Diane Watson

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Diane Watson previously served the 33rd Congressional district of California

Diane Edith Watson, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Representative for the 33rd Congressional district of California, having served 2001 to 2011.[1]

Record and controversies

Iraq War

Watson voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.[2]

On April 25, 2007, Rep. Watson voted in favor of the conference bill of the Iraq supplemental spending measure, which included a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq. She had earlier voted against the House version of the bill. The conference bill passed the House 218-208.

Main article: U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007 (H.R.1591)
For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

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.

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.

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]

2008 elections

Sdtp-banner.jpg
This information was gathered by volunteer researchers as part of the Superdelegate Transparency Project on the superdelegates for the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. For more info see the California superdelegate tracker or visit the STP homepage.


Before Hillary Clinton conceded the race, Diane Watson, as a superdelegate, had endorsed her for President.

For more information and sources, see the state page for this superdelegate linked to in the blue box above.

2010 elections

Watson retired and was replaced by Democrat Karen Bass.[1]

Committees and affiliations

Committees

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

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

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

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Karen Bass profile, The Washington Post, accessed January 2011.
  2. Roll call vote, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.

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