Brett Guthrie

Brett Guthrie
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2009
Preceded by Ron Lewis
Member of the Kentucky Senate
from the 32nd district
In office
2000–2008
Preceded by Frank Miller
Succeeded by Mike Reynolds
Personal details
Born Steven Brett Guthrie
(1964-02-18) February 18, 1964
Florence, Alabama, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Beth Guthrie
Education United States Military Academy (BS)
Yale University (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1987–1990
Rank First Lieutenant
Unit 101st Airborne Division
Awards Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Air Assault Badge
Guthrie in Hawesville, Kentucky.

Steven Brett Guthrie (born February 18, 1964) is the U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. Located in central Kentucky, the district covers Fort Knox, Owensboro, Bowling Green and Danville. He has served in that role since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Kentucky Senate.

Early life, education, and career

Guthrie was born in Florence, Alabama, the son of Carolyn P. (née Holt) and Lowell M. Guthrie.[1] He earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematical economics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1987[2] and his Master's of Public and Private Management from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1997.

Guthrie is a former vice president of Trace Die Cast, Inc., an automotive parts supplier based in Bowling Green. Guthrie has previously served as a field artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Kentucky Senate

Guthrie represented the 32nd district in the Kentucky Senate from 1999 to 2008, where he served as vice chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee, and was chairman of the Transportation Committee.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2008

In the 2008 congressional general election, he defeated his Democratic opponent, State Senator David Boswell, for the right to succeed the retiring Republican U.S. Representative Ron Lewis. Lewis announced his retirement on the last day for candidates to file for the seat in 2008, in hopes of steering the Republican nomination to his chief of staff, Daniel London. Guthrie, however, filed his papers and defeated London for the party nomination.

This set up the closest race in the 2nd in 14 years. While Democrats have a large advantage in registration, the voters are very conservative on social issues. This was a major reason Lewis had been able to hold on to the district with little trouble since winning it in a 1994 special election. Ultimately, Guthrie prevailed by 15,500 votes, mostly on the strength of rural voters. Guthrie may have been boosted by voters being more motivated to come to the polls due to the Presidential election and the Senate election that were held at the same time. Republican candidate John McCain carried the district with 60 percent of the vote and won all but one county entirely within the district. The incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell also carried the 2nd district easily.

2010

The 2nd reverted to form in 2010, and Guthrie defeated Democrat Ed Marksberry by a large margin.

2012

Guthrie won reelection in 2012 with over 64% of the vote.

2018

Guthrie filed for re-election on November 27, 2017. Two Democratic challengers have filed against Guthrie: Grant Short and Brian Pedigo.[3]

Tenure

2011

In 2011, Guthrie voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.[4] In July 2013, Guthrie voted against the move to defund the National Security Agency due to the alleged privacy violations reported by whistleblower Edward Snowden.[5]

2013

Guthrie voted in favor to end the United States federal government shutdown of 2013.[6]

In September, Guthrie introduced the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2013, authorizing the continued funding of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through fiscal year 2018 and to strengthen additional programs that prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children.[7]

2017

Guthrie introduced, alongside Virginia Foxx, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act, an act that would eliminate Public Service Loan Forgiveness and would reduce federal funding made available to for-profit colleges.[8]

On December 19, Guthrie voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.[9] Prior to his vote, Guthrie said that he was "willing to accept" criticism about the bill making American businesses more competitive on a global scale.[3]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Domestic issues

Gun law

Guthrie has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association ("NRA") for his pro-gun rights voting history.[12]

Health care

Guthrie supports the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare").[3]

Social issues

Abortion

Guthrie is pro-life. In 2008, Kentucky Right for Life endorsed him. He has a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee for his voting record on abortion-related matters.[13]

Cannabis

Guthrie has a "D" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes. Guthrie opposes veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence.[14]

Personal life

With his family, Guthrie attends the Lehman Avenue Church of Christ in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as reported by the Christian Chronicle; Michael Greene, minister of the Lehman Avenue congregation, said that he has no doubt "Guthrie's faith will play a positive role" in representation of the 2nd district.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Brett Guthrie ancestry". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  2. ↑ USMA 1987 article on Guthrie retrieved 2008 December 31.
  3. 1 2 3 Swietek, Wes. "Guthrie files for re-election, now faces 2 challengers". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "NDAA Bill: How Did Your Congress Member Vote?". Ibtimes.com. 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  5. ↑ "How The House Voted Down Effort To Curb NSA Surveillance". Huffington Post. July 24, 2013.
  6. ↑ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll550.xml
  7. ↑ "Committee Members Applaud Bipartisan Passage of Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act". Committee on Education and the Workforce. U.S. House of Representatives. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Friedman, Zack. "House Republicans May End Student Loan Forgiveness". Forbes. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah (19 December 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "Kentucky Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Jessie Sanders, "Kentucky Church Member Elected to Congress" retrieved 2008 December 31.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ron Lewis		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 2nd congressional district
2009–present		 Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Gerry Connolly
D-Virginia		 United States Representatives by seniority
164th		 Succeeded by
Gregg Harper
R-Mississippi
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