Raúl Labrador

Raúl Labrador
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Walt Minnick
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from District 14 Seat B
In office
December 1, 2006 – December 1, 2010
Preceded by Stan Bastian
Succeeded by Reed DeMordaunt
Personal details
Born Raúl Rafael Labrador
(1967-12-08) December 8, 1967
Carolina, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Rebecca Johnson
(m. 1991)
Children 4 sons
1 daughter
Alma mater Brigham Young University, Utah, B.A. 1992
University of Washington, Seattle, J.D. 1995
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Website House website

Raúl Rafael Labrador (born December 8, 1967) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. Labrador previously represented District 14B in the Idaho House of Representatives. He was ranked one of "Newsmax's 50 Most Influential Latino Republicans" in 2016.[1]

Early life, education, and law career

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Labrador relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, as a child and graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1985. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and spent two years as a Mormon missionary in Chile, from 1987 to 1989. Labrador returned to BYU and received a B.A. in 1992, in Spanish with an emphasis in Latin American literature. He was admitted to the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle and received his J.D. in 1995.[2]

Married in 1991, Labrador relocated to his wife's home state of Idaho and practiced law and immigration law in private practice from 1995 until his election to the Idaho House of Representatives in 2006.[3][4]

Idaho legislature

Labrador was elected to represent the 14th district in the Idaho House of Representatives in 2006. While in the state legislature, he was a leader in the successful fight against the attempt to increase the state gasoline tax.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In 2010, Labrador defeated Vaughn Ward in the Republican primary 48%–39% on May 10, in what was widely considered a major upset.[5][6][7] In the general election, Labrador defeated first-term Democratic incumbent Walt Minnick 51%–41%.[8]

2012

Labrador was challenged in the Republican primary by Reed McCandless, but defeated him 81%–19%.[9] In the general election, Labrador won reelection to a second term, defeating former NFL wide receiver Jimmy Farris, 63%–31%.[10]

2014

On August 14, 2013, Labrador decided not to challenge incumbent Idaho Governor Butch Otter in the Republican primary, instead running for reelection to Congress for a third term.[11][12]

On August 19, 2013, Democratic State Representative Shirley Ringo decided to challenge Labrador instead of running for an eighth term in the Idaho state legislature.[13]

In early June 2014 House majority leader Eric Cantor of Virginia lost the Republican primary for his Congressional seat, and announced he would step down from his leadership role July 31, 2014. Labrador announced on June 13 that he would challenge House Majority Whip, Representative Kevin McCarthy for the leadership position. In a vote held June 19, 2014 the House selected McCarthy.[14]

Tenure

Labrador in Las Vegas, 2011

Days after the election he sharply criticized the losing presidential candidate Mitt Romney's comments about Hispanics.[15]

Immigration

Labrador was a member of the "Group of Eight," a bipartisan group of House members working on immigration reform legislation,[16] but on June 5, 2013, he left the negotiations because he wanted language in the bill requiring that undocumented immigrants be responsible for their own health care costs.[17] Labrador said he would use his position on the House Judiciary Committee to pass immigration reform legislation.

On June 18, 2013, he joined a majority of his Judiciary Committee colleagues in voting for the "SAFE Act" to bolster interior enforcement of immigration laws.[18] On June 19, 2013, he joined a majority of his Judiciary Committee colleagues in voting for the "AG Act" to improve the temporary agricultural guest worker program.[19]

On July 6, 2014 episode of Meet the Press Labrador stated that what the Obama administration needs to do is "immediately deport" young undocumented immigrants. The comment came as part of a discussion about the estimated 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America who have tried to cross the border since October.[20]

Health Care

Labrador supports the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act because he believes it will raise costs and kill jobs. He believes the best way to give Americans more affordable health insurance is with market-based policies that will decrease healthcare costs.

Education

In October 2011, Labrador introduced the American Education Act, intended to address the lack of students entering high-tech fields such as engineering and medical technology by providing incentives to do so. The bill would also allow foreign students in these fields who had job offers from American companies to acquire residency.[21] While in the Idaho State House of Representatives, Labrador voted for several bills to fund online education within the state of Idaho.[22]

Energy

Labrador believes alternative energy sources should be explored, including nuclear, hydroelectric, carbon neutral biomass, wind, solar and geothermal,[23] but opposes government subsidies for the development of these resources, saying they will develop on their own.[24] He has made clear that he thinks the government needs to decrease regulation of geothermal energy, claiming Idaho's development of it is being impeded by governmental regulation, and has sponsored legislation to relax the regulations.[25]

Fiscal policy

In July 2012 Labrador supported extending the budget for an extra six months in order to "prevent a crisis."[26]

In 2010 Labrador signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.[27]

Agriculture

Labrador voted for the farm bill on January 29, 2014.

Civil Liberties

In June, 2015, Labrador introduced HR 2802, titled the "First Amendment Defense Act" (FADA) which was said to protect those who oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs from action by the federal government. Critics, like Ian Thompson of the American Civil Liberties Union claimed that the bill would "open the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples.".[28]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Labrador lives in Eagle, Idaho, with his wife, Rebecca, and their five children.[29] He is the first member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to represent Idaho's 1st district.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

  1. ↑ Newsmax's 50 Most Influential Latino Republicans
  2. ↑ "Raul Labrador". Wall Street Journal. Election 2012. November 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present".
  4. ↑ PARKER, ASHLEY and JULIA PRESTON (June 6, 2013). "In House, Immigration Spurs Push by G.O.P". NYT. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=512944
  6. ↑ U.S. House Dist. 1 GOP KTVB.com Accessed June 1, 2010
  7. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (2010-05-26). "Rep. Raul Labrador wins Idaho primary upset". Politico. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  8. ↑ Labrador v Minnick, ourcampaigns.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ Raúl Labrador v Reed McCandless, ourcampaigns.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ Raúl Labrador v Jimmy Farris, ourcampaigns.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ Labrador decides not to challenge Otter for governorship of Idaho, politico.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Rep. Raul Labrador To Seek Re-Election, Ends Speculation About Run For Governor". Fox News. August 14, 2013.
  13. ↑ Shirley Ringo challenges Labrador for congressional seat, m.lmtribune.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  14. ↑ Cornwell, Jane (June 13, 2014). "Republican Rep. Labrador running for House majority leader post". Reuters. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  15. ↑ Dag Eggen (November 17, 2012). "Romney sinks quickly in Republicans' esteem". Washington Post.
  16. ↑ Bloomberg article on Labrador's role in immigration reform
  17. ↑ "Conservative Labrador quits House immigration group". The HIll. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "LABRADOR VOTES FOR SAFE ACT AT JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MARKUP". Labrador website. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "LABRADOR VOTES FOR AG ACT AT JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MARKUP". Labrador website. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Americans don't want mass deportations but are sort of OK with increased deportations", washingtonpost.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ Profile re American Education Act, votesmart.org; accessed November 15, 2104.
  22. ↑ Profile re education, votesmart.org; accessed November 15, 2014.
  23. ↑ Profile re natural resources, votesmart.org; accessed November 15, 2014.
  24. ↑ Profile re energy subsidies, votesmart.org; accessed November 15, 2014.
  25. ↑ Profile re geothermal energy, votesmart.org; accessed November 15, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Conservatives Down with a CR". National Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  27. ↑ Profile of Raúl Labrador, americansforprosperity.org; accessed November 15, 2014.
  28. ↑ Percelay, Rachel (July 28, 2015). "The "First Amendment Defense Act" Is The Next Attack on LGBT Rights". Media Matters. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  29. ↑ Labrador bio from his campaign website
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Walt Minnick		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st congressional district
2011–present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Adam Kinzinger		 United States Representatives by seniority
264th 		Succeeded by
Billy Long
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