Ed Royce

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Ed Royce
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 40th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1993
Preceded by	William E. Dannemeyer
Born	October 12, 1951 (1951-10-12) (age 56) Los Angeles, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Marie Therese Porter Royce
Residence	Fullerton, California
Alma mater	California State University, Fullerton
Occupation	tax consultant
Religion	Roman Catholic

Edward Randall "Ed" Royce (born October 12, 1951) is an American politician. He has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 40th District of California (map) in northern Orange County, including portions of Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park, Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, and Orange. Previously, he had served as representative from the 39th District of California.

Born in Los Angeles, California, and graduating from Katella High School in Anaheim, Royce went on to earn his B.A. in Accounting and Finance in 1977 from the California State University, Fullerton. He was a business owner and corporate tax manager for a Portland cement company before becoming a California State Senator in 1983, serving in that post until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Royce is married to the former Marie Porter.

In the House, Royce is a member of the Financial Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he previously served as chairman of its Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation.

[edit] Positions

GovTrack rates Royce as a "rank-and-file Republican," i.e., a moderate within his party,^[1] based an analysis of the bills he has sponsored. The legislation he has sponsored shows a focus on tax policy, small businesses, and credit and banking,^[2] and many of his biggest campaign contributors have been banks: his five top contributors in 2006 were Credit Union National Assn, Irvine Co., Wells Fargo, Orange County Teachers Fed Credit Union, and GUS plc. 58 percent of his campaign contributions from individuals, 34 percent from PACs. Of the PAC contributions, 96 percent were from business groups, none from labor, and 4 percent from single-issue groups.^[3] The Sunlight Foundation gave Royce's web site a 24 percent rating for transparency,^[4] with 40 percent being considered a passing score. Royce's website highlights support from conservative^[5] and business organizations such as the National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Watchdogs of the Treasury, Americans for Tax Reform, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, United Seniors Association, 60 Plus, American Share Holders Association, Citizens for a Sound Economy and the Small Business Survival Committee.

Royce is a social conservative,^[6] having voted against same-sex marriage and gay adoption, and in favor of school prayer and school vouchers.^[7] He has a 92 percent rating from the Christian Coalition in terms of his voting record on families and children.^[7] He is pro-life,^[6] his votes resulting in NARAL's most consistent possible score.^[7] He has voted in favor of a constitutional amendment forbidding flag burning, and in favor of making the USA PATRIOT Act permanent.^[7] He has an A rating from the NRA.^[7]

In foreign policy, Royce's voting record has earned the most pro-military possible rating from SANE.^[7] His website says very little about the war in Iraq, focusing more on antiterrorism, and stating "We will not triumph solely through military might."^[8] In 2002, he voted in favor of authorizing President George W. Bush to use force in Iraq.^[9] In 2003, he voted yes on an emergency appropriation of $78 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.^[7] In every year from 2003 to 2006, he has voted in favor of the annual supplemental spending bill to continue funding for the Iraq war.^[10][9] In 2005, he voted against Amendment 214 to HR 1815, which called on Bush to develop a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq; in favor of Amendment 488 to HR 2601 to keep troops in Iraq; and in favor of HR 612 opposing a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq.^[11] In 2006, he voted for HR 861, a resolution labeling the war in Iraq as part of a global war against terrorism.^[9]

His voting record, his scores on VoteMatch, and ratings by CATO indicate mixed or moderate positions on free trade,^[6][7] privatization of social security,^[6] campaign finance,^[6] and tax reform.^[7]

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Financial Services Committee
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises
  • Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
• Foreign Affairs Committee
  • Ranking Member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittee
  • Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment

[edit] Political campaigns

The 40th district is considered a safe Republican district, having never elected a Democratic representative since its creation in 1973. As of 2007, the district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R +8.

[edit] 2006

In 2006, Royce's Democratic opponent in the general election was labor lawyer Florice Hoffman, and the Libertarian nominee was Phillip H. Inman. Hoffman raised $140,000 to Royce's $1,500,000.^[12] Royce received 67 percent of the vote.^[13]

[edit] External links

• U.S. Representative Ed Royce — official House site
• Ed Royce at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Ed Royce — issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Ed Royce — campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Royce profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Ed Royce — voting record
• Official campaign site

[edit] Footnotes