John Doolittle

Infobox_Congressman
name = John Doolittle


date of birth = birth date and age|1950|10|30
place of birth = Glendale, California
death_date =
death_place =
state1 = California
district1 = 4th
term_start1 = January 3, 1993
preceded1 = Norman D. Shumway
succeeded1 = Incumbent
state2 = California
district2 = 14th
term_start2 = January 3, 1991
term_end2 = January 3, 1993
preceded2 = Norman D. Shumway
succeeded2 = Anna Eshoo
party = Republican
religion = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
spouse = Julia Doolittle
residence = Roseville, California
occupation= political assistant
alma_mater= University of California, Santa Cruz, University of the Pacific:"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 ushr|California|4|. In the 109th Congress, he held a leadership role as the Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House. [cite web | title = Committees | url = http://www.house.gov/doolittle/committees.html | work = Representative John T. Doolittle | accessdate = 2006-08-17 ] Both he and his wife are currently under investigation for serious ethical violations as part of the Jack Abramoff bribery case.

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. He also has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in Sacramento, in 1978.

Doolittle spent two years as a missionary in Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before going to law school. [ [http://www.theunion.com/article/20060926/OPINION/109260117 Nevada County Local Opinion: Perhaps it's time for a fresh face in D.C. - TheUnion.com ] ] Doolittle is married to the former Julia (Julie) Harlow. They have a son and daughter. [ [http://doolittle.house.gov/biography/ John T. Doolittle ] ]

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 Albert S. Rodda, dean of the state Senate and chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

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.Jeff Kearns, [http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A30225 "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] 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. [California Political Fair Practices Commission, [http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.html?id=253 Enforcement cases] ] Doolittle won re-elections in 1986 and 1988. From 1987 to 1990, he was chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Initial election and re-elections

In 1990, Republican Norman D. Shumway, also a Mormon, retired from Congress. In the November general election, Doolittle defeated Patty Malberg, a Democrat from Lincoln, getting 51% of the vote, in what was then the 14th Congressional District.

Doolittle's district was renumbered as the 4th in 1992, and he was reelected with 50 percent of the vote, again defeating Malberg. However, he was reelected with 61 percent of the vote in 1994 and didn't face another close race until 2006.

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.

Doolittle is a staunch conservative. 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 opposes gun control and abortion rights.

After the old Republican Study Committee had its funding yanked in 1995, Doolittle helped refound it as the "Conservative Action Team." He alternated the chairmanship with Dan Burton of Indiana, Sam Johnson of Texas and Ernest Istook of Oklahoma until 1999.

Doolittle is known for support of the Auburn Dam project, despite environmental concerns and uncertainties about the impact that such a dam might have on seismic activity in the area. A mid-1990s preliminary United States Geological Survey report cited concerns about the potential of earthquakes caused by that project. [cite web | title = Review of seismic-hazard issues associated with the Auburn Dam project, Sierra Nevada foothills, California | work = United States Geological Survey | url = http://ca.water.usgs.gov/archive/reports/auburn/induced.html | accessdate = 2006-08-17 ] 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 that historically often has droughts, and said that Folsom and Nimbus Dams should suffice in an intense rainy season. Opponents of the project believe that the proposed Auburn Dam 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 Union newspaper of Grass Valley, California quoted Doolittle as saying that "A liberal front is underway to find God and all things pertaining to him unconstitutional." [cite news | url = http://theunion.com/article/20060120/OPINION/101200104 | title = Doolittle and God | date = 2006-01-20 | publisher = The Union | accessdate = 2006-08-17 ]

In February 2006, Doolittle was praised by the El Dorado Irrigation District for his assistance in obtaining funds for hydroelectric power projects. [cite web | format = PDF | url = http://www.eid.org/doc_library/PDF_Files/pub_info/news/eid_news_20060224.pdf | date = 2006-02-24 | title = EID Board thanks Congressman John Doolittle | work = El Dorado Irrigation District | accessdate = 2006-08-17 ]

Recent re-election campaigns

2002

In 2002, Doolittle defeated Republican challenger Dr. Bill Kirby of Auburn, California, 78%-22%. [cite news | title = Doolittle wins easily | first = Michelle | last = Miller | url = http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2006/06/07/news/top_stories/01doolittle_wins.txt | date = 2006-06-07 | publisher = Auburn Journal | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] In the general election, Doolittle defeated Mark Norberg, 65%-35%, while raising $1,024,986 compared to Norberg’s $8,202.cite news | url = http://www.theunion.com/article/20060204/OPINION/60203007 | title = Is a competitive House race possible? | first = Pat | last = Butler | publisher = The Union | date = 2006-02-04 | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

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.

2006

In the Republican primary on June 6, 2006, Doolittle was challenged for his party's nomination by Mike Holmes, the mayor of Auburn. Doolittle raised more than $1.1 million in campaign contributions, more than 14 times that of Holmes. Doolittle won the primary with 67% of the vote. [cite web | url = http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/usrep/0400.htm | title = U.S. Congress District 4 election results | date = 2006-07-14 | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

In the general election, Doolittle's Democratic opponent was retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Charles Brown. Doolittle agreed to a single debate, on October 11, 2006. [ [http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/SS/20061013/NEWS/61012011/-1/REGION "Terrorism, Iraq and Abramoff dominate Doolittle debate"] , "Nevada Appeal", October 13, 2006] Doolittle defeated Brown, getting 49% of the vote to Brown's 46%. Brown defeated Doolittle in Nevada County, but narrowly lost the most populated county in the district, Placer County, and lost the rest of the district.

In January 2007, Doolittle announced ten steps he said he would take to re-establish the confidence of the district in his holding office. He announced the planned changes in an op-ed piece he distributed to newspapers in his district. [John Doolittle, [http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2007/01/12/columnists/guest_column/01doolittletalks12.txt "Congressman Doolittle charts a new course for a new term"] , Op-ed, Auburn Journal, January 11, 2007 (also published in other local papers)]

Legislative Record

tate Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

In 2007, Congress took up the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health care for about 6 million children and 670,000 adults from families who earn too much money qualify for Medicare but not enough to afford health insurance. Congressional Democrats and many Republicans tried to use the opportunity to dramatically expand the program but were opposed by President George W. Bush and other Republicans. In 2006, 5.4 million children were eligible but not enrolled in SCHIP or Medicaid and 9.4 million total children were uninsured.

John Doolittle voted against the first House bill, which passed along party lines. It would have added $47 billion over five years to the $25 billion cost of the program and added about 5 million people to the program, including children, some legal immigrants, pregnant women and adults aged 18 and 19. The bill was financed mainly by an increase in cigarette taxes. [ [http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/1737 OpenCongress - Roll Call Details ] ]

House Democrats, with 45 Republicans, later compromised and passed a bill that expanded the plan by $35 billion and would have insured about 3.5 million more children from families generally making between 250% and 300% of the federal poverty line (about $51,000 to $62,000 for a family of four). Most non-pregnant, childless adults were excluded, as were most legal immigrants and all illegal immigrants. Doolittle voted against the bill. [ [http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/1919 OpenCongress - Roll Call Details ] ]

After President Bush vetoed the bill, Democratic leaders attempted to override the veto with the same bill but failed. Doolittle voted against the bill. [ [http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/2020 OpenCongress - Roll Call Details ] ]

House Democrats then attempted to override it with another bill, which gave into Republican demands for increased checks for citizenship, the quick phasing-out of adult coverage, a hard limit of 300% of the federal poverty level and funding for families that covered their children through private insurance instead. Republicans, angry that the vote was scheduled during massive fires in California, blocked the veto override. Doolittle voted against the bill. [ [http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/2070 OpenCongress - Roll Call Details ] ] For details on the bills and the debate, see the main State Children's Health Insurance Program page.

Campaign Finances

Between 2005 and 2006 John Doolittle raised a total of $2,354,786 for his political campaign. 65.1% of his finances came from private donors, 34.5% from PACs, and 0.3% from other various sources. 54.3% of the PAC contributions came from business organizations while the other 45.7% came from labor and ideological groups. At the end of his 2005–2006 political campaign 98.4% of his finances were completely disclosed. [cite web | url = http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00007556&cycle=2006| title = Representative (R-CA)John T. Doolittle | accessdate = 2006-10-17 ] According to the FEC (Federal Election Commission) John Doolittle has raised a total of $278,142 this year. [cite web | url = http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_08+H0CA14042 | title = John Doolittle Campaign Finance Report | accessdate = 2006-10-17 ]

Controversies

On September 20, 2006, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) a group headed by former Democratic Congressional staffer Melanie Sloan, [ [http://www.citizensforethics.org/about/whoweare.php About CREW] , Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington] 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." [ [http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/doolittle.php CREW summary of ethics issues of Doolittle] , September 2006]

Abramoff connections

John Doolittle has been entangled in the scandal involving Jack Abramoff. On September 27, 2007, he indicated that he planned to fight a Justice Department subpoena for 11 years of records as part of that department's investigation into his conduct. [Matt Apuzzo, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/27/AR2007092701526.html?hpid=moreheadlines "Prosecutors Subpoena Calif. Lawmaker"] , "Associated Press", September 27, 2007]

Doolittle has denied any wrongdoing. In connection with the matter, he has hired David Barger, a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor from Ken Starr's office, and Wiley Rein LLP, a law firm that specializes in campaign finance and government ethics. [cite news | title = Doolittle Taps Ken Starr To Fight Abramoff Fallout | url = http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_108120853.html | publisher = Associated Press | date = 2006-04-18 | accessdate = 2006-08-17 ] [cite news | title = Doolittle reports legal bill now tops $100,000 | url = http://www.pssdir.com/pss/document.cfm?iDocumentID=647199&highlight=Contact%20sacbee.com.&cached=1 | publisher = Sacramento Bee | date = 2006-12-09 | accessdate = 2007-04-17 ] Doolittle has estimated that he received about $50,000 from clients of Abramoff, mostly Indian tribes. [cite news | url = http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=15514 | title = Doolittle Chooses Talk Show to Discuss Abramoff Connections | first = C. | last = Johnson | date = 2006-01-23 | accessdate = 2006-08-17 | publisher = KXTV ] Abramoff also personally donated $14,000 over the period 1999–2004 to Doolittle's congressional campaigns. [cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2005/12/12/GR2005121200286.html? | title = How Abramoff Spread the Wealth | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2005-12-12 | author = Willis, Derek and Stanton, Laura | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] After Doolittle's Chief of Staff Kevin A. Ring left to work for Abramoff, Ring helped arrange for Abramoff to hire a consulting firm owned by Doolittle's wife. [cite news | title = Lawmakers Under Scrutiny in Probe of Lobbyist | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/25/AR2005112501423_2.html | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2005-05-26 | accessdate = 2007-04-17 ] Doolittle also used Abramoff's luxury sports box for a fundraiser without initially reporting it. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061115/ap_on_re_us/abramoff_prison] Doolittle is currently being investigated by a federal probe into his relationship with Abramoff. [Brigham, Roger, [http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1257 Brown in tough fight against Doolittle] 10/19/2006] On April 13, 2007, Doolittle's former aide, Kevin Ring, resigned from his lobby firm. [ [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0407/3532.html Abramoff-Linked Lobbyist Resigns - Politico.com ] ] On the same day, the FBI raided Doolittle's Virginia home. [cite news
url= http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/fbi-searches-republican-lawmakers-home-2007-04-18.html
title = FBI searches Republican lawmaker’s home
publisher = The Hill
date = April 18, 2007
accessdate = 2007-04-18
author = Mike Soraghan and Susan Crabtree] On September 4, 2007, the House announced that Doolittle's Chief of Staff Ron Rogers and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Blankenburg were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. [cite news | author=Erica Werner | publisher=Associated Press | date=September 4, 2007| title=Doolittle Aides Subpoenaed in Probe | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/04/AR2007090401104.html]

mall towns pressured to hire lobbyists

Dan Landon, a Republican and the executive director of the Nevada County Transportation Commission, 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.cite news
url=http://www.theunion.com/article/20051217/NEWS/112170096
title=County rebuffs funding fracas - copy of letter to Rep. Doolittle included
publisher=Nevada County Union
date=December 17, 2005
author=Brittany Retherford]

Activities of Julie Doolittle

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. Payments to Julie Doolittle during the period were done via a company called Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions.cite news | title = Congressman Doolittle, wife profited from Cunningham-linked contractor | date = 2006-03-19 | first = Dean | last = Calbreath | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060319-9999-1n19dolittle.html | publisher = The San Diego Union-Tribune | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] 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.

Work for lobbying firm

From 2002 until mid-2005,cite news | url = http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000987.php | title = Totalling Mrs. Doolittle's Take | author = Kiel, Paul | date = 2006-06-23 | publisher = TPMmuckraker | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] 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, [cite news | title = Lobby Giant Is Scandal Casualty | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901996.html | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2006-01-10 | page = A01 | author = Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. and Grimaldi, James V. | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] 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.

Fundraising commissions from Doolittle campaign revenues

Sierra Dominion charges Doolittle's campaign and his Superior California Political Action Committee a fifteen percent commission on any contribution that Julie Doolittle helps bring in. As of March 2006, federal and state campaign records show that she had received nearly $180,000 in commissions from for such fundraising since late 2001. Doolittle aides said even though the PAC had made payments to other fundraisers, Julie Doolittle was entitled to 15 percent of all money the PAC brought in because those donations were raised at events she helped organize.cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/10/AR2006071001164.html | publisher = Washington Post | page = A01 | date = 2006-07-11 | title = Lawmaker Criticized for PAC Fees Paid to Wife | author = Weisman, Jonathan and Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

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."cite news | title = Doolittle draws increased scrutiny | url = http://www.thepresstribune.com/articles/2005/12/28/news/top_stories/01doolittle.txt | first = Gus | last = Thomson | date = 2005-12-28 | publisher = Roseville Press Tribune | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

In 2006, the 27,000-member Association of Fundraising Professionals released a letter it had sent to Doolittle, declaring that his wife's activities violated the Association's ethics code, in that their code "explicitly prohibits percentage-based compensation".cite news | url = http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/22517 | publisher = Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington | date = 2006-04-20 | title = Fundraising group assails the Doolittles | accessdate = 2007-04-20]

In January 2007, Doolittle announced that he would no longer employ his wife as his campaign fundraiser. Instead, he said, he would hire an outside fundraiser. [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/16446417.htm "Rep. John Doolittle: no longer employ wife for fundraising"] , "Associated Press", January 12, 2007] But in July 2007, his campaign reported expenses of $50,000 for fundraising by Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions during the April–June 2007 period. The company was also still owed $76,000 in commissions from the 2006 race.David Whitney, [http://www.sacbee.com/capolitics/story/274799.html "Doolittle slipping as big-money draw: His campaign is in debt and raising less as rival Brown in gaining steam"] , "Sacramento Bee", July 16, 2007]

2005 trip to Asia

KORUSEC, which employed Doolittle's wife (see above) and the U.S.-Malaysia Exchange Association, another non-profit firm operated by ASG, paid the $29,400 cost of what was described as a "fact finding mission" to South Korea and Malaysia by Doolittle accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter in 2005. This trip included a stop at the Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort on the Malaysian island of Langkawi.

KORUSEC and the U.S.-Malaysia Exchange Association, which were operated by a Washington lobbying firm, Alexander Strategy Group, were, as of November 2006, being investigated by the FBI as possible conduits for illegal influence in U.S. affairs by a foreign corporation (KORUSEC) and a foreign government (USMEA). A spokeswoman for Doolittle said that he believed that his trip was proper and that it had nothing to do with the earmarks. [cite news | title = Foreign Lobbies Took the Guise of Nonprofits | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201883.html | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2006-11-03 | page = A01 | author = Grimaldi, James V. and Schmidt, Susan | accessdate = 2006-11-04 ] .

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.cite news | title = The power of persuasion | date = 2006-02-05 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060205-9999-1n5wilkes.html | first = Dean | last = Calbreath | publisher = The San Diego Union-Tribune | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] In November, 2003, Wilkes hosted a fund-raising dinner for Doolittle. Between 2002 to 2005, Doolittle received at least $118,000 in campaign contributions from Wilkes, PerfectWave associates and their wives, and ASG lobbyists Edwin A. Buckham and Tony C. Rudy (two former aides of Tom DeLay) and their wives. [cite web | title = Brent Wilkes Fetes Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) | url = http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/wilkes-doolittle-dinner/ | date = 2003-11-14 | work = Talking Points Memo | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

Doolittle, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said 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 said that his support was based "on the project's merits and the written support of the military." [cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/26/AR2006012602221.html | title = K Street's New Ways Spawn More Pork | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2006-01-27 | page = A01 | author = Weisman, Jonathan and Babcock, Charles R. | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] 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." [cite news | title = Four linked to area firm subpoenaed | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20060125-9999-1n25perfect.html | date = 2006-01-25 | first = Dean | last = Calbreath | publisher = The San Diego Union-Tribune | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ] 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."

In February 2006, Doolittle said that he was glad he supported PerfectWave, saying "it has unique technology ... that ensures the safety of our armed forces in the war on terror. [cite news | title = Doolittle offers answers to media questions | url = http://www.thepresstribune.com/articles/2006/03/01/news/top_stories/05jason.prt | date = 2006-02-24 | accessdate = 2006-08-18 | first = Jason | last = Probst | publisher = Roseville Press Tribune ]

Investigation of Charles Hurwitz

On January 8, 2006, the "Los Angeles Times" reported that "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." 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." The FDIC investigation was ultimately dropped.cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-banker8jan08,0,1764103.story?coll=la-home-headlines&track=morenews
title = A Donor Who Had Big Allies | publisher = Los Angeles Times | date = 2006-01-08 | author = Serrano, Richard A. and Braun, Stephen | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

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." The article concluded, "in the Hurwitz case, Doolittle and Pombo were in a position to pressure the FDIC and did so." [cite news | title = The Abramoff Galaxy | date = 2005-12-29 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/custom/2005/12/28/CU2005122801183.html | author = Grimaldi, James and Stanton, Laura | publisher = Washington Post | accessdate = 2006-08-18 ]

On April 19, 2007, Doolittle resigned from the Committee on Appropriations in response to a raid by the FBI at his Northern Virginia home. The raid stems from possible involvement by his wife in the Abramoff investigation.Werner, Erica (April 19, 2007). [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/04/19/national/w135324D70.DTL&type=politics Lawmaker Resigns From Panel Amid Probe.] Associated Press]

2008 re-election campaign

Democrat Charlie Brown, who lost to Doolittle in 2006 by only 3 percent of the vote, announced in February 2007 that he would run again in 2008. Brown outraised Doolittle in the first and second quarters of 2007; as of June 30th, he had a net cash balance of $251,000; Doolittle had a negative balance of $32,000.

In August 2007, former Placer County Republican Party chairman Ken Campbell, a longtime financial backer of Doolittle, said he was withdrawing his support. Campbell cited a recent Club for Growth report on votes in 2007 on spending bills, where Doolittle scored 2 percent, compared to the Republican average of 43 percent. [David Whitney, [http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/342857.html "Longtime Doolittle ally pulls support"] , "Sacramento Bee", August 24, 2007]

In July 2007, Eric Egland, a 37-year-old Air Force reservist and security consultant, announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for the seat held by Doolittle. In August 2007, Auburn City Councilman Mike Holmes announced that he also was entering the 2008 race. Holmes ran unsuccessfully against Doolittle for the Republican nomination in 2006, getting 33 percent of the primary vote to 67 percent for Doolittle. [David Whitney, [http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/325919.html "Second Republican takes on Doolittle"] , "Sacramento Bee", August 15, 2007]

On August 30, 2007, State Assemblyman Ted Gaines announced the establishment of an exploratory committee to begin raising money to run for Congress against Doolittle, stating "I think voters have lost faith in his leadership ability...when you lose the moral ability to lead, you kind of have to re-evaluate." [Peter Hecht, [http://www.sacbee.com/815/story/353252.html "GOP Assemblyman Gaines says he is planning to run for Doolittle's House seat"] , "Sacramento Bee", August 30, 2007] Gaines' actions were highly unpopular among the party's activists and volunteers, leading to a proposed censure by the Placer County Republican Central Committee, that was later tabled.

Doolittle lashed back at Gaines, saying, "After spending the last month talking to local voters, I have seen strong support for my candidacy and a strong desire to focus on solving problems instead of plotting for political advantage...I will gladly place before the voters my record of over 30 years of service to the Republican Party to Ted Gaines' less than one year." [Peter Hecht, [http://www.sacbee.com/815/story/353252.html "GOP Assemblyman Gaines says he is planning to run for Doolittle's House seat"] , "Sacramento Bee", August 30, 2007]

After much speculation, on January 10, 2008, John Doolittle announced he would finish his current term, and not run for re-election. [http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/624368.html]

After Doolittle's retirement announcement, Councilman Holmes quit the race and instead endorsed former Republican Congressman Doug Ose, who announced on February 1, 2008 that he is running for Doolittle's seat. Ose faced opposition from former California State Senator Rico Oller (R-San Andreas), who announced his candidacy on January 10, 2008. When California State Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) announced that he too was running for Doolittle's seat on March 4, 2008, Oller dropped out of the race, and decided to give his endorsement to McClintock.

References

External links

* [http://doolittle.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman John T. Doolittle] , U.S. House site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Doolittle SourceWatch Congresspedia — John Doolittle] — profile
* [http://www.johndoolittle.com John Doolittle for Congress] — Official campaign site
* Legislation sponsored or cosponsored
**107th Congress [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d107:FLD003:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Sponsored] [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d107:FLD004:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Cosponsored]
**108th Congress [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d108:FLD003:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Sponsored] [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d108:FLD004:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Cosponsored]
**109th Congress [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d109:FLD003:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Sponsored] [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d109:FLD004:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Cosponsored]
**110th Congress [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d1108:FLD003:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Sponsored] [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d110:FLD004:@1(Rep+Doolittle+John): Cosponsored] Articles
* [http://alaskareport.com/news907/z46722_john_doolittle.htm Suspect Doolittle says he'll fight subpoenas] Dennis Zaki, "AlaskaReport.com", September 27, 2007
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/25/AR2005112501423.html Lawmakers Under Scrutiny in Probe of Lobbyist] Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi, "The Washington Post", November 26, 2005
* [http://auctionhouse.tpmcafe.com/story/2006/1/24/31452/9934 The Daily Muck] Paul Kiel's blog, January 24, 2006, Doolittle's contributions from Abramoff
* [http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/10/19/cq_1666.html Abramoff Ties Continue to Weigh Down Doolittle in Calif. 4] Rachel Kapochunas, "The New York Times", October 19, 2006