Cathy McMorris-Rodgers

Cathy McMorris Rodgers is a Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing Washington's 5th Congressional District since January 2005. At the start of the 111th Congress, she was elected vice-chair of the Republican Conference.

Abortion issues record
McMorris Rodgers was labeled "pro-life" and endorsed in the 2004 elections by the We Vote Pro-Life PAC.

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

Rights, liberties and courts record
McMorris Rodgers voted for final passage of the USA Patriot Act and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 and has supported a constitutional flag burning amendment.

Controversial campaign contributions: Tom DeLay and Duke Cunningham
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC contributed $5,000 to McMorris Rodgers's campaign in the 2006 election cycle. To date, McMorris Rodgers has not returned the money or donated it to charity. McMorris Rodgers voted with Tom DeLay 94% of the time between January 2005 and March 31 2006.

McMorris Rodgers has also accepted $1,000 campaign contributions during the 2006 election cycle from Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California, who later pleaded guilty in a corruption case. McMorris Rodgers later gave the money to charity. 

Ethics rule changes following the DeLay rule change controversy
In late 2004, before Cathy McMorris Rodgers was sworn in, there was an effort by House Republicans to change an ethics rule that would require that indicted Republicans step down from any House leadership positions they might hold. This was done in order to protect Rep. Tom DeLay's (R-Texas) seat as House Majority Leader, as it appeared at the time that he was in danger of being indicted. The rule change, which came to be known as the "DeLay rule change" divided House Republicans, and at the start of the 109th Congress, was repealed.

While repealing the DeLay rule change, Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted along party lines with House Republicans to pass legislation that would require a majority vote in the House Ethics Committee in order for an investigation to be launched. Because the ethics committee was split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, this change effectively meant that either party could kill an investigation. Previously, a deadlocked vote would lead to an investigation, as it did when first launching investigations into DeLay. Democrats protested this change heavily, and later in the year, the rule was repealed.

Bio
McMorris Rodgers was born May 22, 1969 in Salem, Oregon. She was educated at Pensacola Christian College (1990 BA, Pre-Law) and the University of Washington (Executive MBA, 2002). She worked as a Legislative Assistant and as the owner/operator of an orchard fruit stand before her entry into politics,

She served in the Washington State House of Representative for the 7th District from 1994-2004, and was the House Republican leader from 2002-2003.

2004 elections
In 2004 McMorris Rodgers defeated Democrat Don Barbieri for the 5th District seat in the U.S. House. The seat was formerly held by Republican George Nethercutt, who announced his retirement from the House in an ultimately unsuccessful bid for election to the U. S. Senate that year.

McMorris Rodgers's campaign promises included identifying economic opportunities for the Northwest region; improving access to quality, affordable health care; and keeping our communities and nation safe. 

She received 59.7% of the vote in the election. During her campaign, she gained the endorsements of the following groups:
 * Washington State Law Enforcement Association
 * Washington State Farm Bureau
 * Association of Washington Businesses
 * Western Fish & Wildlife Federation
 * Washington Property Rights Alliance
 * Associated Builders and Contractors

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Peter Goldmark to face McMorris Rodgers in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) McMorris Rodgers received 56.4% of the vote and retained her seat.

Money in politics
cid=N00026314&cycle=2008

Current committees - 110th Congress

 * House Committee on Education and Labor
 * Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness
 * Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions


 * House Armed Services Committee
 * Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
 * Subcommittee on Readiness


 * House Natural Resources Committee
 * Subcommittee on Water and Power
 * Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans

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

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Readiness
 * Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
 * House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 * Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness
 * Subcommittee on Select Education
 * House Committee on Resources
 * Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health
 * Subcommittee on Water and Power

Coalitions and caucuses

 * Sophomore Class representative, Steering Committee
 * Member, Republican Whip Team
 * Member, House Republicans High-Tech Working Group
 * Co-Chair, Bipartisan Congressional Women’s Caucus

2008 Campaign Contact Information
Official Cathy for Congress campaign website

Cathy McMorris for Congress PO Box 137 Spokane, WA 99210-0137

Phone: 509-624-1199 Toll free: 1-877-424-1199

[mailto:jeff@cathyforcongress.com Jeff Morris, Grassroots Coordinator]

Twitter
 Cathy McMorris posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cathymcmorris/

Latest posts: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/cathymcmorris.rss|title=none| max=3| short See all the members of Congress who Twitter

External resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

External articles

 * McMorris, Reichert donate money from disgraced Calif. congressman, Matthew Daly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 5, 2005.
 * McMorris to give donations to charity Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review, December 5, 2005.