Diane Watson

Diane Watson currently serves the 33rd Congressional district of California

Diane Edith Watson, a Democrat, has represented the 33rd District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001.(map)

Record and controversies

Voting records

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Diane Watson voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Biography

Born November 12, 1933 in Los Angeles, California, Watson was educated at Los Angeles City College, the University of California, Los Angeles, California State University, Los Angeles, and Claremont Graduate University (PhD), and was a psychologist, a faculty member at California State University, a health occupation specialist with the Bureau of Industrial Education of the California Department of Education, a member of the California State Senate and United States Ambassador to Micronesia before entering the House.

Watson was elected to the House in 2000, and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

2006 elections

No major candidates announced their intentions to contest Watson’s seat in the November 2006 election. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [1]

Positions and Views

In 1993, Watson authored the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Act, which led to pioneering research into the causes of birth defects, and the Residential Care Facilities Act, to ensure that senior citizens receive quality care in nursing and assisted living homes.

Watson has opposed all tax cuts -- including those for the poor -- by saying that they are unaffordable. Diane Watson represents some wealthy areas such as Los Feliz.

Money in Politics This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. Campaign contributions The following is drawn from government records of campaign contributions to Diane Watson. Campaign contributions are one of the most direct conduits for influencing members of Congress. How to use this information. File:Watson elections.jpg Source: Federal Election Commission <crpcontribdata>cid=N00013744&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata> Links to more campaign contribution information for Diane Watson from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site. Fundraising profile: 2006 election cycle Career totals Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2006 election cycle Career totals Top contributors by industry: 2006 election cycle Career totals Revolving door The "revolving door" refers to the passage of staffers between government and industry employment. Former staff for members of Congress often use the connections and knowledge they gained as public employees to help their new employers – often lobbying firms – influence their former employers and institutions. Revolving door profile for Diane Watson from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website. Privately funded travel The following is drawn from Diane Watson's travel disclosure forms. Corporations and other organizations can pay for trips by members of Congress and their staff as long as it is related to official business (though some trips have been glorified junkets). How to use this information. 2006 privately funded travel profile for Diane Watson from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website. Personal finances The following is drawn from Diane Watson's personal financial disclosure forms. Close study of the data has often revealed conflicts of interest by members of Congress. How to use this information. Personal finance profile for Diane Watson from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations
  • Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on Domestic Policy

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Resources - Ranking Minority Member
  • Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Drug Policy and Human Resources
• House Committee on International Relations
  • Subcommittee on Africa Global Human Rights and International Operations
  • Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
  • Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation

Coalitions and Caucuses

• California Legislative Black Caucus
• Vice Chair, National Council of State Legislators, Assembly on State Issues Committee

Boards and other Affiliations

• Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• California Elected Women for Education and Research
• Commission on the Status of Women
• Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• Social Services Board, National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality
• National Conference of State Legislators
• President, National Organization of Black Elected Legislators
• Member, Urban League
• United Teachers Los Angeles

More Background Data

• Background information on Diane Watson from Project Vote Smart

• Interest group scorecard ratings for Diane Watson from Project Vote Smart

• Voting record for Diane Watson from the Washington Post database

• Information on Diane Watson from Congress Merge
• 2006 California CD 33 Candidate List from VIS

Wikipedia also has an article on Diane Watson. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
125 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0533
Phone: 202-225-7084
Fax: 202-225-2422
Web Email
Website

District Office - Los Angeles:
4322 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 302
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: 323-965-1422
Fax: 323-965-1113

Articles and resources

• Official website
• Huffington Post blog articles by Rep. Watson
• Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

• Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics