taken several campaign contributions from the gaming industry. A few days later, Lamborn left two voice mails threatening "consequences" if they didn't renounce their "blatantly false" letter. He also said that he would be "forced to take other steps" if the matter wasn't resolved "on a Scriptural level." The Barthas were shocked by the messages, and Anna Bartha called Lamborn's behavior "not anything we would ever anticipate an elected official would pursue."
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land ForcesUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land ForcesHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:The Strategic Forces Subcommittee exercises oversight and legislative jurisdiction over:...
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
(Chairman) - Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public LandsUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public LandsThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Committee on Veterans’ AffairsUnited States House Committee on Veterans' AffairsThe standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial AffairsUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial AffairsThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
- Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study CommitteeThe Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Constitution Caucus
- House Sovereignty Caucus (Co-Founder)
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Republican Israel Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Tea Party CaucusTea Party CaucusThe Tea Party Caucus is a caucus of the United States House of Representatives and Senate launched and chaired by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on July 16, 2010. The caucus is dedicated to promoting what it considers fiscal responsibility, adherence to the movement's interpretation of...
- United Kingdom Caucus
External links
- U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn official U.S. House site
- Doug Lamborn for Congress official campaign site