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This page is about the politician; for the fictional animal doctor, see Doctor Doolittle.

John Taylor Doolittle (born October 30 1950), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the 4th District of California (map). Currently he holds the leadership role of Deputy Whip. He was born in Glendale, California, grew up in Cupertino, California, was educated at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of the Pacific, and was a lawyer and member of the California State Senate before entering the House. In his first years in Congress he was a member of the group known as the Gang of Seven which had a role in exposing the House banking scandal.

In 2004, Doolittle's opponent raised only $2,300 and won only 35 percent of the vote. For that race, Doolittle took in more than $1 million in contributions. (Sacramento Bee, April 9, 2006)

Controversies

Abramoff lobbying

(see also Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal) John Dootlittle has been entangled in the scandal involving Jack Abramoff. Doolittle has denied any wrongdoing, and on April 18, 2006 he hired a former prosecutor from Ken Starr's office as his media advisor on the matter.

Fundraising by Abramoff

An "ardent opponent of casino gambling," Doolittle held a fundraiser at Jack Abramoff's skybox at the MCI Center in February 1999. Abramoff, who rented the boxes himself, billed Indian tribes lobbying fees to cover his cost. These tribes had hired Abramoff to represent their casino interests. Under federal campaign finance law, Doolittle was required to pay Abramoff for use of the box, or to report the use as an "in-kind" contribution from Abramoff to his campaign. Doolittle initially failed to report the use of the skyboxes in his Federal Election Committee filings. His spokesperson, Laura Blackman, said in late 2004 that "It was an in-kind contribution, and it was an oversight that it wasn't reported, but we are taking steps to correct that."

Doolittle's actions on behalf of Indian tribes

In a February 2002 letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Doolittle complained that a Lousiana tribal casino had been wrongly shut down because the Bureau of Indian Affairs refused to recognize a newly elected tribal council. Eventually, the Bureau changed its position and recognized the new tribal council. In June 2003, Doolittle wrote a letter to Norton criticizing the Bush administration's response to a tribal government dispute in Iowa. This was done in part through the work of Michael D. Smith, formerly Al Gore's midwest political director, and a member of Team Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig. Doolittle's action helped the Tribe to reopen a casino vital to the well being of Indians on the reservation. Eventually, the faction supported by Doolittle won control of the Tribal government in a government supervised election, by a 4-1 margin. Others involved in the effort included Senator Byron Dorgan (D- N.D) In October 2003, Doolittle appealed in a letter to Norton for quicker action for a Massachusetts tribe that was seeking federal recognition. Both the Iowa and Massachusetts tribes hired Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig, in that year.

Campaign contributions from Abramoff and his clients

Doolittle estimated that he received about $50,000 from clients of Jack Abramoff, mostly Indian tribes. Abramoff also personally donated $14,000 over the period 1999-2004 to Doolittle's congressional campaigns. . According to the Washington Post, Doolittle "was particularly close to Abramoff." Doolittle said he always thought of Abramoff as "a friend" for a single reason: "I liked him, frankly, because he was a partisan, conservative Republican activist."

Justice Department actions and hiring of lawyer

Doolittle challenged the Justice Department to "investigate me" if federal authorities think he is caught up in the Abramoff scandal. . Since then, "The congressman has not been subpoenaed or questioned by the Justice Department," as of December 2005.

On January 27, 2006, three weeks after Abramoff pleaded guilty to three federal felonies, Doolittle retained the legal services of the Virginia law firm of Williams Mullen. Doolittle's chief of staff, Richard Robinson, said the attorney handling Doolittle's inquiry is David Barger. Barger is the former president of the Virginia Bar Association's criminal law section and a former assistant U.S. attorney who later was an associate of special prosecutor Kenneth Starr in the Whitewater investigation during the Clinton administration.

Robinson said the campaign (which paid a $10,000 retainer) has hired Barger to address Doolittle's concerns about how he should respond to questions from the press as he contemplated having to talk about the scandal as part of his campaign for re-election. "The congressman has not retained an attorney to respond to any Justice Department inquiries as there have been none," Robinson said.

Federal funds for interchange project

On December 15, 2005, The Union, a newspaper for western Nevada County, reported that Doolittle had secured $3 million for eight projects in his district from a recently passed $65.9 billion federal appropriation, and that none of those funds fell within Nevada County borders, part of Doolittle's district. Laura Blackann, communications director for Doolittle, called the newspaper to say the story was incomplete and that "Nevada County didn't receive any money because they didn't ask for any."

In response, several Nevada County officials said that Blackann's comments were not true. Their response focused on the Dorsey Drive Interchange project, which the County Transportation Commission (CTC) has described as providing direct access to high use sites, including the only hospital within an hours drive. .

Nevada City's mayor, Conley Weaver, who is also on the CTC, told The Union that "The county begged. We said we'll do anything for money for Dorsey Drive." Weaver said Nevada City, Grass Valley , and Nevada County all passed resolutions asking Doolittle to seek federal funding for the Dorsey Drive project.

Blackann then further clarified her comments: "The Dorsey Drive project was submitted by the city for $11 million. It is such a large project it needed to be funded through the highway bill. (The most recent appropriations bill) doesn't fund projects that large." She said that "The congressman is going to try for the Dorsey Drive project next year."

Small towns told to hire lobbyists

Dan Landon, executive director of the CTC, said that he was told recently by Doolittle's staff that "it also doesn't hurt to have a lobbyist". Sharon Atteberry, city administrator for the city of Oroville, said she had also been urged to hire a lobbyist by Doolittle's staff. "They encouraged us that a lobbyist is very important to any city or county government," she said. .

Activities of Julie Doolittle

Prior to 2001, the Alexander Strategy Group, a Washington lobbying firm with close ties to Congressman Tom DeLay, employed Doolittle's wife, Julie. The firm is now closed due to the scandals surrounding Jack Abramoff. Julie Doolittle is now a fundraiser and lobbyist in her own firm, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions.

Sierra Dominion was founded just after Congressman Doolittle gained a seat on the Appropriations Committee, in March 2001. It is based at the couple's home in Oakton, Va.; Julie is the only employee. The firm charges her husband's campaign and his Superior California Political Action Committee a 15 percent commission on any contribution she helps bring in. .

In the 2005-2006 election cycle, through February 2006, Sierra Dominion collected $82,127 from the Doolittle committees. That is more that the $77,947 in commissions in the total 2003-2004 cycle, with nine months to go until the 2006 election.

These commissions have allowed Doolittle to financially benefit from campaign contributions given by Brent Wilkes, who he helped win government contracts, as described below. This has been criticized by government watchdog groups.

In December 2005, Richard Robinson, Doolittle's Chief of Staff, defended the commission structure. "Sierra Dominion's compensation is based entirely on performance in that it receives a percentage in what it is directly involved in raising. This arrangement is not only consistent with that of other fund raisers but is designed to avoid the appearance that Sierra Dominion is compensated for anything other than its tireless and effective work. Any suggestion otherwise is completely without merit." .

In April 2006, Paulette Maehara, the head of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, wrote Doolittle's office to complain. "This is absolutely not the standard in the industry", she said. "This is a big deal for us," she also said. "We've worked hard to eradicate this practice, and our prohibition on commission-based fundraising has really changed the industry practice." Another professional organization, the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, similarly regards commission-based fundraising as unethical, according to the organization's Web site. Robinson said he thinks Maehara simply doesn't do enough work with political fundraisers to understand that commission-based fundraising is not unusual. "Such an arrangement is common in the political community because candidates want to ensure that fundraisers are only compensated for their performance and do not collect a salary without producing results," he said.

Julie Doolittle's records have been subpoenaed twice by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The first subpoena was in connection with her work for Abramoff. (Sierra Dominion did work for Signatures, the restaurant owned by Abramoff, and Greenberg Traurig, the lobbying firm that employed him, and she helped plan a fundraiser for Abramoff's charity, the Capital Athletic Foundation.) The second subpoena was in connection with her work for the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council (KORUSEC), a Korean lobbying firm founded by Ed Buckham, and located at the headquarters of Buckham's now-dissolved Alexander Strategy Group. KORUSEC is also connected to Kevin Ring, one of Doolittle's former assistants. Robinson said Julie Doolittle had other clients besides those identified, but he would not provide their names "out of respect for the privacy of the clients." In both cases the DOJ has filed no charges.

Brent Wilkes and PerfectWave

PerfectWave is a company owned by Brent Wilkes. Doolittle has had significant involvement with both. Wilkes has become controversial because disgraced Congressman Duke Cunningham admitted receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and favors from Wilkes for his efforts to help another of Wilkes' companies, ADCS Inc.

In 2002, Wilkes hired the Alexander Strategy Group (ASG) to do lobbying for the PerfectWave. PerfectWave also gave generously to a certain number of key politicians who were in positions to help the company - members of the House Appropriations Committee.

During the period 2002 to 2005, Doolittle received at least $118,000 in campaign contributions from Wilkes, PerfectWave associates and their wives, and from ASG lobbyists Edwin A. Buckham and Tony C. Rudy (two former aides of Tom DeLay and their wives). In November 2003, Wilkes hosted a fundraising dinner for Doolittle.

Doolittle, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, told The Washington Post in January 2006 that he had helped steer defense funds totaling $37 million to PerfectWave ($1 million in 2002, $18 million in 2003, and then $18 million in 2004.) Doolittle claims that his support was based "on the project's merits and the written support of the military." But the San Diego Times reported that "The money was not requested by the Navy but was instead inserted by the Appropriations Committee as part of the closed-door congressional earmarking process.". They further reported that "he only evidence Doolittle's office could provide to show military support for the project was a letter of praise from Robert Lusardi, a program manager for light armored vehicles at the Marine Corps dated Feb. 25 – two and a half years after PerfectWave got its first earmark. By the time Lusardi wrote his letter, the company had received at least $37 million in earmarks." .

In his own defense On March 1, 2006, Doolittle made the following comment:

I'm glad I supported PerfectWave. I would do it again .... Because it has unique technology. It's a unique technology that ensures the safety of our armed forces in the war on terror. It's a sound isolation technology. It allows the driver of a tank or an armored personnel carrier, in which it's very difficult to hear the commands you've been given. This isolates the sound so it's perfectly quiet and you can hear what people are telling you over your microphone or helmet. The other use it has, I don't really understand how it works, somehow this allows you to detect the location of these improvised explosive devices which continue to be a major problem for our personnel over there. To my knowledge they're the only company that has this.

Investigation of Charles Hurwitz

One January 8, 2006 the LA Times reported, "Reps. John T. Doolittle and Richard W. Pombo joined forces with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas to oppose an investigation by federal banking regulators into the affairs of Houston millionaire Charles Hurwitz, documents recently obtained by The Times show." Furthermore, "When the FDIC persisted, Doolittle and Pombo — both considered proteges of DeLay — used their power as members of the House Resources Committee to subpoena the agency's confidential records on the case, including details of the evidence FDIC investigators had compiled on Hurwitz." "The investigation was ultimately dropped."

The Times reported that "Although Washington politicians frequently try to help important constituents and contributors, it is unusual for members of Congress to take direct steps to stymie an ongoing investigation by an agency such as the FDIC." The article concluded, "in the Hurwitz case, Doolittle and Pombo were in a position to pressure the FDIC and did so. "

2006 elections

In the June 6, 2006, primary, Doolittle will face Republican Mike Holmes, the mayor of Auburn, California and a retired Navy officer. The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of a three-person Democratic primary; the candidates there are Michael Hamersley, Charles Brown, and Lisa Rea.

The 4th District of California is considered a safe seat for Republicans as of late March by political observers such as Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report, Larry Sabato, and the National Journal.

Miscellaneous

Doolittle is known for boosterism of the Auburn Dam project, despite uncertainties about the impact that such a dam would have on seismic activity in the area. A USGS report has cited concerns about the likelihood of earthquakes caused by the Auburn Dam project. Doolittle's stated reason for supporting the Auburn Dam is for flood control of Sacramento. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he portrayed the flooding in New Orleans as an example of why the project was needed. Critics replied that the Gulf Coast, with its hurricane season and the torrential rainfalls associated with it, is not a valid comparison to a region of the country which historically often has droughts, and said that Folsom and Nimbus Dams should suffice in an intense rainy season. Opponents of the project point out that the Dam, despite its potential for breaking in the event of an earthquake, will also accelerate urban sprawl east of Sacramento and downriver from the proposed dam. Placer County has one of the highest growth rates in the country.

Doolittle was part of an effort to have the portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt removed from the United States dime and replaced by Ronald Reagan.

Doolittle appeared briefly but memorably in Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, turning from Moore and briskly walking away intoning a frank and almost accusing "Oh, no no no no no no no" when approached to sign a petition.

Doolittle has been a strong advocate for continued United States control of the Internet, arguing that this remains the only way for the Internet to remain free and uncensored by totalitarian governments. On November 16, 2005, the House of Representatives passed his resolution 423-0 to support that position.

In January 2006, the Sacramento Union quoted Doolittle as saying that "A liberal front is underway to find God and all things pertaining to him unconstitutional."

In February 2006, Doolittle was praised by the El Dorado Irrigation District for his assistance in obtaining funds for hydroelectric power projects. .

External links

• page about Doolittle
• List of Doolittle's beliefs on various issues
• Official website
• Sources: Prosecutors Look At Abramoff-Doolittle Ties
• Doolittle defends helping Iowa tribe, The Sacramento Bee, February 12, 2006
• Doolittle offers answers to media questions, The Press-Tribune, March 1, 2006
• Doolittle's contributions from Abramoff
• Congressman Doolittle, Wife Profited from Cunningham-Linked Contractor, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 19, 2006.
• The Muckraker's Reference Page on Doolittle
• Lists of legislation sponsored or co-sponsored
  • 107th Congress Sponsored Co-Sponsored
  • 108th Congress Sponsored Co-Sponsored

• 1950 births
• California State Senators
• Living people
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from California
• University of California, Santa Cruz alumni