| Line 19: |
Line 19: |
| | '''Darrell E. Issa''' (born November 1, 1953) is a U.S. Representative from [[California]]'s 49th congressional district and a member of the [[Republican Party]]. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and also serves on the House Judiciary Committee. After serving in the [[United States Army]], he graduated from Sienna Heights University in [[Michigan]] with an [[ROTC]] scholarship. He would go on to launch a car-alarm business, Directed Electronics Incorporated, which went on to become the largest manufacturer of vehicle security systems in the United States. He became active in the technology-industry, and served as chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association. Issa's company earned him a fortune of $200 million. | | '''Darrell E. Issa''' (born November 1, 1953) is a U.S. Representative from [[California]]'s 49th congressional district and a member of the [[Republican Party]]. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and also serves on the House Judiciary Committee. After serving in the [[United States Army]], he graduated from Sienna Heights University in [[Michigan]] with an [[ROTC]] scholarship. He would go on to launch a car-alarm business, Directed Electronics Incorporated, which went on to become the largest manufacturer of vehicle security systems in the United States. He became active in the technology-industry, and served as chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association. Issa's company earned him a fortune of $200 million. |
| | | | |
| − | Issa first entered politics in 1998 when he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination to challenge [[Democrat]]ic Senator [[Barbara Boxer]]. However, Issa was elected the [[Congress]] in California's 49th district in 2000, upon the retirement of nine-term incumbent Ron Packard. He has been easily reelected ever since. | + | Issa first entered politics in 1998 when he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination to challenge [[Democrat]]ic Senator [[Barbara Boxer]]. However, Issa was elected the [[Congress]] in California's 49th district in 2000, upon the retirement of nine-term incumbent Ron Packard. He was easily reelected ever since but did not run again the 2018 elections. |
| | | | |
| − | In 2003 Issa contributed over $1.6 million to a signature-gathering drive for a petition to recall Governor [[Gray Davis]]. | + | In 2003, Issa contributed over $1.6 million to a signature-gathering drive for a petition to recall Governor [[Gray Davis]]. |
| | | | |
| − | In the House Issa has a rather [[conservative]] voting record. He has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 93% of the time during the current [[Congress]].<ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/i000056/</ref> Issa has been especially active in foreign affairs. On the eve of the War in [[Afghanistan]] he visited several middle eastern nations to build support for the United States. In 2007 he joined a delegation to terrorist-sponsored [[Syria]] led by Democratic [[Speaker of the House]] [[Nancy Pelosi]]. | + | |
| | + | In 2008, Issa defeated a Democrat, Robert Hamilton. Another opponent, [[Frank Ford]], the founder of Arrowhead Mills, a natural foods wholesaler, withdrew from the congressional race because of health issues. |
| | + | |
| | + | In the House Issa had a rather [[conservative]] voting record. He has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 93 percent of the time during the current [[Congress]].<ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/i000056/</ref> Issa has been especially active in foreign affairs. On the eve of the War in [[Afghanistan]] he visited several middle eastern nations to build support for the United States. In 2007 he joined a delegation to terrorist-sponsored [[Syria]] led by Democratic [[Speaker of the House]] [[Nancy Pelosi]]. |
| | | | |
| | He is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Unlike the rest of Republican leadership, he's used this position to investigate into scandals involving the White House. | | He is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Unlike the rest of Republican leadership, he's used this position to investigate into scandals involving the White House. |