Bill Thomas

Infobox_Congressman
name = Bill Thomas


date of birth = Birth date and age|1941|12|6|mf=y
place of birth = Wallace, Idaho
alma_mater=Santa Ana College, San Francisco State University
occupation=college professor
state = California
district = 22nd
term = 1979–2007
preceded = William M. Ketchum
succeeded = Kevin McCarthy
party = Republican
religion = Baptist
spouse = Sharon Thomas
residence= Atascadero, California

William Marshall Thomas (born December 6 1941), commonly known as Bill Thomas, American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1979–2007, representing the 22nd District of California ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ca22_109.gifmap] ). He last served as the Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and retired to private life at the end of the 109th Congress.

Early life and family

Thomas was born in Wallace, Idaho, moving with his parents to the Southern California area. He attended Santa Ana College, earning an associate's degree before transferring to San Francisco State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree and master's degree in political science in 1963 and 1965, respectively. He became an instructor at Bakersfield College before running in the California State Assembly in 1974. He won election to the House of Representatives in 1978.

Thomas married the former Sharon Lynn Hamilton in 1968. They have two grown children, Christopher and Amelia.

Career

When "Washingtonian" magazine polled congressional aides on the "best and worst" of Congress, Thomas was voted #2 for "brainiest", #3 for "workhorse", and #1 for "meanest" and overwhelmingly for "hottest temper" in the House. [ [http://www.washingtonian.com/inwashington/bwcongress.html Calendar of Events (washingtonian.com) ] ] Thomas is known for being able to compehend and communicate the intracacies of obscure legislative manners, studying testimony and research reports himself instead of relying on executive summaries from his aides. Thomas tends to lose his temper when people are unprepared, earning a reputation for his sharp interrogations. "He's revered, but he's also reviled to some degree", fellow representative Mark Foley told "CQ Weekly".

Thomas was a key proponent of several of President Bush's agenda items, including three major tax cut bills and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (PL 108-173), and was also instrumental in the passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

Thomas announced on March 6, 2006, that he would not seek reelection, retiring after 28 years in the House. A major influence on his decision was the internal GOP term limits that would require him to relinquish his Ways and Means chairmanship even if he were re-elected. Thomas endorsed a former aide, Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy, who was elected to replace him.

Election history

*1978 — Defeated Bob Sogge - 59%-41%
*1980 — Defeated Mary Pat Timmermans - 71%-29%
*1982 — Defeated Robert J. Bethea - 68%-32%
*1984 — Defeated Michael T. LeSage - 71%-29%
*1986 — Defeated Jules H. Moquin -73%-27%
*1988 — Defeated Lita Reid - 71%-27%
*1990 — Defeated Michael Thomas — 60%-34%
*1992 — Defeated Deborah Vollmer — 65%-35%
*1994 — Defeated John Evans — 69%-28%
*1996 — Defeated Deborah Vollmer — 66%-27%
*1998 — Defeated John Evans — 79%-21%
*2000 — Defeated Pete Martinez — 72%-25%
*2002 — Defeated Jaime Corvera — 73%-24%
*2004 — Unopposed

Congressional committees

* U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means — Chairman (2001–2006)
* U.S. House Committee on Administration — Chairman (1995–2001)

2003 controversy involving U.S. Capitol police

In July 2003, Thomas called the U.S. Capitol Police to eject Democrats from a meeting room. A few days later, he tearfully apologized on the House floor for what he called his "just plain stupid" decision to ask the police to eject the Congressmen. [cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/24/column.novak.opinion.thomas/index.html|title=Thomas's 'police state'|accessdate=2006-12-30|last=Novak|first=Robert|publisher=cnn.com|date=2003-07-24] [cite web|date=2006-07-26|title=Tears From the Gruff Chairman|publisher="New York Times"
url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B15FA3B5B0C758EDDAE0894DB404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fT%2fThomas%2c%20Bill
accessdate=2006-12-30]

External links

* [http://ontheissues.org/CA/Bill_Thomas.htm OnTheIssues]
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/t000188/ Voting record maintained by the Washington Post]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=H0340103 Voting record maintained by the Vote-Smart.org]

References