Chris Cannon



Christopher Black Cannon, a Republican, has represented the Third Congressional District of Utah in the U. S. House of Representatives since 1997. (map) He lost the 2008 general election to Jason Chaffetz.

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

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans
Cannon cosponsored The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act in the 110th Congress which would establish a commission that would determine the facts and circumstances involving the relocation, internment and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans.

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

The MeatGate "Scandal"
Cannon is on record as giving a loan between $50,000 to $100,000 to Gary Ruse, President of First National Bank of Nebraska in 1996. A year later, the bank extended a $250,000 line of credit to the Premium Beef of Nebraska company, a kosher beef packing plant in which Cannon was an investor. The plant operated for a little more than a year before closing its doors after the rabbi who oversaw the preparation of the meat died.

As reported by Raw Story, a liberal blog, and based on an "anonymous source" -- the "scandal" quickly died as it was revealed that Ruse had, in fact, made significant payments on the personal loan and that the $250,000 loan to the bank was repaid in full in 2001. Also discrediting the story was the fact that Ruse officially recused himself from the process of approving Cannon's loan.

Aiding his lobbyist brother
In the first eight months of 2006, Cannon’s lobbyist brother, Joseph, asked the congressman for help and received it on three separate occasions. In one instance, Cannon pressed Congress to intervene in a business dispute over an internet contract worth over $1 billion. Cannon acknowledged helping his brother, and declared that he saw nothing wrong with it. He told the Associated Press, “If my wife decided to lobby, then we would probably say, ‘No talking to my office.’ I just don't see my brother in the same category." There are no U.S. Laws prohibiting relatives from engaging in lobbying activities with legislators.

DC voting rights
As part of a compromise agreement in the District of Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act of 2007, Utah would receive an additional House seat in exchange for the District of Columbia gaining a vote for its seat in the House. Much debate focused around whether this seat would be at-large or whether Utah would redistrict to four seats. When the bill came to the House Judiciary Committee in March 2007, Rep. Cannon voted in favor of the measure, but did introduce an amendment that would allow Utah to decide whether to have its new House seat be at-large or undertake a redistricting effort to make a fourth seat. Whether the Bush Administration would support the bill if it passed was unclear. Cannon discussed the bill with Vice-President Dick Cheney in late April when the two traveled together to Brigham Young University, where Cheney was giving the commencement address. According to Cannon, Cheney described Bush administration opposition as being largely confined to the staff level, with some key senior-level staff supporting the bill. Cannon stated, "I can't imagine that the president would veto a bill like this...I think when push comes to shove, the president will sign it." He went to say that while he had previously believed the bill had just a fifty percent chance of becoming law, he now felt it had a seventy percent chance.

Bio
Cannon was born October 20, 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah and attended Brigham Young University. From 1980 until 1996 he was a lawyer and business owner. Notable jobs include time as a Ronald Reagan-appointed solicitor for the U. S. Department of the Interior (1983-1986), and time as Utah Republican Party finance chairman (1992-1994). Cannon was elected to Congress in 1996.

Congressional career
In 2000, Cannon co-founded the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, which now boasts nearly 130 Members from both major political parties.

In January of 2003, Cannon was elected chairman of the influential Western Caucus, an organization of over 50 Congressmen working on resource management issues.

Cannon's district is considered the most Republican in the country. President Bush received 84% of the vote there in 2004.

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Christian Burridge to face Cannon in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  Cannon retained his seat.

2008 elections
On June 24, 2008, Cannon became the third House incumbent to lose a primary that year, falling to former gubernatorial aide Jason Chaffetz.

Money in politics
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Committees

 * House Committee on Natural Resources
 * Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
 * House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Domestic Policy
 * Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
 * Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property

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

 * House Committee on Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Drug Policy and Human Resources
 * Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Task Force on Antirust
 * Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Courts the Internet and Intellectual Property
 * House Committee on Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
 * Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health

Affiliations

 * Western Caucus- Chair

Contact
DC Office: 2436 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-4403 Phone: 202-225-7751 Fax: 202-225-5629 Email: cannon.ut03 AT mail.house.gov Web Email Website

District Office- Provo: 51 South University Avenue, Suite 319 Provo, UT 84606 Phone: 801-379-2500 TollFree: 800-571-2971 Fax: 801-379-2509

District Office- West Jordan: 8000 South Redwood Road #332 West Jordan, UT 84088 Phone: 801-569-5125 Fax: 801-569-5126v

District Office- West Valley City: 3600 South Constitution Boulevard West Valley City, UT 84119 Phone: 801-955-3631 Fax: 801-955-3632

External resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Technorati Search: Chris Cannon
 * Google News Search: Chris Cannon
 * Yahoo! News Search: Chris Cannon
 * Power Trips: How much did Chris Cannon travel?
 * GovTrack Statistics: Chris Cannon
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * One Utah
 * The World, According to Me
 * NewWest.net -- A Refreshing, new kind of journalism.

External articles

 * Robert Gehrke, "Lawmaker's 'Net gambling motives questioned," Associated Press, June 27, 2003.
 * John Byrne, "Beyond Abramoff: Gambling lobbyist joined with anti-gambling congressman, derailed gambling bills," Raw Story, September 1, 2005.
 * Jerry Spangler, "Caucus Frustrated Over Meth," Deseret Morning News, September 29, 2005.
 * Lee Davidson, "Immigration issues challenge Congress," Deseret Morning News, October 15, 2005.
 * Jerry Spangler, "Cannon entreats Rice to reject U.N.'s plan for control of Internet," Deseret Morning News, October 25, 2005.
 * John Byrne, "Congressman made personal loan to bank president shortly before bank extended him $250,000-plus loan," Raw Story, January 18, 2006.
 * Ted Bridis, "Lawmaker helped brother's lobby clients," Associated Press (delivered by The Boston Globe), August 17, 2006.
 * "CREW releases second annual most corrupt members of Congress report," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, September 20, 2006.