Clips of Interest
Son and Brother were Lobbyists
In 2012, it was reported that Lungren’s son and brother were lobbyists. A reported by Citizens for Ethics wrote that Jeffrey Lungren was a lobbyist for the Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. His brother was a lobbyist at Platinum Advisors whose clients included K2 Pure Solutions LP. [CREW, Family Affair Report, accessed 4/23/12]
Didn’t Blame Tea Party for Stalls in Congress; Said They Were Good for Country
In 2011, Lungren said he didn’t blame the tea party freshmen for stalls in Congress. “I think they [tea party members of Congress] are a good thing for the country,” Lungren said. “They’ve got us to realize where we were as far as fiscal responsibility and that has been a good thing.” [Grapevine Independent, 8/19/11]
Lungren Opposed Cuts to Own Budget, But Lungren Had No Problem Cutting Funding for Important California Programs
In February 2011, Lungren opposed further cuts to his budget. He wrote, “The Amendment would also hamper the House’s ability to conduct effective oversight and impede on Members’ ability to serve their constituents by cutting committee and Member budgets an additional 11% on top of the 5% cut adopted last month.” [Columnist, Timothy P. Carney, Washington Examiner, 2/18/11]
Expressed Support for Paul Ryan’s View of Budget
In January 2011, Lungren expressed his support for Paul Ryan’s view of the budget.
Lungren said “If I was starting a football team in a national budget league, I’d pick Paul Ryan as the captain and quarterback,” He went on to say, “There’s nobody in this House who’s taken as serious a long-term view on the budget as Paul Ryan.” [Wall Street Journal, 1/25/11; Hotline, 1/25/11]
Said By Cutting Office Budget He was Demonstrating Struggle to Make Ends Meet
In 2011, Lungren said that by cutting 5 percent from House office budgets “We are demonstrating to those struggling to make ends meet that we are listening and serious about fiscal responsibility.”
Lungren chaired the House Administration Committee, which oversaw day-to-day operations of the House. [Miami Herald, 3/22/11]
Defended Republican Budget Saying He was Saving Medicare
When asked about his vote for the Ryan Budget Lungren said, “I’m not on record for demolishing Medicare. I’m on record for saving Medicare. CBO has said very specifically Medicare will go broke in nine years. The status quo is what kills Medicare. Those that will not face up to the truth is what kills Medicare. What Paul Ryan brought forward and what we Republicans have adopted is an adult approach to dealing with a serious problem We’ve got to go beyond this idea of promising things that we cannot keep and putting burden after burden of debt on our children. And that’s what our effort is to do here. This nonsense that we’re trying to kill Medicare only makes sense if you ignore the arithmetic.” [MSNBC, Hardball , 4/15/11]
Roll Call: In 2010 Lungren Narrowly Pulled Out a Victory in a Good Year for Republicans
In April 2011 Roll Call reported that Ami Bera raised $230,000 and in 2010 “Lungren narrowly pulled out a victory in a good year for Republicans.” [Roll Call, 4/14/11]
Risked Budget Cutting Message by Signing $500,000 Contract with Law Firm to Defend 1996 Defense of Marriage Act
In April 2011, Lungren signed a $500,000 contract with a partner in the King and Spaulding firm who worked in the Bush Administration to defend the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Lungren was risking his budget-cutting message to support a law that denied same-sex couples benefits given to heterosexual married couples. [San Francisco Chronicle, 4/20/11]
Said Even Calling Federal Agency About Project Funding Violated Spirit of Earmark Ban
In 2011, Lungren was visited by Elk Grove officials to discuss their priority projects. Lungren said for him to even call a federal agency to ask that a project be funded went against the spirit of rejecting earmarks. [Elk Grove Citizen, 5/18/11]
Requested $231,117,769 in Earmarks for FY 2010
In 2009, Lungren requested $231,117,769 worth of projects in earmarks in FY 2010 appropriations bills. As of August 2009, Lungren’s FY 2010 submissions had not yet been approved. [Taxpayers for Common Sense; Federal Elections Commission]
Newly Drawn District Put Seat in Play
In 2011, it was reported that Lungren’s redrawn district was much more competitive. The new district as drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Committee had fewer whites and an even number of Democrats and Republicans. [Capitol Weekly, 6/23/11]
Lungren May Retire
In 2011, Lungren was one of the members of Congress rumored to be considering a district-based retirement plan. [Blog, Rachel Rose Hartman, The Ticket, 7/7/11]
Likely Facing More Democratic District in 2011
In 2011, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer noted the impact that redistricting will have in making Lungren’s district more Democratic in 2012. The paper reported that Lungren, “would have a district that becomes more Democratic. He said he believes the draft map issued by the commission would exaggerate the strength of Democrats in California. Lungren’s current district near Sacramento has been trending more bipartisan in recent years, leading to tighter re-election campaigns.” [Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 6/28/11]
Financial Disclosure Showed Credit Card Debt and $56,000 in 2010 from State Pension
Lungren’s financial disclosure for 2010 (released June 2011) showed assets between $17,000 and $81,000. Lungren earned $56,000 from his state pension in 2010. He listed his financial stake in Stoneyford Ranch, LLC between $15,000 and $50,000. He also had credit card debt between $10,000 and $15,000. [Carmichael Patch, 6/21/11]
Bera Outraised Lungren with Redistricting Likely in Democratic Favor
In 2011, Ami Bera announced a re-match against Lungren and raised over $530,000 in the second quarter. Bera had a good showing against Lungren in a very Republican year, and with redistricting likely to take a chuck of GOP voters out of the district, Bera was like 2012. [Hotline On Call, National Journal, 7/14/11]
Introduced Bill to Encourage Low-Cost Energy Efficiency Home Loans
In 2011, Lungren introduced a bill to require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to stop blocking state and local programs that offer low-cost energy efficiency home loans. Advocates of the bill said it would generate jobs and boost tax revenues. “It essentially allows those who own property and have equity in the property to achieve something we all want them to achieve,” Lungren said. The legislation would allow states to implement the “Property Assessed Clean Energy” or PACE programs. [Record, 7/21/11]
Faced Challenges by Bera and Hubor in 2012 Elections
In 2011, Lungren faced possible challenges for the 2012 election from Ami Bera and possibly Democratic Assemblywoman Alyson Hubor. [Lodi News-Sentinel, 7/21/11]
Lungren Faced Trouble for 2012 Elections Due to California Re-Districting
In 2011, thanks to redistricting, California shaped up to be a hotbed of top Republican targets, and Lungren faced trouble in newly drawn districts, if he decided to run again in 2012. [Atlantic, 7/20/11]
Ami Bera Raked in Cash for Possible Rematch with Dan Lungren in CA-03
In 2011, even as the re-districting maps were not set in stone, Democrat Ami Bera continued to post big fundraising numbers for a possible rematch for Rep. Dan Lungren‘s seat.
Federal campaign reports show Bera raised $534,009 through the first six months of the year. He’s still carrying a $262,289 debt from his loss last year to Lungren, but $250,000 of that is money he lent himself. He had $450,508 in cash on hand as of June 30, 2011. Lungren, a Gold River Republican, raised $417,418 for the six-month period – about half of it from political action committees – and had $328,002 on hand as of June 30, 2011. [Sacramento Bee, 7/20/11]
Was Outraised in the Second Quarter Fundraising Period
In 2011, Lungren was one of the GOP incumbents who got outraised in the second quarter fundraising period. [The Fix, Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, 7/19/11]
Bera Raised About Half-Million Dollars for a Rematch against Lungren in 2012; Expected to be in Better District
In 2011, Dr. Ami Bera raised more than a half-million dollars for a rematch against Lungren, which was the latest sign that he would have a tough race on his hands in 2012. Bera had about $450,000 in the bank for the election.
In 2012, there were speculations that they two could be fighting on more Democratic territory. California’s newly created Bipartisan Redistricting Commission has put out draft maps that would make Lungren’s Sacramento-based district more liberal by lopping off some of the more conservative, rural parts of the district and centering it more on the state capitol. [Blog, Cameron Joseph, The Hill, 7/14/11]
Said Less Money Made it Tougher for Representatives to do Their Jobs
In 2011, Lungren questioned whether the House Appropriations Legislative Branch bill, which cut 6.4% from House Office Budgets, would still allow House Members to effectivelydo their jobs.
Lungren said less money made it tougher for representatives to do their jobs. He said, “I understand the thinking of those on the committee, I just want to make sure Members have the resources to do their job.” [Roll Call, 7/16/11]
Budget Issues
Pleased When Audit Had Positive Findings on House Financial Reporting
In 2012, Lungren said he was pleased when the Committee on House Administration released an annual Inspector General audit that gave the House high marks on the financial reporting mechanisms in place. Lungren praised Chief Administrative Officer Daniel Strodel who was nominated to the position by Pelosi.
“I am pleased the House received a clean opinion on its 2011 financial audit,” wrote committee Chairman Dan Lungren in a statement. [The Hill, 3/27/12]
Said the Deficit was “The Big Elephant in the Room” Which had a “Dramatic and Direct Impact on Jobs”
In 2012, it was reported that Lungren said there was hope for job creation, though he did not see an influx of new jobs in his district. He said the issue of jobs was related to the deficit.
“The deficit is the big elephant in the room,” Lungren said. “It has a dramatic and direct impact on jobs and job formation.” [Elk Grove Citizen, 2/9/12]
Called for Eliminating Funding for the Election Assistance Committee
In 2011, it was reported that Lungren advocated for the dissolution of the Election Assistance Committee, an independent agency created by the Help America Vote Act, to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Lungren claimed that the EAC had already achieved its principal purpose.
“The Election Assistance Commission has fulfilled its function and is now a perfect example of unnecessary and wasteful spending,” Lungren said. [The Hill, 10/13/11]
Agreed to Cut Budget of Congressional Committees
In 2011, Lungren and the House Administration Committee agreed to cut the budget of every committee except ethics. Committee spending was to be trimmed by 6.4 percent in 2012, only the Ethics Committee would get an increase, of 11.5 percent. To accommodate the ethics committee increase Lungren lowered the funding level in his own panel. [Roll Call, 12/16/11]
Criticized Supercommittee Failure; Called for Spending Cuts
In 2011, Lungren criticized the failure of the supercommittee, especially the across-the-board cuts to defense. He called for spending cuts that significantly outweigh revenue increases to address the debt crisis. “With the failure of the super committee, Congress once again has neglected to face head-on a long-foreseen and fast-approaching crisis,” Lungren said in a statement. “The resulting sequestration – or across-the-board cuts – resulting in blind, indiscriminate spending reductions, is a shoddy way to ensure the long-term vitality of our nation.” [Elk Grove Citizen, 11/29/11]
Said Supercommittee Failed to Face Fast-Approaching Financial Crisis
In 2011, Lungren said Americans were sick of the grid lock in Congress in response to the Supercommittee. “Americans are understandably frustrated with the bickering and gridlock that has become a staple of the way Washington operates.” Said Representative Dan Lungren (R-Calif.): “With the failure of the supercommittee, Congress once again has neglected to face head-on a long-foreseen and fast-approaching crisis.” [Business Week, 11/22/11]
Lungren: “We must also lead by example. We too must do more with less”
In 2011, Lungren praised committee heads in the House for facing budget cuts as the U.S. face record deficits. “The financial realities facing this country are dire and demand drastic cuts in federal spending,” Lungren warned. “As stewards of taxpayers’ dollars, not only must we rein in government spending, but we must also lead by example. We too must do more with less.” [The Hill, 11/30/11]
Blamed former House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard for Failure in House Audit
In 2011, Lungren accused the former House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard of failing to provide financial accuracy after the House failed part of its annual independent financial audit for the second year in a row. “We’re headed in the right direction in cleaning up the mess of the previous CAO. That’s what this audit says,” Lungren said. “This is something we complained about for some period of time.” Lungren said he has faith in Strodel, who was appointed to a full term by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in January, and that the House will “absolutely not” fall short on any future audits. [Roll Call, 9/22/11; Oversight Plan of the Committee on House Administration, accessed 9/21/11]
Voted to Increase Debt Ceiling and Touted Vote for Budget Control Act of 2011
In 2011, Lungren said he voted to increase the debt ceiling and touted his vote for the Budget Control Act of 2011. He advocated for lowering the deficit, “We’re really going to have to be reflective of a major change in D.C.,” Lungren said. Inflation fears are growing in D.C., Lungren said. The Federal Reserve is facing an “insidious temptation” to print money, he said, which then spark worries that the value of U.S. currency could plummet further. [Carmichael Patch, 8/23/11]
Said Federal Government Would Lay Off More Employees
In 2011, it was reported that Lungren was asked when the federal government would lay more employees off. Lungren said, “We are reviewing every contract that the House of Representatives has,” Lungren responded. “I think you’re going to see some very serious reductions in different federal agencies and departments.” [Elk Grove Patch, 8/19/11]
Said He Wanted to Get Rid of Corn Ethanol Subsidies
In 2011, it was reported that at a town hall Lungren said he wanted to get rid of corn ethanol subsidies. [Elk Grove Patch, 8/19/11]
Headline: Lungren Faces Hecklers at Town Hall Meeting; Defended Debt Ceiling Deal