Lynn Woolsey

Infobox_Congressman
name =Lynn Woolsey


imagesize=150px
date of birth= birth date and age|1937|11|03
place of birth= Seattle, Washington
death_date =
death_place =
state = California
district = 6th
term_start = January 3, 1993
preceded = Barbara Boxer
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democratic
religion = Presbyterian
spouse = Divorced
residence = Petaluma, California
alma_mater= University of San Francisco
occupation= human resources manager, college professor

Lynn C. Woolsey (born November 3, 1937), American politician, has been a liberal Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing ushr|California|6 ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ca06_109.gifmap] ). The district includes all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She gained attention when she became the first Representative to call for a troop withdrawal from Iraq. She is a prominent member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Personal life and early career

She was born in Seattle, Washington, was educated at the University of Washington where she became a member of Alpha Phi sorority and the University of San Francisco, and was a human resources manager and personnel service owner, a teacher at the College of Marin and the Dominican University of California, and a member of the Petaluma, California City Council before entering the House.

Congressional career

Congresswoman Woolsey, who describes herself as "the first former welfare mother to serve in Congress," [ [http://woolsey.house.gov/meetlynn.asp Meet Lynn ] ] is one of two members of the United States House of Representatives to have been on welfare; the other is Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI).

She was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml]

Race for Congress

In the 1992 primary to succeed Congresswoman Barbara Boxer, who successfully ran for the Senate, Woolsey, as the only Sonoma County candidate, defeated J. Bennett Johnston III (the son of the former U.S. Senator from Louisiana, Bennett Johnston Jr.), future Assemblyman Joseph Nation (who unsuccessfully challenged her in the 2006 primary election), Denis Rice, Howell Hurst, David Strand, Anna Nevenic, William Harrison Morrison, and Eric Koenigshofer. In the general elections, she faced Republican Assemblyman Bill Filante, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was unable to campaign much. This essentially ended Filante's campaign. In 2007, she began her eighth term as representative.

Positions on Iraq

Woolsey is an outspoken opponent of the War in Iraq. On October 10, 2002, she was among the 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq. She has taken an active role in calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. She led 15 Members of Congress in writing a letter to President Bush on January 12, 2005, calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. She also was the first Member of Congress to call for a troop withdrawal, when she introduced H.Con. Res. 35 on January 26, 2005. Congresswoman Woolsey gave Cindy Sheehan a guest pass to attend the 2006 State of the Union speech by George W. Bush. Sheehan's attendance at the speech became infamous when she was arrested for wearing a T-shirt with a political message. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/31/sheehan.arrest/ CNN.com - Activist Sheehan arrested in House gallery - Feb 1, 2006 ] ]

Recognition of Ramadan

On December 11, 2007, Woolsey, along with 8 other Democrats, voted ‘nay’ on a resolution to recognize the importance of "Christmas and the Christian faith" but did vote to "recognize the commencement of Ramadan," a Muslim religious observance and Diwali, a Hindu religious holiday earlier in the year. [ [http://patriotpost.us/pub/07-51_Brief-print.htm 07-51 Brief ] ] [ [http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AmandaCarpenter/2007/12/12/ramadan_yea,_christmas_nay Amanda Carpenter :: Townhall.com :: Ramadan Yea, Christmas Nay ] ]

Indian gambling

Representative Woolsey introduced the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act August 6, 1998 (105th CONGRESS, 2d Session, H.R. 4434 [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.4434.IH: Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) ] ] ). It was ultimately approved and signed by President Clinton as Title XIV of the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act (Public Law No. 106-568) in December 2000.

Testifying in support of H.R. 946 before the House Resources Committee May 16, 2000, Woolsey said [ [http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/resources/hii68434.000/hii68434_0.HTM#2 Hearing on H.R.946, H.R.2671, and H.R.4148 ] ] :

“This consensus bill restores Federal rights and privileges to the tribe and to its members. As is typical with restoration legislation, it reinstates political status and makes tribal members eligible for benefits such as Native American health, education, and housing services. These are services, as you know, that are available to all other Federally recognized tribes!

A unique aspect of H.R. 946, however, is that it specifically contains a clause that restricts gaming, gaming on land that is taken into trust for the tribes. This non-gaming clause is at the express request of the tribe, and is the basis for the broad and bipartisan support that this bill enjoys throughout my Congressional District. It is also key to my support for the tribe's restoration.”

Representative Woolsey's original bill (H.R. 4434, later H.R. 946) would not have permitted the FIGR to have an Indian casino. Senator Barbara Boxer removed that prohibition when she included Woolsey's bill in the Omnibus Act.

Now the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and Station Casinos of Las Vegas, Nevada, propose to build a large hotel/casino complex in Sonoma County, California near Rohnert Park.

In response, Representative Woolsey introduced H.R. 2656 (which never left the House Resources Committee) and appeared frequently at local townhall meetings saying that the Miwok Indians double crossed her by seeking to legalize gambling on their Indian gaming reservation. [ [http://www.ptreyeslight.com/stories/nov02_00/miwok.html Sen. Boxer ambushes Woolsey, adds casino rights for Miwok ] ]

couting for All Act

In September 2000 Woolsey sponsored H.R. 4892, The Scouting for All Act, to revoke the charter held by the Boy Scouts of America, which had been held since 1916. The charter was issued by Congress to the B.S.A. for its efforts to promote "patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues" for young boys. Woolsey said, "We're not saying the Boy Scouts are bad, we're saying that intolerance is bad." The Boy Scouts does not want gays (scouts, former scouts, and troop leaders all included) in their organization, but the Girl Scouts do not have such a policy.

Committee Assignments

*Committee on Education and Labor
**Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
**Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
*Committee on Science and Technology
**Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
*Committee on Foreign Affairs
**Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
*Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair

Controversy

On December 2, 2003, Woolsey wrote a letter on behalf of Stewart Pearson, the son of an employee in her office, who had pleaded guilty to rape. In a letter written on her official congressional stationery, she asked the judge to consider mitigating circumstances and show leniency. The judge in the case was not swayed by the letter, and sentenced Pearson to eight years in prison, the maximum allowed under the plea bargain. She has since apologized for writing the letter. [ [http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=News&id=1193591 abc7news.com: ABC7NEWS.COM: Bay Area News for San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose ] ]

Electoral history

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=6 style="background: #ccffff;" |United States Congressional service
-! Dates! Congress! Chamber! Majority! President! District
-Party shading/Democratic
1993–1995
103rd
U.S. House
Democratic
Bill Clinton
District 6
-Party shading/Republican
1995–1997
104th
U.S. House
Republican
Bill Clinton
District 6
-Party shading/Republican
1997–1999
105th
U.S. House
Republican
Bill Clinton
District 6
-Party shading/Republican
1999–2001
106th
U.S. House
Republican
Bill Clinton
District 6
-Party shading/Republican
2001–2003
107th
U.S. House
Republican
George W. Bush
District 6
-Party shading/Republican
2003–2005
108th
U.S. House
Republican
George W. Bush
District 6
-Party shading/Republican
2005–2007
109th
U.S. House
Republican
George W. Bush
District 6
-Party shading/Democratic
2007–2009
110th
U.S. House
Democratic
George W. Bush
District 6
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey
votes = 190,322
percentage = 65.2Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Bill Filante
votes = 98,171
percentage = 33.6Election box candidate no party in partisan race no change
candidate = Write-in
votes = 3,293
percentage = 1.1Election box total no change
votes = 291,786
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 137,642
percentage = 58.1Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Michael J. Nugent
votes = 88,940
percentage = 37.5Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Louis Beary
votes = 6,203
percentage = 2.6Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Peace and Freedom Party (United States)
candidate = Ernest K. Jones, Jr.
votes = 4,055
percentage = 1.7Election box total no change
votes = 236,840
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 156,958
percentage = 61.6Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Duane C. Hughes
votes = 86,278
percentage = 33.8Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Peace and Freedom Party (United States)
candidate = Ernest K. Jones, Jr.
votes = 6,459
percentage = 2.5Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Natural Law Party (United States)
candidate = Bruce Kendall
votes = 5,240
percentage = 2.1Election box total no change
votes = 254,935
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 158,446
percentage = 68.0Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Ken McAuliffe
votes = 69,295
percentage = 29.7Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Natural Law Party (United States)
candidate = Alan R. Barreca
votes = 5,240
percentage = 2.2Election box total no change
votes = 232,981
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 182,166
percentage = 64.3Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Ken McAuliffe
votes = 80,169
percentage = 28.3Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Green Party (United States)
candidate = Justin Moscoso
votes = 13,248
percentage = 4.7Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Richard O. Barton
votes = 4,691
percentage = 1.9Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Natural Law Party (United States)
candidate = Alan R. Barreca
votes = 2,894
percentage = 1.1Election box total no change
votes = 283,118
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 139,750
percentage = 66.7Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Paul L. Erickson
votes = 62,052
percentage = 29.7Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Richard O. Barton
votes = 4,936
percentage = 2.3Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Reform Party (United States)
candidate = Jeff Rainforth
votes = 2,825
percentage = 1.3Election box total no change
votes = 209,563
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 226,423
percentage = 72.7Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Paul L. Erickson
votes = 85,244
percentage = 27.3Election box total no change
votes = 311,667
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

Election box winning candidate with party link no change
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Lynn Woolsey (incumbent)
votes = 173,190
percentage = 70.3Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Todd Hooper
votes = 64,405
percentage = 26.1Election box candidate with party link no change
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Richard W. Friesen
votes = 9,028
percentage = 3.6Election box total no change
votes = 246,623
percentage = 100.0Election box turnout no change
percentage = Election box hold with party link without swing
winner = Democratic Party (United States)

References

External links

* [http://woolsey.house.gov/ U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey] official House site
*CongBio|w000738
* [http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/H2CA01045 Federal Election Commission — Lynn C Woolsey] campaign finance reports and data
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Lynn_Woolsey.htm On the Issues — Lynn Woolsey] issue positions and quotes
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00007458 OpenSecrets.org — Lynn Woolsey] campaign contributions
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=H0226103 Project Vote Smart — Representative Lynn C. Woolsey (CA)] profile
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lynn_Woolsey SourceWatch Congresspedia — Lynn Woolsey] profile
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/w000738/ Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Lynn Woolsey] voting record
* [http://www.woolseyforcongress.com/ Lynn Woolsey for Congress] official campaign site
* [http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2008/4/15/21348/7490/ Lynn Woolsey's On Air Interview With The Young Turks.]

Articles
* [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060206/woolsey Out of Iraq: By Reps. Lynn Woolsey] & Barbara Lee
* [http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2493/ A Progressive State of the Union] By Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey
* [http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2241/ The Progressive Promise By Rep. Lynn Woolsey]
* [http://www.fcnl.org/press/releases/snyder111005.htm California Rep. Lynn Woolsey Receives Peace Award from Christian Quaker Lobby]
* [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/07.28.04/woolsey-0431.html Metroactive: Lynn Woolsey and the American way]
* [http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=1179 American Prospect: Communication Breakdown by Rep. Lynn Woolsey]
* [http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2002/09/19_woolsey_iraq-statement.htm Statement Opposing Military Action in Iraq Rep. Lynn Woolsey]
* [http://www.marinij.com/spotswood/ci_3795736 Woolsey's Tie to Indian Gaming (Marin IJ)]
* [http://www.arguscourier.com/opinion/editorials/editcasino060607.html Dry Creek Indian Gaming Coming to Petaluma?]
* [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR02656:|H.R.2656 HR2656]