Heather Wilson Heather Wilson Heather A. Wilson (born December 30 , 1960 ), first woman veteran ever elected to office of the Federal government of the United States .
Early Life
Born in Keene, New Hampshire , she joined the United States Air Force at the age of seventeen, graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982 . A Rhodes Scholar , she continued her education at Oxford University , earning a Ph.D. in International Relations .
Career
Upon leaving the Air Force in 1989 , she became Director for European Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council . She founded Keystone International, Inc. in 1991 to promote business development in the United States and Russia .
Wilson was elected as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives in 1998 to represent the 1st Congressional district of New Mexico (map ) in a special election to replace the late Steven Schiff . She was the first woman to represent New Mexico since Georgia Lusk in the 1940s and was also the first female veteran to be elected to Congress. In the House, she serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Select Committee of Intelligence .
In 2004 , Wilson generated some controversy when she denounced CBS and Viacom following Janet Jackson 's halftime performance at Super Bowl XXXVIII in which Jackson revealed her nipple. ("You knew what you were doing...creates a buzz .") Howard Stern ridiculed her for several days on his radio show and continues to do so on occasion. Her specific words, "It was nasty", have become a well known sound-bite .
2004 re-election
During Wilson's reelection campaign in 2004, her political opponent Richard Romero ran advertisements which suggested her votes in Congress aided Osama bin Laden because she had voted against a costly bill to require the immediate screening of cargo holds. Wilson's campaign countered with an add stating "Richard Romero opposes death penalty for child molesters who kill their victims". Romero opposes New Mexico's death penalty. Wilson won the election by a 10% margin over Romero, the same margin of victory she had against Romero in the 2002 election.
The Republican National Committee provided a great deal of Wilson's campaign funds because local and national Democrats have placed a high priority on winning New Mexico's First district, a district considered to be a Democratic district yet has been held by Republicans now for decades. Due to the presence of Kirtland Air Force Base and the high number of military retirees, various Republicans from the District have held a seat on the Armed Services Committee . However, during the election, Wilson went against her previous stance on Social Security , saying that she would not support privatization. This created a backlash in the House leadership, and she lost her seat on the Armed Services Committee after the election.
On the Issues
Abortion
Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Voted YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
Voted YES on banning human cloning, including medical research. (Jul 2001)
Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
Rated 10% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Budget & Economy
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Civil Rights
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on Constitutional amendment prohibiting Flag Desecration. (Jul 2001)
Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit burning the US flag. (Jun 1999)
Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
Rated 13% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Supported legislation on violence against women & safety. (Jul 1999)
Supported funding for women's and disadvantaged businesses. (Jul 1999)
Corporations
Voted NO on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
Voted YES on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
Rated 93% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Crime
Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
Rated 50% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation. (Dec 2000)
Drugs
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)
Education
Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
Let schools display the words "God Bless America". (Oct 2001)
Rated 33% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Supported funding for teacher training & other initiatives. (Jul 1999)
Energy & Oil
Voted YES on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
Voted YES on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
Environment
Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup. (May 2001)
Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Families & Children
Voted YES on establishing nationwide AMBER alert system for missing kids. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
Rated 76% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Supported funding child care, child health, & child housing. (Jul 1999)
Foreign Policy
Voted NO on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
Voted YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
Voted YES on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
Voted YES on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
Free Trade
Voted YES on implementing the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
Voted YES on implementing the US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
Rated 50% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
Government Reform
Voted YES on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
Voted NO on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
Gun Control
Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)
Health Care
Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
Voted YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on capping damages and setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
Voted YES on Prescription Drug Coverage under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
Rated 22% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Supported funding women's health needs. (Jul 1999)
Supported funding older women's health. (Jul 1999)
Supported funding Prenatal and Postpartum Care. (Jul 1999)
Supported funding Family and Children's Coverage. (Jul 1999)
Homeland Security
Voted NO on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on supporting new position of Director of National Intelligence. (Dec 2004)
Voted NO on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
Rated 22% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
Recognize women veterans; assist military families. (Jul 1999)
Immigration
Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules. (May 2001)
Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers. (Sep 1998)
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)
Jobs
Voted NO on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
Member of the Congressional Rural Caucus. (Jan 2001)
Rated 13% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)
Principles & Values
Religious affiliation: Methodist. (Nov 2000)
Social Security
Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
Rated 10% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Supported pension reform and tax credits for long-term care. (Jul 1999)
Tax Reform
Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
Voted YES on permanently eliminating the so-called marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)
Voted YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on $99.5B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on Tax Cut Package of $958B over 10 years. (May 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000)
Voted YES on repealing the estate tax ("death tax"). (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
Phaseout the death tax. (Mar 2001)
Rated 55% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
Tax incentives for child care; eliminate marriage penalty. (Jul 1999)
Tax incentives for education, new schools, & families. (Jul 1999)
Technology
Voted YES on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on promoting commercial human space flight industry. (Nov 2004)
Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on allowing telephone monopolies to offer Internet access. (Feb 2002)
Criminal penalties for e-mail spamming. (Feb 2001)
War & Peace
Voted YES on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Voted NO on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)
Welfare & Poverty
Voted YES on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)
Voted YES on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)
Voted YES on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. (Nov 1999)
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