Dave Brat (VA-07) Research Report the Following Report Contains Research on Dave Brat, a Republican Member of Congress in VA’S 7Th District
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Dave Brat (VA-07) Research Report The following report contains research on Dave Brat, a Republican member of Congress in VA’s 7th district. Research for this research book was conducted by the DCCC’s Research Department between January 2018 and March. By accepting this report, you are accepting responsibility for all information and analysis included. Therefore, it is your responsibility to verify all claims against the original documentation before you make use of it. Make sure you understand the facts behind our conclusions before making any specific charges against anyone. Dave Brat Republican incumbent in VA’s 7th Congressional District Research Book – 2018 Last Updated March 2018 Prepared by the DCCC Research Department Table of Contents Table of Contents ....................................................................................... 2 Thematics .................................................................................................. 4 Brat Ran As An Outsider… And Then Became The Consummate D.C. Insider ........................................................................................................ 5 Bad For Virginia ...................................................................................... 17 Key Visuals.............................................................................................. 32 Personal & Professional History .............................................................. 36 Biography ................................................................................................ 37 Personal Finance ...................................................................................... 42 Political Career ........................................................................................ 44 Ethics ....................................................................................................... 50 Relationships ........................................................................................... 57 Donald Trump .......................................................................................... 60 Issues ....................................................................................................... 74 Budget Issues ........................................................................................... 75 Civil Rights & Liberties ........................................................................... 83 Consumer Issues ...................................................................................... 87 Defense Issues ......................................................................................... 95 Economy & Jobs ...................................................................................... 98 Education Issues ...................................................................................... 99 Election & Campaign Finance Issues .................................................... 102 Energy Issues ......................................................................................... 104 Environmental Issues ............................................................................. 107 FEMA And Disaster Relief Issues ......................................................... 116 Foreign Policy Issues ............................................................................. 120 Gun Issues ............................................................................................. 123 Health Care Issues ................................................................................. 130 Housing Issues ....................................................................................... 142 Immigration & Border Issues ................................................................. 144 Labor ..................................................................................................... 154 LGBT Issues .......................................................................................... 158 National Security & Terrorism .............................................................. 162 Native American Issues ......................................................................... 166 Seniors’ Issues ....................................................................................... 167 Tax Issues .............................................................................................. 173 Trade Issues ........................................................................................... 184 Transportation Issues ............................................................................. 186 Veterans Issues ...................................................................................... 187 Women’s Issues ..................................................................................... 189 Appendixes ............................................................................................ 197 Appendix I – Personal Financial Disclosures ......................................... 198 Appendix II – Campaign Finance .......................................................... 206 Appendix III – Revolving Door ............................................................. 213 Appendix V – Bill Sponsorships & Amendments .................................. 219 Appendix VI – Bill Co-Sponsorships .................................................... 226 Appendix VII – Office Expenditures ..................................................... 281 Appendix VIII – Travel Expenditures .................................................... 285 Thematics Brat Ran As An Outsider… And Then Became The Consummate D.C. Insider Significant Findings Brat ran for Congress as an outsider and an anti-establishment figure, successfully unseating House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Once in Congress, Brat voted in line with Trump 89% of the time and the Republican party 97%. Brat’s initial campaign for Congress received $15,000 from Republican leadership. As of 2015, Brat slept in his taxpayer-funded office while in D.C. In Congress, Brat has received $9,090.83 worth of special interest funded travel and traveled to Israel. Five of Brat’s six trips were sponsored by the Heritage Foundation. Brat’s staff has received $13,227 in special interest funded travel. His staff went on six trips funded by the Heritage Foundation. In Congress, Brat collected $7,527 in personal reimbursements. Three of Brat’s staffers worked as lobbyists either before or after working for him. All three staffers had ties to the Heritage Foundation. Brat Campaigned As An Outsider And An Anti-Establishment Figure Brat: “I Was One Of The First To Run As An Outsider Against The Establishment And The Crony Deals On Wall Street.” “I was one of the first to run as an outsider against the establishment and the crony deals on Wall Street. I think we’re going to drain the swamp,” [Brat] said, invoking one of Trump’s favorite lines. The comment sent the crowd into an uproar once again. ‘I want to get the power out of D.C. and Wall Street and back to Main Street,’ Brat said. To which a man yelled, ‘Wall Street’s in the Cabinet now.’” [Washington Post, 2/21/17] …But Once Elected, Brat Quickly Became An Establishment Figure HEADLINE: “Dave Brat Slammed By Opponents For Losing Touch With Constituency.” [Washington Times, 4/4/18] At A February Town Hall, Brat Was Criticized As Being Out Of Touch With His Constituents, The Same Attack He Had Leveled Against Cantor. “Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), who drew national notice after complaining that women were “in my grill” because he was reluctant to hold a town hall meeting, finally relented and came face to face with those women — and plenty others — at a raucous public event Tuesday night. […] Nicole Subryan, 44, a registered nurse from Petersburg, which is not in Brat’s district, kept up a loud running commentary through the town hall and held up a sheet of paper with the word, ‘LIE.’ She and others seemed unimpressed with Brat’s recitation of his grass-roots credentials, which helped him topple House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in 2014. Cantor was criticized for being aloof and out of touch with his constituents — many of the same accusations now plaguing Brat.” [Washington Post, 2/21/17] Brat Had Attacked Cantor For Being Out Of Touch. “As an unknown economics professor, Dave Brat personified the grass-roots revolution that shook the Republican Party four years ago when he dethroned House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) and was elected to Congress from a district outside Richmond. But facing reelection after two terms, Brat is himself the target of a rebellion, this one by Democrats infuriated by President Trump’s election, which galvanized a new wave of political activism nationwide, particularly among suburban women. […] ‘Dave Brat is just not available,’ said Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University. ‘And that’s one of the great ironies. He called Eric Cantor out for being out of touch, and rightly. A few years later, Dave Brat might be in touch, but what he’s in touch with he’s not comfortable defending.’” [Washington Post, 4/9/18] In Congress, Brat Voted In Line With His Party In Congress, Brat Has Voted With Donald Trump 89% Of The Time FiveThirtyEight: Brat Voted In Line With Trump’s Position 88.7 Percent Of The Time. [FiveThirtyEight, accessed 5/14/18] In Congress, Brat Has Voted With His Party 97% Of The Time Brat Voted With The Republican Party 97% Of The Time. According to CQ, over the course of his career,