Barbara Cubin



Barbara Lynn Cubin was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wyoming At-Large from 1994-2008 (map). She was a Deputy Whip.

Iraq War
Cubin voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Health Care
Cubin recently voted against the Democrat’s second bill SCHIP: “The Democrats latest attempt to reauthorize the SCHIP demonstrates yet again that the Democratic Party’s highest priority is not providing health insurance for low-income children, but expanding government at taxpayer’s expense.” - Cubin Official Website

Environmental record
The League of Conservation Voters and Republicans for Environmental Protection, both pro-environment conservation organizations, have given her zero ratings. Her votes followed a similar trend: She voted against the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999, a bill that would use funds from offshore drilling to fund conservation and habitat protection. She also voted against the Renewable Energy Standards Amendment that would require power companies to provide 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. She voted for the Small Business Superfund Exemption – passage which would exempt some small businesses(100 employees or less) from having to clean up hazardous waste.

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

Commerce
Representative Cubin has been generally strong on protecting business. In 2005 and 2006, she received a 100% rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The National Federation of Independent Business, and The Business – Industry Political Action Committee.

Immigration
For the most part, Representative Barbara Cubin has been anti-illegal immigration and for stricter enforcement of immigration policies. Cubin has voted to construct 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican-American border  In 2005, she was given a 100% rating by the Americans for Immigration Control, an interest group that advocates stricter immigration policies.

Term-limit pledge
Cubin pledged to serve no more than six terms in Congress during her initial campaign in 1994. She broke the pledge, however, when she opted to seek a seventh term in 2006.

Bio
Cubin, an episcopalian, was born November 30, 1946 in Salinas, California and raised in Casper, Wyoming. She earned a B.S. in chemistry from Creighton University (Omaha, NE). According to her House biography, she "has worked as a chemist, a social worker, and a substitute teacher in math and chemistry, and also managed her husband's medical practice office. In addition, she was an instructor in a math apprenticeship program for Vietnam veterans and minorities at Casper College."

Cubin began her political career in 1986, when she was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives (1986-1992). She spent two years (1992-1994) in the Wyoming Senate before entering the U.S. House.

"Cubin has consistently worked to reduce government waste and spending, lower taxes, and return power from the federal government to the States. ... Cubin has helped to enact welfare reform, health care reform, agriculture reform and telecommunications reform. She's worked to balance the federal budget, reduce the national debt and provide fair and responsible tax relief for working Americans and families. Other priorities include protecting and preserving Medicare and Social Security, and improving our educational system."

2006 election
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Gary Trauner to challenge Cubin in her November bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Cubin's race against Trauner was very close, as she led by 970 votes after an initial count. Trauner indicated that he might seek a recount. Trauner was eventually declared the winner and she retained her seat.

2008 election
Cubin announced on November 10, 2007 she was not running for re-election. She had missed nearly half of her votes in Congress in 2007, spending much of her time tending to her husband who has for years had an unspecified immune disorder. Additionally, she missed votes after her brother’s death and after she broke a foot. "In contemplating 2008, my overwhelming consideration has been the need of my family for me to come home," Cubin said. She said criticism over the missed votes played no role in her decision not to run, which she made months ago. "None of us know how much time we have left, but what I do know is the time that he has left, I want to be with him," Cubin said, speaking of her husband.

Cubin’s narrowly defeated 2006 Democratic opponent, Gary Trauner, filed with the FEC in October to run again for the seat. In the report he had over $168,000 since the 2006 campaign compared to Cubin’s $55,000.

Money in politics
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Committee assignments in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

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

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
 * House Committee on Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
 * Subcommittee on Water and Power

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Communications Chair, Western Caucus
 * Deputy Whip.

Representative Cubin was the Republican Conference secretary from 2001-2002. She is currently a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Republican Study Committee, a co-chair of the Mining Caucus, and a member of the Rural Health Care Coalition. http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=22044

Contact
DC Office: 1114 Longworth House Office Building 15 Independence Avenue, Southeast Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-2311 TollFree: 888-879-3599 Fax: 202-225-3057 Web Email Website

District Office - Casper: 100 East B Street, Suite 4003 Federal Building Casper, WY 82601 Phone: 307-261-6595 Fax: 307-261-6597

District Office - Cheyenne: 2120 Capital Avenue, Suite 2015 O'Mahoney Federal Building Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: 307-772-2595 Fax: 307-772-2597

District Office - Rock Springs: 2515 Foothill Boulevard American First National Bank Building Rock Springs, WY 82901 Phone: 307-362-4095 Fax: 307-362-4097

External resources

 * Official website

External articles

 * Dan Whipple, "Climate Change and Barbara Cubin: Chasing the Conservative Hobby Horse," New West, October 16, 2006.
 * Lucille Rice, "Barbara Cubin Interview," planet jackson hole, October 18, 2006.
 * Dan Lewerenz and Bob Moen, "Wyo. opponent says incumbent made threat," Associated Press (Seattle Post-Intelligencer), October 23, 2006.
 * Tom Morton, "Cubin tells challenger, 'I'd slap you'," Casper Star-Tribune, October 23, 2006; Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, October 24, 2006.
 * Noah Brenner, "Debate gets personal," jhguide.com, October 24, 2006.
 * kos, "WY-AL: Cubin is latest Republican to lose it," Daily Kos, October 24, 2006.
 * Jared Miller, "House hopefuls differ on Iraq," Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, October 24, 2006.
 * kos, "WY-AL: Cubin: Some of my best friends are...," Daily Kos, October 27, 2006.
 * "GOPer Loses Lead Over 'Slap Threat'," New York Post, October 30, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * NewWest.net -- A Refreshing, new kind of journalism.