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Gresham Barrett

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Gresham Barrett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byLindsey Graham
Succeeded byJeff Duncan
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 1st district
In office
January 13, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byBradley Dewitt Cain
Succeeded byBill Whitmire
Personal details
Born
James Gresham Barrett

(1961-02-14) February 14, 1961 (age 63)
Westminster, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNatalie Finley[1]
Children3
ResidenceWestminster, South Carolina
Alma materThe Citadel (BS)
OccupationFurniture store owner
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army (field artillery)
Years of service1983–1987
Rank Captain
Unit1st Cavalry Division
[2]

James Gresham Barrett (born February 14, 1961) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was a candidate for its nomination for Governor of South Carolina in the 2010 election. A resident of Westminster, South Carolina, the district he represented runs along the Savannah River in the northwestern part of the state.[3]

Early life, education, and business career

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Barrett was born in Westminster in Oconee County.[4] Barrett attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and graduated in 1983.[4] He served in the United States Army from 1983 to 1987,[4] attaining the rank of captain in the field artillery.[3][5] Barrett managed the family's furniture store.[3]

South Carolina legislature

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He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served from 1996 to 2002,[4] and was assigned to the Education and Public Works Committee,[6] Labor Commerce and Industry Committee,[7] Rules Committee,[7] and the School Choice Ad Hoc Committee.[citation needed] He was also the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Urban Growth.[citation needed] During the 2000 Presidential Election Barrett was a member of the George W. Bush for President South Carolina State Steering Committee.[8]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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Barrett won a congressional seat in 2002 to replace Lindsey Graham, who retired to run for the U.S. Senate, and took office in January 2003. He ran unopposed for reelection in 2004.[9] In 2006, Barrett won reelection by defeating Democratic challenger Lee Ballenger with 63 percent of the vote. Barrett outspent his opponent $857,922 to $27,891.[2][10] In 2008, he defeated Democrat Jane Ballard Dyer,[3] carrying 65 percent of the vote.[11]

Tenure

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Barrett missed 571 votes as of March 31, 2010, more than any other member of the 111th House and totaling 43% of the votes since the beginning of this term.[12][13]

According to the National Journal Barrett was among the most conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives.[14] He was endorsed by the National Rifle Association,[15] National Right to Life Committee,[16] and the National Federation of Independent Business.[17]

In July 2006, Barrett was one of 33 members of the House of Representatives to vote against renewal of the Voting Rights Act.[18] In 2007, he voted against the Democratic version of SCHIP.[citation needed] Barrett supports offshore drilling to make the United States energy independent.[3] On April 15, 2008 Barrett became the 71st Co-Sponsor of the FairTax (H.R. 25 Archived 2008-11-25 at the Wayback Machine). Following a 2009 Congressional pay raise that many felt unmerited, Congressman Barrett protested by giving his pay raise to Anderson Interfaith Ministries.[19]

Barrett is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker. In 2006, he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act[20] and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.[21] In 2008, he opposed H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act (a bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act while the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve defined "unlawful Internet gambling").

In 2003, Barrett introduced the Stop Terrorist Entry Program Act (STEP). The STEP Act updates and amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar the admission of individuals from countries listed by the Department of State as State Sponsors of Terrorism. The STEP Act, as introduced in 2003, would not only bar citizens from the list from ever entering the United States, but would also deport non-immigrant visa holders legally residing in the United States that are citizens of countries on the list.[22] Though Barrett said that the updated STEP Act was in response to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and the failed bombing attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, Keith Olbermann said neither of the alleged perpetrators would have fallen under its restrictions.[23] Alleged Flight 253 bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is a citizen of Nigeria,[24] which is not listed as a state sponsor of terrorism, and Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan was born in Arlington, Virginia.[25]

Committee assignments

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2010 gubernatorial election

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Main article: 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election

In March 2009, Barrett announced his candidacy for Governor of South Carolina in the 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election. Candidates for the Republican nomination included; State Attorney General Henry McMaster, State Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, Congressman Barrett, and State Representative Nikki Haley.[3] Nikki Haley led the first nomination ballot with 49% of the vote falling just short of the 50% threshold needed to win the nomination outright on June 8, 2010. Haley won the run-off election on June 22, 2010 with 65% to Barrett's 35%.[27]

Personal life

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Barrett is married to Natalie Barrett (née Finley) and has three children.[8] He has served as a member of several boards, including as President of the Westminster Rotary Club, Chairman of the Oconee District Boy Scouts, President of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Oconee County Red Cross, member of the Oconee Kids Do Count Board, and coach of the Barrett's Furniture PONY League Baseball team.[8] Barrett is also a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[28]

Barrett was named one of The Hill's Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill for 2008, placing ninth and becoming the only congressperson or elected official in the top 10.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Gresham Barrett - the Citadel - Charleston, SC". Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Barone, Michael; Richard E. Cohen (2007). The Almanac of American Politics 2008 (paperback ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Journal Group and Atlantic Media Company. pp. 1468–1469. ISBN 978-0-89234-117-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Davenport, Jim (March 4, 2009). "Barrett to run for governor". The Post and Courier. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d "J. Gresham Barrett". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  5. ^ "Veterans in the US House of Representatives 109th Congress" (PDF). Navy League. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 26, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
  6. ^ "STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS". South Carolina General Assembly. December 2, 1998. p. 80. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Journal of the House of Representatives.
  7. ^ a b Sandifer, Bill (May 29, 2002). "Barrett, Representative James Gresham". South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "J. Gresham Barrett". Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on September 10, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  9. ^ "2004 Election Report" (PDF). Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina State Election Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  10. ^ "2006 Election Report" (PDF). South Carolina State Election Commission. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  11. ^ "2008 General Election". South Carolina State Election Commission. November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  12. ^ "Inside Congress". New York Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  13. ^ "US Congress Votes Database: Members who missed most votes". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
  14. ^ "2008 House Rankings". National Journal. February 28, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  15. ^ "National Rifle Association | Political Victory Fund". Nrapvf.org. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  16. ^ "National Right To Life Pac Endorses Gresham Barrett – Targeted News Service | HighBeam Research – FREE trial". Highbeam.com. October 30, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2010.[dead link]
  17. ^ National Federation of Independent Business
  18. ^ "Rep. Gresham Barrett running for South Carolina Governor at Campaign Diaries". Campaigndiaries.com. March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  19. ^ "S.C. Politics Today". Thestatecom.typepad.com. December 31, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  20. ^ "Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411". Archived from the original on November 25, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  21. ^ "Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777". Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  22. ^ I"BARRETT TO UPDATE AND REINTRODUCE THE S.T.E.P. ACT". House.gov. January 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  23. ^ Olbermann, Keith (January 12, 2010). "'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Tuesday, January 12th, 2010". NBC News. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  24. ^ Meyer, Josh; Nicholas, Peter (December 29, 2009). "Obama calls jet incident a 'serious reminder'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  25. ^ McKinley, Jr., James C.; Dao, James (November 8, 2009). "Fort Hood Gunman Gave Signals Before His Rampage". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  26. ^ a b c Biography of Rep. J. Gresham Barrett Archived 2009-04-29 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Barone, Michael; Chuck McCutcheon (2011). The Almanac of American Politics 2012 (paperback ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Journal Group. p. 1439. ISBN 978-0-226-03808-7. LCCN 2011929193.
  28. ^ "Issue One – ReFormers Caucus". Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  29. ^ "50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill 2008 – Top 10". The Hill (newspaper). July 29, 2008. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 3rd congressional district
2003–2011 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 1st district
1997–2003 		Succeeded by
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