Jim Matheson

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U.S. Representative

Jim Matheson (D)

400255.jpeg

UT-04
Positions
Leadership: No leadership position
Committees: House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Science and Technology
(subcommittees and past assignments)
Next election: Nov. 6, 2012

Primary challenge:

Incumbent running: Maybe

2012 candidates for UT-04

Confirmed: Jim Matheson, Mia Love
Possible: None so far
Out: None so far
(more info & editing for UT-04)
On the Web
Official website


James David Matheson, a Democrat, has represented the Second Congressional District of Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001.

Contents

Record and controversies

Congressional scorecards

Click through the score to see the records of other members of Congress and full descriptions of the individual votes.

Want to see someone else's scorecard added to the list? You can do it!

Organization 2007 Scorecard
Score - Agree ratio 		2008 Scorecard
Score - Agree ratio
American Civil Liberties Union not avail. not avail.
American Conservative Union 36 - 9/25 not avail.
AFSCME not avail. not avail.
Americans for Democratic Action 75 - 15/20 55 - 11/20
Club for Growth not avail. not avail.
Drum Major Institute not avail. not avail.
Family Research Council not avail. not avail.
Information Technology Industry Council not avail. not avail.
League of Conservation Voters not avail. not avail.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People not avail. not avail.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 80 - 16/20 not avail.


Abortion and Stem Cell Research

Matheson has voted to ban partial birth abortion unless the mothers life is in danger, to stop funding to doctors who don't tell their patients the pain caused to the fetus, and voted to make it a crime to harm a fetus while committing another crime. He has been rated at 30% by the NARAL showing a pro-life record, and 55% by the NRLC showing a mixed record on abortion. [1]

However on stem cell research Matheson has voted to allow stem cell research as well as expand it. However he has also voted to forbid human cloning and reproduction for medical purposes. [2]

Iraq War

Matheson voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.[3]

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Oil Record

Jim Matheson has voted in favor of big oil companies on 60% of important oil-related bills from 2005-2007, according to Oil Change International. These bills include Iraq war funding, climate change studies, clean energy, and emissions.[4] See below for oil money in politics.

Jobs and Unions

Matheson believes that "the federal government cannot and should not run the economy" [5] however supports helping homeowners under foreclosure, and providing tax rebates. In the long run he wants to lower government spending, lower the national debt, and create new jobs. [6]

As far as his voting record goes he has repeatedly voted to help unions, and is rated at 73% by the AFL-CIO, which indicates a pro-union record. He has also voted to end off-shore tax havens, to increase the minimum wage to $7.25, and voted to give money to support farmers. [7]

Gun Control

Matheson fully supports firearm rights, and has voted repeatedly to protect gun manufacturers. These include banning product misuse lawsuits for manufacturers, makers and sellers. In addition he voted to ban the registration and trigger lock law in DC. Matheson is given a B+ rating by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun record. [8]

DC voting rights bill

In early 2007, when the District of Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act of 2007 (H.R. 328), a bill to give the District of Columbia a voting seat in the House, was introduced, it included a compromise provision to give Utah an additional congressional seat as well. By incorporating an additional seat for Utah, a reliably Republican state, as well as an additional electoral vote for the state in the 2008 presidential election, the bill was considered to have a much greater chance of attaining bipartisan support. The provision noting that Utah's new seat would be an at-large one was also seen as a compromise. If it had been added as a typical seat, the Utah state legislature would have immediately redrawn the state's district boundaries to accommodate it. Democrats, however, were likely to oppose this because the state could gerrymander the state in a way which made it difficult for Rep. Matheson, the Utah's lone Democratic representative, to keep his seat. With an at-large seat, the state would have no need to redraw its districts.

Main article: District of Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act of 2007

Bio

Matheson was born March 21, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Harvard University (BA) and the University of California, Los Angeles (MBA). As a Democrat, he is a rarity in Utah politics. He is more conservative than most Democrats and was elected from a district where George W. Bush won 77% of the vote in 2004. Matheson faces stiff challenges from Republicans every election cycle.

2006 elections

In 2006, Republicans nominated Lavar Christensen to face Matheson in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [3] Matheson retained his seat.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. For specific controversies, see this article's record and controversies section.

Top Contributors to during the 2008 Election Cycle
DonorAmount (US Dollars)
1-800 Contacts$ 22,300
Blue Cross/Blue Shield$ 21,000
AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Greater America$ 17,500
Elmendorf Ryan$ 13,900
Unitedhealth Group$ 12,500
Berkshire Hathaway$ 12,000
General Electric$ 11,500
American Health Care Assn$ 11,000
Edwards Lifesciences$ 11,000
Microsoft Corp$ 11,000
Source: The Center for Responsive Politics' www.OpenSecrets.org site.
Note: Contributions are not from the organizations themselves, but are rather from
the organization's PAC, employees or owners. Totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.
Links to more campaign contribution information for Jim Matheson
from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile: 2008 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2008 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by industry: 2008 election cycle Career totals

Oil and Coal Money in Politics

Jim Matheson has received $99,097 in oil contributions during the 110th congress. $82,500 of those dollars were from industry PACS. In total, Matheson has accepted $194,247 from oil companies between 2000 and 2008. In addition to oil money, Jim Matheson has received $27,500 in coal contributions during the 110th congress. $27,500 of those dollars were from industry PACS.[9] See above for oil and energy voting record.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

More Background Data

Wikipedia also has an article on Jim Matheson. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC office
  • 2434 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
    Ph: 202-225-3011 Fax: 202-225-5638
    Webform email
District offices
  • 120 East Main, Price, UT 84501
    Ph: 435-636-3722 Fax: (none entered)
  • 321 North Mall Drive, Suite 3101B, Saint George, UT 84790
    Ph: 435-627-0880, 1-877-677-9743 Fax: (none entered)
  • 240 East Morris Avenue #235, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
    Ph: 801-486-1236, 1-877-677-9743 Fax: (none entered)
On the Web
Campaign office
  • No campaign website entered.
  • No campaign webform email entered.
  • No campaign office information entered.

Articles and resources

References

  1. ↑ Jim Matheson on the Issues
  2. ↑ Jim Matheson on the Issues
  3. ↑ Roll call vote, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.
  4. ↑ Vote Tracker, Oil Change International.
  5. ↑ [1]
  6. ↑ [2]
  7. ↑ Jim Matheson on the Issues
  8. ↑ Jim Matheson on the Issues
  9. ↑ See "Follow the Oil Money," "Follow the Coal Money," and vote tracker from Oil Change International and Appalachian Voices.

External resources

Local blogs and discussion sites


Semantic data (Edit data)

Retrieved from "http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Jim_Matheson"
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