Marilyn Musgrave

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Marilyn Musgrave
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003–
Preceded by	Bob Schaffer
Born	January 27, 1949 (1949-01-27) (age 59) Greeley, Colorado
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Steven Musgrave
Religion	Assemblies of God

Marilyn Neoma Musgrave (born January 27, 1949), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing the 4th District of Colorado. The district includes most of the eastern portion of the state outside the Denver and Colorado Springs metropolitan areas, with the great majority of its population residing in and around Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley.

Musgrave serves on the Agriculture and Small Business Committees. In the 110th Congress, she serves as Ranking Minority member of the Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture subcommittee. She also serves as the Region Two representative for the Republican Steering Committee. She is the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Colorado.

Contents 1 Background and early political career 2 Election history 2.1 2002 election 2.2 2004 re-election 2.3 2006 re-election 2.4 2008 campaign 3 Political ideology 3.1 Same-sex marriage 3.2 Abortion 3.3 Second Amendment rights 3.4 Home schooling 3.5 Workforce and economy 3.6 Taxes 3.7 Religion and public law 4 Interest group ratings 4.1 Other Negative rankings 5 Agriculture Committee 6 Controversies 6.1 2002 fund-raising controversies 6.2 Campaign headquarters 6.3 District attorney endorsement 6.4 Political appearance with U.S. Marines 6.5 Tom DeLay 6.6 2006 campaign finance controversy 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Background and early political career

Musgrave was born Marilyn Neoma Shuler in Greeley, Colorado. She graduated from Eaton High School in 1968, and attended Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, graduating with a B.A. in 1972. Musgrave married while attending CSU. She and her husband Steve Musgrave settled in Fort Morgan, where they owned and operated a bale stacking business. Musgrave also taught school. The Musgraves have four children and eight grandchildren.

Musgrave's career in elective office began in 1991, when she served one term on the Fort Morgan School Board, where she focused on changing local sex education curriculum to abstinence-only. She was also involved in the Fort Morgan Right To Life chapter, at one time serving as its president. Musgrave was then elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives in 1992, and served there until after her successful 1998 campaign for a Colorado State Senate seat. While serving in the state senate, Musgrave was selected the Senate Republican Caucus Chairman. In 2002, Musgrave ran for the Fourth Congressional District seat being vacated by Bob Schaffer.

Musgrave is a devout Pentecostal (she is a member of the Assemblies of God), and Musgrave is one of three Pentecostals serving in the 110th Congress. The others — all Republicans — are Tim Johnson of Illinois and Todd Tiahrt of Kansas.^[1]

Musgrave was one of the most conservative members of the state legislature, often sparring with more socially moderate Republican legislators. She spent most of her time on social issues.^[2]. She also worked against allowing adoption, civil unions, and marriage for same-sex couples. In another area she was active on small business and agricultural issues, particularly authoring bills to exempt farm equipment dealers from sales tax and lowering taxes on small business.

[edit] Election history

[edit] 2002 election

In 2002, after Congressman Bob Schaffer retired, Musgrave ran for and won the Republican nomination to succeed him. Her opponent was businessman Jeff Bedingfield.^[3] She received a big boost in the primary when she gained the endorsements of Schaffer and former Senator William Armstrong.

In November, due to the historically Republican nature of the district (it has been in Republican hands since 1973), a large campaign war chest, a national situation favorable to Republican candidates, and the reelection bid of popular Republican Governor Bill Owens, Musgrave defeated Democratic State Senate President Stan Matsunaka 55% to 42%.

[edit] 2004 re-election

In 2004, Musgrave faced Matsunaka again. Matsunaka attacked Musgrave as a "one-trick pony," referring to her focus on outlawing same-sex marriage (see below). He also claimed that Musgrave neglected the 4th's needs and provided poor constituent services.

Surprisingly, the election was a nail-biter, and wasn't decided until the last few returns came in. In the end, Musgrave barely held onto her seat, taking 51% of the vote to Matsunaka's 45%. Musgrave won most of the counties in this large and mostly rural district by margins of 2-to-1 or more. However, 85% of the district's vote is cast in two counties which account for only a third of its land—Larimer (home to Fort Collins) and Weld (home to Greeley). Musgrave lost Larimer County by 4,100 votes. She also lost the district's share of Boulder County, including Longmont. She was only able to hold onto her seat by winning Weld County by 15 points (almost 10,000 votes)—far larger than the overall margin of victory. She was also undoubtedly helped by George W. Bush's 58% win in the district.

While Matsunaka only entered the race in May and raised around $800,000, Musgrave was heavily targeted by a 527 group funded by Colorado philanthropists such as Tim Gill. The ads featured an actress dressed up like Musgrave picking a corpse's pocket and stealing from a soldier in combat.

[edit] 2006 re-election

Main article: Colorado 4th congressional district election, 2006

In 2006, Musgave faced Democratic state representative Angie Paccione. Also running was Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness, who had previously considered a Republican Party primary challenge to Musgrave but has now decided to become a Democrat.

The election was another nail biter. Official results show Musgrave won by 5,984 votes, taking 45.61% of the vote to Paccione's 43.12% and Eidsness' 11.28%.^[4] She lost Larimer County by an even larger margin than in 2004. However, Musgrave won Weld County by just under 6,700 votes.^[5]

[edit] 2008 campaign

Musgrave is running for a fourth term in the 2008 election, to be held on November 4, 2008. Her opponent is Betsy Markey.

[edit] Political ideology

Musgrave is strongly conservative. The American Conservative Union ranks Musgrave as the most conservative member of the House, with a 99 lifetime rating,^[6] while the National Journal ranks her as the 23rd most conservative member.^[7] Her original House Website contained the phrase, "Defending our way of life through conservative leadership." She is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee House caucus and its "Values Action Team." In 2005, Musgrave received the "Distinguished Christian Statesman" award from D. James Kennedy's Center for Christian Statesmanship.^[8]

Other political groups that Musgrave is allied with include Focus on the Family, Alliance for Marriage, the Family Research Council, the National Taxpayers Union, the Christian Coalition, and the Traditional Values Coalition. Musgrave has taken trips sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and Club for Growth.^[9]

[edit] Same-sex marriage

Musgrave is best known as the main sponsor of the unsuccessful Federal Marriage Amendment in the 108th and 109th Congresses, originally drafted by the Alliance for Marriage. This proposed constitutional amendment would define marriage as "the union of a man and a woman" and bar any recognition of same-sex marriage or "legal incidents thereof" in the US Constitution. In a July 18, 2006 speech to the House, Musgrave said:^[10]

I cannot think of a better good that this body may pursue than to promote and defend the idea that every child deserves both a father and a mother.

In a September 2006 speech to the Family Research Council's "Values Voters Summit", Musgrave warned the audience that "the future is grim unless we do what we need to do to win this battle" and that "as we face the issues that we are facing today, I don’t think there's anything more important out there than the marriage issue."^[11][12][13] Musgrave later distanced herself from these claims during the 2006 election.^[14]

[edit] Abortion

Musgrave strongly opposes abortion.^[15] At the national level, she has supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and the Child Custody Protection Act. Musgrave is an original cosponsor of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. She has received the support of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life PAC.^[16]

Musgrave also opposes embryonic stem cell research on abortion-related grounds,^[17] and was a vocal proponent of the 2005 congressional intervention into the Terri Schiavo controversy:^[18]

When we talk about a permanent vegetative state, I am offended by that. Terri smiles and acknowledges the people that love her when they come to see her. She cries when they leave. How heartless are we to call somebody like Terri Schiavo a vegetable? What are we thinking?

When we think about this case, we need to think about the message that we are sending to our children and our grandchildren. What we do in this Chamber tonight is as important as anything we have done in defending our Nation, in doing the things that we do as Members of Congress.

Musgrave has also weighed in on the Emergency Contraception controversy. On July 25, 2005, Musgrave criticized a witness at a congressional subcommittee hearing who had claimed she was "humiliated and discriminated against" at a pharmacist's refusal to fill prescription of emergency contraception, claiming that it was only an issue of "inconvenience" to be denied emergency contraception.^[19] In 2003, a Musgrave submitted an amendment to the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act, which would have prevented distribution of contraception to runaway teens. It was defeated. ^[20][21]

[edit] Second Amendment rights

Musgrave strongly opposes gun control and successfully passed an amendment prohibiting the enforcement of a federal requirement to sell trigger locks with all handguns.^[22] She is the founder of the 2nd Amendment Caucus and is working to protect gun manufacturers and dealers from certain types of lawsuits.^[23]

Musgrave is a close ally of the Gun Owners of America (GOA) a firearms lobbying group considered to be more strictly opposed to gun control than the National Rifle Association. Another close ally of Musgrave's from her state legislative days is Dudley Brown, who directs the Colorado wing of the GOA, the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO).[1]^[24] On September 25, 2004, Musgrave was a special guest speaker at the 19th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) awards luncheon. GRPC named her "Gun Rights Legislator of the Year."^[25]

[edit] Home schooling

Musgrave advocates changing the laws to lend more support to families who home-school their children. According to her website, she believes that government intrudes too much on family affairs.^[26] Musgrave home schooled one of her children, as well.

Musgrave is closely linked to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).[2] Also, members of Generation Joshua, an HSLDA branch that tries to involve youth in politics, were sent to Musgrave's district in the final hours of the 2006 campaign.

[edit] Workforce and economy

Musgrave is one of the staunchest proponents of national Right to Work legislation,^[27] and was a cosponsor of The National Right to Work Act.^[28] Musgrave was heavily targeted by labor unions in the 2006 election. National Right To Work[3] president Mark Mix held a fundraiser for Musgrave at New York's Harvard Club in 2006. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Musgrave helped lead the effort to urge President Bush to suspend "Davis-Bacon" prevailing wage protection in the Gulf Coast region. (Bush was quickly forced to rescind this suspension.)

[edit] Taxes

Musgrave is a strong supporter of income tax cuts, and supports making President Bush's tax cuts permanent.^[29] She also supports the elimination of the Estate tax^[30] and has voted to reduce tariffs on imported goods.^[31]

[edit] Religion and public law

As mentioned above, Musgrave is a devout Pentecostal.

In June 2006, Musgrave sponsored a resolution in Congress to declare 2007 as "National Year of the Bible".^[32] The resolution text requested that President Bush issue a proclamation calling on all citizens to "rediscover and apply the priceless and timeless message of the Bible" and encourage them to join the U.S. Federal government in celebrating the year with Bible "programs, ceremonies, and activities." The resolution died in committee.

In June 2005, Musgrave cited Coral Ridge Ministries founder D. James Kennedy, one of the leaders of the Dominionist movement, as one of her inspirations to enter politics:^[33]

"When I first started listening to D. James Kennedy on Truths That Transform," she said, "I was so encouraged that there was a minister of the Gospel that said what was right and what was wrong, and what our responsibility was as Christians in this great nation."

"Those kind of things just grew in me through the years, and then, here I am [today] voting on moral issues. I just want to say to the Christian Statesman staff, Dr. Kennedy is a hero for me."

In the 2002 Republican primary debate with opponent Jeff Beddingfield in Greeley, Colorado, Musgrave stated that the First Amendment does not offer "freedom from religion." In a 2003 interview with Today's Pentecostal Evangel, Musgrave explained how her religious beliefs play a key function in her public position:^[34]

The problems in our culture are just symptoms of spiritual problems in our nation. We must return to God and biblical principles for answers. There are limitations to what we can do, but I’m so thankful I have a voice and a vote.

In March 2007, Musgrave joined the Congressional Prayer Caucus, which is chaired by J. Randy Forbes. Forbes states the organization's purpose is to "build a spiritual wall around America."^[35]

In May 2007, Musgrave participated in a "Bible Reading Marathon" event on the West Front of the US Capitol.^[36]

[edit] Interest group ratings

NRA-PVF, the political action committee of the National Rifle Association gives Musgrave an 'A' for her support of pro-gun issues facing the congress.^[37][38] The NRA-PV states than an 'A' for Musgrave indicates that she is solidly 'pro-gun' and that she has "supported NRA positions on key votes."^[39]

The Center for Christian Statesmanship, founded by D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries, awarded Musgrave the "Distinguished Christian Statesman Award" in 2005.^[40]

The Christian Coalition has ranked Musgrave's voting record at '100%' in support of the pro-Christian Coalition legislation listed on their scorecard.^[41] The Christian Coalition was founded in 1989 by Pat Robertson and is dedicated to helping give conservative Christians a voice in their government.^[42]

The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, the political action committee for the National Education Association (NEA), gave Musgrave an 'F' on public education issues facing Congress. The NEA Legislative Report Card for the 109th Congress measured Musgrave's voting record in support of public education and educators based on select^[43] and other criteria advancing NEA^[44]

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) annual 'National Environmental Scorecard' rated Musgrave's voting record at 8% for the year 2006, indicating an anti-environmental voting record based on her position on environmental legislation listed in the scorecard. In 2005, Musgrave received a 0% rating.^[45]

Republicans for Environmental Protection released a Congressional Scorecard in April 2006. Based on its calculations of a series of 12 congressional votes in the 1st session of the 109th Congress, REP rates Musgrave's performance at '-4'. REP also gives Musgrave a "demerit" for joining 56 other members in signing a "Dear Colleague" letter to the House Republican Caucus urging unified support of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.^[46]

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) released a 2006 Congressional Scorecard. Based on its calculations of a series of 10 congressional votes in the 2nd session of the 109th Congress, CDF rates Musgrave's performance at 30%.^[47]

[edit] Other Negative rankings

In September 2006, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), "non-profit, progressive legal watchdog group", listed Musgrave as one of the "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress". She reportedly used her congressional office to run her campaign, and was also accused of using the franking privilege accorded to House members to send campaign material for a candidate she favored.^[48]. "All of which is not true", Musgrave's chief of staff Guy Short claimed.^[49]

The Rolling Stone magazine ranked Musgrave as the 10th worst member of Congress and sharply criticized her views on homosexuality and gay marriage, calling her "the Christian soldier." Her picture on the magazine's site morphs into Ned Flanders of The Simpsons^[50].

[edit] Agriculture Committee

From 2003 through 2005, $14.7 billion in crop subsidies went to the congressional districts of members on the House Committee on Agriculture, an analysis by the non-partisan Environmental Working Group found. That was 42.4% of the total subsidies. Musgrave is reported to have brought $330 million to her district. ^[51]

[edit] Controversies

[edit] 2002 fund-raising controversies

In the 2002 election, Musgrave was criticized for her campaign's close ties to Larry Pratt, the executive director of Gun Owners of America (GOA). GOA contributed $5,000 to her campaign, and Pratt wrote two separate fund-raising letters for Musgrave. Publicity surrounding Pratt's history of close ties to extremist groups and publications, and appearances at white supremacist and pro-militia events forced him to resign from Pat Buchanan's 1996 presidential campaign. Guy Short, Musgrave's then-campaign manager, denied Musgrave's knowledge of any of Pratt's connections to extremist causes, and discounted their significance.^[52]

A complaint was brought against lobbyist Dudley Brown, a long-time Musgrave ally and executive director of the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, the state-level organization of GOA. The Associated Press reported that Brown wrote a January 21, 2002 letter soliciting donations to Musgrave's congressional campaign. The complaint filed claimed, "As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Brown is clearly prohibited from fundraising while the General Assembly is in session." Brown called the complaint "frivolous."^[53]

[edit] Campaign headquarters

In 2004, both Musgrave's district office and campaign headquarters were located at 5401 Stone Creek Circle in Loveland, Colorado. The congressional campaign was run out of what was called suite 777, while her district office was in suite 204. The building has only two floors; suite 777 is on the second floor. The only two entrances to the campaign office are through an outside door and through the congressional office itself. Ceri Anderson, the managing broker for the building, said in an October 2004 Journal-Advocate article that the outside door is a fire door with an alarm on it, and that campaign office was using it as its main entrance. She also said that the two offices had separate leases.[4] The publisher of the Fort Morgan Times reported that same month that the floor plan of the building showed four suites on each floor, and that suites 201 through 203 were occupied by other tenants;^[54] presumably the original suite 204 was subdivided.

In October 2006, Anderson told the Greeley Tribune that the interior door connecting the two offices was locked and campaign personnel wouldn't have been able to use it to enter the congressional office.^[55]

[edit] District attorney endorsement

In mid-2004, Musgrave sent a letter endorsing district attorney candidate Bob Watson.^[56] Musgrave said that the endorsement was sent on campaign stationary. In October 2006, Musgrave's Chief of Staff, Guy Short, gave copies of the endorsement letter and congressional letterhead to the Greeley Tribune. The endorsement letter contained an image of a capitol dome with "Rep. Marilyn Musgrave" and "Member of Congress" below it. The congressional letterhead didn't have a dome and Musgrave's name appeared in the corner. Short noted that "Paid for by the Committee to Elect Bob Watson DA" also appeared on the mailer and again said that Watson had paid all postage and production costs.^[57][58]

[edit] Political appearance with U.S. Marines

On March 3, 2006, Musgrave served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Larimer County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. During the event, two uniformed US Marines attending the dinner were "honored" by being introduced on stage by Musgrave. A photograph of one of the Marines standing next to Musgrave was published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, and that photograph "touched off a firestorm from national political writers and Web bloggers who say the party is using the military as public relations props."^[59]

According to Department of Defense directives, members on active duty shall not "participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (except as a spectator when not in uniform), or make public speeches in the course thereof."^[60]

There was disagreement as to whether the Marines attending as honorees violated military regulations. A Pentagon memo read "Members of the armed forces may not attend partisan political events in uniform, even if only as 'honorees.' A sharply limited exception is made to provide armed forces color guards for national-level political conventions." However, a Marine Corps spokesperson claimed, "The Marines were in attendance because they were asked to attend to be honored for their service and not as attendees at a political event, there is nothing wrong with Marines being asked to appear in public and being honored for their service."^[61]

In late March, the Pentagon re-issued regulations forbidding uniformed personnel from attending partisan political events.

[edit] Tom DeLay

Musgrave received $30,000 in campaign contributions from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC. After DeLay was indicted on charges related to another political action committee, TRMPAC, Musgrave refused to return the money or donate it to charity.[5] Noting that the Congresswoman had not received any money from TRMPAC, Musgrave spokesman Guy Short said, "Every dollar she's received is legal".^[62]

In June 2005, Musgrave was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News, calling Tom DeLay "a talented leader." Musgrave defended DeLay's record: "I support Tom DeLay because of his success and stewardship in creating change, which, as a result, have made him a prime target for several slanderous claims."^[63]

[edit] 2006 campaign finance controversy

In February, 2007, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). CREW alleged that Musgrave's 2006 congressional campaign repeatedly failed to properly notify the FEC of the names of major donors.^[64]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Marilyn Musgrave official House site
• Marilyn Musgrave for Congress official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• Follow the Money — Marilyn Musgrave
  • 2002 House 2000 House 1998 House 1998 Senate 1996 House state legislature campaign contributions
• YouTube: Marilyn Musgrave at Family Research Council

Political offices
Preceded by Bob Schaffer	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 4th congressional district 2003 – present	Incumbent

v • d • e Colorado's current delegation to the United States Congress Senators Wayne Allard (R), Ken Salazar (D) Representative(s) Diana DeGette (D), Mark Udall (D), John Salazar (D), Marilyn Musgrave (R), Doug Lamborn (R), Tom Tancredo (R), Ed Perlmutter (D) State delegations Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming Non-voting delegations American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands