Jason Chaffetz
Encyclopedia
Jason E. Chaffetz (ˈtʃeɪfɨts; born March 26, 1967) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party
. The district is based in Provo
and includes large portions of central and west-central Utah.
(BYU) on an athletic scholarship. He was the starting placekicker
on the BYU football team in 1988 and 1989, and still holds the BYU individual records for most extra point
s attempted in a game (10), most extra points made in a game (10), and most consecutive extra points made in a game (10).
While at BYU, Chaffetz became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts
in Communications.
Chaffetz grew up a Democrat
. While a student at BYU, he was a Utah co-chairman for Michael Dukakis
's 1988 campaign for U.S. President. His father had previously been married to Dukakis' wife, Kitty, and his half-brother is former actor John Dukakis
.
Chaffetz's father was Jewish and his mother was a Christian Scientist. Chaffetz converted to Mormonism
as an undergrad on a football scholarship at Brigham Young University.
He became a Republican after meeting Ronald Reagan
in 1990, when Reagan came to Chaffetz's employer, Nu Skin, a multi-level marketing company based in Provo, Utah, as a motivational speaker. However, his political views had been drifting more to the right even while working for Dukakis.
After college, Chaffetz joined the local business community. His work included being a spokesman for Nu Skin International.
. Huntsman won the race and, after he took office in January 2005, Chaffetz became his chief of staff.
After briefly serving in that capacity, Chaffetz returned to the private sector in November 2005, managing his own company, Maxtera Utah, which offers services in the areas of corporate communications and marketing.
In 2007, Chaffetz was appointed by the Governor, and unanimously confirmed by the Utah State Senate, as a Trustee for Utah Valley State College. He has also served as the President, BYU Cougar Club-Utah County, member of the Highland City Planning Commission, and as the Chairman for the Utah National Guard Adjutant General Review.
Chaffetz also appeared on the "Better Know A District" segment of The Colbert Report in 2008, where he was defeated by Stephen Colbert
in leg wrestling.
Chaffetz announced at the start of the Congressional term in 2009 that he would be sleeping on a cot in his office rather than renting a Washington, D.C.
apartment. Chaffetz said, "I'm trying to live the example that it doesn't take big dollars in order to get where we want to go. I can save my family $1,500 a month by sleeping on a cot in my office as opposed to getting a fancy place that's maybe a little bit more comfortable." His family will continue to live in Alpine
, a suburb of Provo. "We are now $10 trillion in debt. $10 trillion. Those are expenses that have to be paid at some point", he said. If he can tighten his belt in these tough economic times, Chaffetz said, Congress should be able to as well.
Upon hearing that U.S. President Barack Obama
won the Nobel Peace Prize
on October 9, 2009, Chaffetz said he had "lost all respect for the award", claiming "it used to be one of distinction, but [now] it is hard to give it any credibility".
In November 2009 Chaffetz co-sponsored a bill in the House with Rep. Jim Matheson to block the importation of foreign nuclear waste into the United States, putting him directly at odds with Rep. Rob Bishop and Utah's Senators Bennett and Hatch who had historically supported importing foreign nuclear waste into Utah with restrictions. Chaffetz also surprised many in Utah by announcing he opposed the increase in troops in Afghanistan, and believed the best approach would be to bring the troops home from Afghanistan.
In December 2009, Chaffetz championed legislation to limit the use of full-body imaging scanners at airports. Chaffetz's bill, which passed the House and now waits for Senate approval, would limit the use of full-body imaging scanners unless a metal detector first indicated a need for more screening. The images have come under intense scrutiny from privacy groups for allegedly letting security administrators view images of undressed passengers. Salt Lake City is one of only a handful of airports using the technology.
Chaffetz has taken a pledge to vote against what he calls "trivial resolutions," including those dealing with sports, including HRES 1491 which congratulates the University of South Carolina baseball team on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I World Series and HRES 1715 which congratulates Penn State's football coach Joe Paterno on his 400th career win. Chaffetz feels that the House could be taking up much more important legislation.
, a bird whose population has shrunk from 16 million 100 years ago to about 200,000 today. According to Chaffetz, "The only good place for a sage grouse to be listed is on the menu of a French bistro." In 2007, a court ruled that political tampering by Julie A. MacDonald, then-deputy assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, had "tainted" the bird's assessment, and a new review was ordered. In March 2010, the U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
assigned the bird "warranted but precluded" status, paving the way for its future protection.
, for the Republican nomination. Although Cannon was one of the most conservative members of the House, Chaffetz ran well to his right. He claimed that Cannon “has failed us for not instituting conservative principles," specifically mentioning stronger measures to prevent illegal immigration
. He continued to criticize Cannon during the campaign on the issue of illegal immigration.
Chaffetz nearly ended Cannon's career at the 2008 Utah Republican State Convention. Chaffetz won 59 percent of the 3rd District's delegates to Cannon's 41 percent. Had a few hundred more votes gone his way, he would have won 60 percent of the delegates and gained the Republican nomination without the need for a primary. It was the second time in a row that Cannon's career had nearly been ended at the convention; in 2006 John Jacob took 52 percent of the votes at the convention (though Cannon ultimately won the resulting primary).
In the primary on June 24, 2008, Chaffetz defeated Cannon by a vote of 60% to 40%. Chaffetz's victory was shocking on several fronts. Cannon was endorsed by George W. Bush
, the state's two U.S. Senators (Orrin Hatch
and Bob Bennett) and almost all of the state Republican establishment. Cannon also outspent Chaffetz by 6 to 1.
Chaffetz faced Democrat Bennion Spencer
in the 2008 general election, along with Jim Noorlander from the Constitution Party
. Chaffetz easily won election with 66% of the vote (to 28% and 6% for Spencer and Noorlander, respectively). Chaffetz also received the highest percentage (66%) of any of the three Representatives from Utah, with Rob Bishop
(R, 1st District) winning with 65% and Jim Matheson
(D, 2nd District) winning with 63% in their districts. However, the 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the nation, and it was generally believed Chaffetz had assured himself of a seat in Congress with his primary win.
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 , serving since 2009. 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 Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
and includes large portions of central and west-central Utah.
Early life, education and career
He attended Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) on an athletic scholarship. He was the starting placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
on the BYU football team in 1988 and 1989, and still holds the BYU individual records for most extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
s attempted in a game (10), most extra points made in a game (10), and most consecutive extra points made in a game (10).
While at BYU, Chaffetz became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Communications.
Chaffetz grew up a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. While a student at BYU, he was a Utah co-chairman for Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
's 1988 campaign for U.S. President. His father had previously been married to Dukakis' wife, Kitty, and his half-brother is former actor John Dukakis
John Dukakis
John Dukakis has had a varied career in politics and entertainment.-Early life and acting career:Dukakis was born John A. Chaffetz in San Jose, California but reared in the Boston area...
.
Chaffetz's father was Jewish and his mother was a Christian Scientist. Chaffetz converted to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
as an undergrad on a football scholarship at Brigham Young University.
He became a Republican after meeting Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1990, when Reagan came to Chaffetz's employer, Nu Skin, a multi-level marketing company based in Provo, Utah, as a motivational speaker. However, his political views had been drifting more to the right even while working for Dukakis.
After college, Chaffetz joined the local business community. His work included being a spokesman for Nu Skin International.
Early political career
In 2004, Chaffetz was the campaign manager for Utah gubernatorial candidate Jon HuntsmanJon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
. Huntsman won the race and, after he took office in January 2005, Chaffetz became his chief of staff.
After briefly serving in that capacity, Chaffetz returned to the private sector in November 2005, managing his own company, Maxtera Utah, which offers services in the areas of corporate communications and marketing.
In 2007, Chaffetz was appointed by the Governor, and unanimously confirmed by the Utah State Senate, as a Trustee for Utah Valley State College. He has also served as the President, BYU Cougar Club-Utah County, member of the Highland City Planning Commission, and as the Chairman for the Utah National Guard Adjutant General Review.
Chaffetz also appeared on the "Better Know A District" segment of The Colbert Report in 2008, where he was defeated by Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
in leg wrestling.
Committee assignments
- Committee on the BudgetUnited States House Committee on the BudgetThe U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
- Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States House Committee on the JudiciaryThe U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
- Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the InternetUnited States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the InternetThe House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet is a subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee. It was established in 2011.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland SecurityUnited States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland SecurityThe House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is a subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy
- Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform
Chaffetz announced at the start of the Congressional term in 2009 that he would be sleeping on a cot in his office rather than renting a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
apartment. Chaffetz said, "I'm trying to live the example that it doesn't take big dollars in order to get where we want to go. I can save my family $1,500 a month by sleeping on a cot in my office as opposed to getting a fancy place that's maybe a little bit more comfortable." His family will continue to live in Alpine
Alpine, Utah
Alpine is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9555 at the 2010 census. Alpine has been one of the many quickly-growing cities of Utah since the 1970s, and especially the 1990s. It is located on the...
, a suburb of Provo. "We are now $10 trillion in debt. $10 trillion. Those are expenses that have to be paid at some point", he said. If he can tighten his belt in these tough economic times, Chaffetz said, Congress should be able to as well.
Upon hearing that U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
on October 9, 2009, Chaffetz said he had "lost all respect for the award", claiming "it used to be one of distinction, but [now] it is hard to give it any credibility".
In November 2009 Chaffetz co-sponsored a bill in the House with Rep. Jim Matheson to block the importation of foreign nuclear waste into the United States, putting him directly at odds with Rep. Rob Bishop and Utah's Senators Bennett and Hatch who had historically supported importing foreign nuclear waste into Utah with restrictions. Chaffetz also surprised many in Utah by announcing he opposed the increase in troops in Afghanistan, and believed the best approach would be to bring the troops home from Afghanistan.
In December 2009, Chaffetz championed legislation to limit the use of full-body imaging scanners at airports. Chaffetz's bill, which passed the House and now waits for Senate approval, would limit the use of full-body imaging scanners unless a metal detector first indicated a need for more screening. The images have come under intense scrutiny from privacy groups for allegedly letting security administrators view images of undressed passengers. Salt Lake City is one of only a handful of airports using the technology.
Chaffetz has taken a pledge to vote against what he calls "trivial resolutions," including those dealing with sports, including HRES 1491 which congratulates the University of South Carolina baseball team on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I World Series and HRES 1715 which congratulates Penn State's football coach Joe Paterno on his 400th career win. Chaffetz feels that the House could be taking up much more important legislation.
Protection for Greater Sage Grouse
Chaffetz opposes federal protection for Utah's resident Greater Sage GrouseSage Grouse
The Sage Grouse is the largest grouse in North America, where it is known as the Greater Sage-Grouse. Its range is sagebrush country in the western United States and southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. A population of smaller birds, known in the U.S. as Gunnison Sage-Grouse, were recently...
, a bird whose population has shrunk from 16 million 100 years ago to about 200,000 today. According to Chaffetz, "The only good place for a sage grouse to be listed is on the menu of a French bistro." In 2007, a court ruled that political tampering by Julie A. MacDonald, then-deputy assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, had "tainted" the bird's assessment, and a new review was ordered. In March 2010, the U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
Ken Salazar
Kenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
assigned the bird "warranted but precluded" status, paving the way for its future protection.
2008
In June 2007, Chaffetz announced he would challenge the 3rd District's six-term incumbent, Chris CannonChris Cannon
Christopher Black "Chris" Cannon was a member of the United States House of Representatives, for the Republican Party, representing the third district of Utah from 1997 - 2009....
, for the Republican nomination. Although Cannon was one of the most conservative members of the House, Chaffetz ran well to his right. He claimed that Cannon “has failed us for not instituting conservative principles," specifically mentioning stronger measures to prevent illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
. He continued to criticize Cannon during the campaign on the issue of illegal immigration.
Chaffetz nearly ended Cannon's career at the 2008 Utah Republican State Convention. Chaffetz won 59 percent of the 3rd District's delegates to Cannon's 41 percent. Had a few hundred more votes gone his way, he would have won 60 percent of the delegates and gained the Republican nomination without the need for a primary. It was the second time in a row that Cannon's career had nearly been ended at the convention; in 2006 John Jacob took 52 percent of the votes at the convention (though Cannon ultimately won the resulting primary).
In the primary on June 24, 2008, Chaffetz defeated Cannon by a vote of 60% to 40%. Chaffetz's victory was shocking on several fronts. Cannon was endorsed by George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, the state's two U.S. Senators (Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
and Bob Bennett) and almost all of the state Republican establishment. Cannon also outspent Chaffetz by 6 to 1.
Chaffetz faced Democrat Bennion Spencer
Bennion Spencer
Bennion Lloyd Spencer is a journalist and professor, and was the 2008 Democratic candidate for Utah's 3rd congressional district running against Republican Jason Chaffetz.-Biographical background:...
in the 2008 general election, along with Jim Noorlander from the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
. Chaffetz easily won election with 66% of the vote (to 28% and 6% for Spencer and Noorlander, respectively). Chaffetz also received the highest percentage (66%) of any of the three Representatives from Utah, with Rob Bishop
Rob Bishop
Robert William "Rob" Bishop is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.-Early life, education, and early career:...
(R, 1st District) winning with 65% and Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson
James David "Jim" Matheson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City....
(D, 2nd District) winning with 63% in their districts. However, the 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the nation, and it was generally believed Chaffetz had assured himself of a seat in Congress with his primary win.
2010
Chaffetz won against Democratic nominee Karen Hyer and three third-party candidates, garnering 72.49% of the vote.External links
- Congressman Jason Chaffetz official U.S. House site
- Jason Chaffetz for Congress official campaign site