Kevin Brady

Kevin Patrick Brady, a Republican, has represented the Eighth Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996.

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

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

DUI
On October 7, 2005 Brady was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol while in South Dakota. He faced a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail. He pleaded no contest. Upon his misdemeanor conviction on November 8, he was fined $350, and his right to drive in South Dakota was suspended for 30 days. Before his sentencing, Brady had stated that "no one is above the law" and he would accept "every consequence" of his actions, even if that meant a jail sentence. "To me, regardless of how this turns out, what it says is that you don't get behind the wheel." Conroe (Texas) Courier.

Sunset Commissions
Brady has repeatedly proposed establishing a federal sunset commission, modeled on a commission in Texas, that would be an unelected commission charged with reviewing federal programs and recommending which programs live, die, or get realigned. After years of never gaining any traction, Brady's proposal became controversial in the 109th Congress, after the Republican Study Committee demanded and won guaranteed floor consideration of a sunset commission proposal as a condition of securing its members' votes on the House budget resolution. 

During the 109th Congress, Brady introduced two bills regarding sunset commissions: the Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005 (H.R. 3282) and the Federal Agency Performance Review and Sunset Act (H.R. 3277), which was supported by the Bush Administration.

Bio
Brady was born in Vermillion, South Dakota on April 11, 1955 and graduated from the University of South Dakota. Brady moved to Texas after graduating from college and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1990.

Congressional career
In 1996, Brady successfully ran for an open seat in the U.S. Congress and hasn't had a serious threat in his reelection campaigns. As a Congressman, Brady has advocated Victim's Rights and called for the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service. Recently, Brady acted as the point man for President Bush to steer the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) through the House.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Jim Wright to face Brady in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Brady retained his seat.

Money in politics
cid=N00005883&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Social Security
 * Subcommittee on Trade

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

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Social Security
 * Subcommittee on Trade
 * Joint Economic Committee

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * OMB Watch Regulatory Policy Program, Sunset Commission information.
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Burnt Orange Report