Jason Smith (politician)

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Jason Smith
Congressman Jason T. Smith.jpg
Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded bySteve Womack
Secretary of the House Republican Conference
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2021
LeaderPaul Ryan
Kevin McCarthy
Preceded byVirginia Foxx
Succeeded byRichard Hudson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 4, 2013
Preceded byJo Ann Emerson
Member of the
Missouri House of Representatives
In office
November 14, 2005 – June 4, 2013
Preceded byFrank Barnitz
Succeeded byShawn Sisco
Constituency150th district (2005–2013)
120th district (2013)
Personal details
Born
Jason Thomas Smith

(1980-06-16) June 16, 1980 (age 41)
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Missouri (BS)
Oklahoma City University (JD)
WebsiteHouse website

Jason Thomas Smith (born June 16, 1980) is an American businessman and politician who is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 8th congressional district, serving since 2013.[1] The district comprises 30 counties, covering just under 20,000 square miles of southeastern and southern Missouri.[2]

Before being elected to Congress, Smith served four full terms and one partial term in the Missouri House of Representatives, serving as the Majority Whip during the 96th Missouri General Assembly[3] and as Speaker Pro Tem during the 97th Missouri General Assembly.[4]

Early life, education, and business career[]

Jason Smith was born in St. Louis to Bill, a former minister and auto mechanic, and Mary, a former employee of Briggs & Stratton and dog breeder.[5][6][7] He graduated from Salem High School in 1998.[8]

At age 20, Smith earned two degrees from the University of Missouri: a Bachelor of Science in agriculture economics and a Bachelor of Science in business administration. He attended law school at Oklahoma City University. Smith is a licensed real estate agent, and formed his own small business specializing in property investment and development. He earned his Juris Doctorate in 2004.[9][10]

After passing the Missouri Bar in 2004, Smith practiced law at a local law firm in Cuba, Missouri. The farm, just outside Salem, has been in Smith's family for four generations. At this time, he was a co-owner of a dog breeding business his mother operated.[11]

Missouri House of Representatives[]

After State Representative Frank Barnitz resigned in 2005, Smith ran for Missouri's 150th Legislative District, which covered portions of Dent, Phelps, Crawford, and Reynolds counties. Smith defeated Democratic challenger Bobby Simpson 54%–44%.[12][13] At 25, Smith was just barely old enough to be a state representative and became the youngest member of the Missouri House of Representatives. During his first year in office, he served as Majority Assistant Deputy Whip[14] and served on the Agriculture Policy Committee, Appropriations—Education Committee and the Judiciary Committee.[14]

One year after being elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in a special election, Smith defeated Democrat Jim O'Donnell 64%–32%. In his first full term, he served as the vice chair of the Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development.[15]

In his third election in just three years, Smith received 70% of the vote, defeating Democrat James D. Ellis in 2008 to secure his second full term in the Missouri House of Representatives.[16][17]

In November 2010, Smith was unopposed in his reelection campaign to his fourth full term to the Missouri House of Representatives.[18][19] After his reelection, he was elected by his peers to serve as one of the youngest Majority Whips to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives.[20]

In 2011, Smith sponsored legislation to repeal Proposition B, which governed animal husbandry and breeding practices. The legislation became law that year.[21][22][23]

Smith was again unopposed in his final election to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2012.[24] Upon the start of the 97th General Assembly in 2013, he was elected by his peers to serve as Speaker Pro Tem of the Missouri State House of Representatives.[25]

U.S. House of Representatives[]

Elections[]

2013 special election
Main article: 2013 Missouri's 8th congressional district special election

Smith ran for the vacant 8th congressional district of Missouri seat after U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson resigned to accept a CEO position with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Per Missouri statute, Smith was selected by the 8th District Republican Central Committee to be the party's nominee in the June special election. The selection process—which began with 27 candidates and narrowed to 13 on nomination day—lasted six total rounds before Smith was the last one standing as the Republican nominee on February 9, 2013. Some of the other candidates included State Representative Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff, former State Treasurer of Missouri and U.S. Representative Wendell Bailey, former State Senator Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, former State Treasurer of Missouri Sarah Steelman, State Representative Clint Tracy of Cape Girardeau, and State Senator Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau.

In the June special election, Smith was challenged by Democratic State Representative Steve Hodges of East Prairie, businessman Doug Enyart of the Constitution Party, and Libertarian Bill Slantz. He was declared the winner of the special election on June 4.[26] The election marked the 47th consecutive U.S. House race in Missouri in which Democrats failed to pick up a Republican-held seat dating back to 1994 – the second longest Democratic pick-up drought in the nation.[27]

2013 Special Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason T. Smith 42,141 67.14
Democratic Steve Hodges 17,207 27.42
Constitution Doug Enyart 2,265 3.61
Libertarian Bill Slantz 968 1.54
Write-in Others 185 0.29
2014

After an unopposed primary election on August 5, 2014[28] and 17 months after the special election, Smith was up for his first reelection on November 4, 2014. He won a five-way race with two-thirds of the vote and carried all 30 counties in the district.

Tenure[]

On March 8, 2017, Smith, during debate about a tanning salon tax under the Affordable Care Act, wondered aloud, "What I found on Google is roughly 80% of who's taxed is women... Today is International Women's Day. It's interesting no one is bringing that up." He continued, "You look at the number one cause of skin cancer... It's the sun. So I've noticed the people over here haven't found too many taxes they dislike. So why have they not proposed a tax on the sun?"[29][30]

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Smith had a role in writing and passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.[31][32]

On January 17, 2019, Smith shouted "Go back to Puerto Rico!" at House Democratic members on the House floor while Representative Tony Cardenas was presiding.[33][34] He later clarified and apologized to Cardenas and stated his remark was in reference to a recent trip taken to Puerto Rico by several lawmakers, including Cardenas, not to single out anyone's ethnicity.[35][36] His apology was accepted.[37]

2020 presidential election

In December 2020, Smith was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting certain voting procedures during the 2020 presidential election.[38] The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[39][40][41]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." She also reprimanded the House members, including Smith, who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[42][43]

Smith was present on the floor of the House chamber during the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.[44]

Smith opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandates, tweeting in July 2021, "The Biden administration wants to knock down your door KGB-style to force people to get vaccinated. We must oppose forced vaccination!"[45]

Committee assignments[]

Caucus memberships[]

Electoral history[]

2013 Special Election for U.S. Representative of Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason T. Smith 42,141 67.14
Democratic Steve Hodges 17,207 27.42
Constitution Doug Enyart 2,265 3.61
Libertarian Bill Slantz 968 1.54
Write-in Others 185 0.29
2014 Election for US Representative of Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason T. Smith 106,124 66.7
Democratic Barbara Stocker 60,535 24.7
Independent Terry Hampton 6,821 4.3
Libertarian Rick Vandeven 3,759 2.4
Constitution Doug Enyart 3,799 2.4
2016 Election for US Representative of Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason T. Smith 229,792 74.4
Democratic Dave Cowell 70,009 22.7
Libertarian Jonathan Lee Shell 9,070 2.9
2018 Election for US Representative of Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason T. Smith 180,271 73.7
Democratic Kathy Ellis 60,535 24.7
Libertarian Jonathan Lee Shell 3,863 1.6
2020 Election for US Representative of Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason T. Smith 253,811 76.9
Democratic Kathy Ellis 70,561 21.4
Libertarian Tom Schmitz 5,854 1.8

Personal life[]

Smith is unmarried[55] and is a member of the Grace Community Church in Salem. He is a close friend of former representatives Kristi Noem[56] and Aaron Schock[57][58] and Representative Markwayne Mullin.[59][60][61]

Smith is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.[62] He attends Grace Community Church in Salem, an Assemblies of God Church.[63] He was a board member of the Missouri Community Betterment Association, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and president of the Salem FFA Association.[64][65]

References[]

  1. ^ Sullivan, Sean (June 4, 2013). "Jason Smith wins Missouri special election". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ "113th Congress of the United States, Missouri - Congressional District 8" (PDF). United States Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Census Bureau. January 1, 2010.
  3. ^ "Representative Jason Smith". mo.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  4. ^ "10 Things to Know About Jason Smith #MO08". Roll Call. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bill Smith". thesalemnewsonline.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. ^ vyoung@post-dispatch.com > 573-635-6178, VIRGINIA YOUNG •. "Report: House leader has tie to dog-breeding business". STLtoday.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  7. ^ Blanck, Lisa (2016). "Missouri Puppy Miller, Congressman's Mother, Loses Defamation Suit Against HSUS".
  8. ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  10. ^ JENKINS 573-518-3614, KEVIN R. "Two challenging Rep. Smith". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "FindLaw's Supreme Court of Missouri case and opinions". Findlaw. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns – MO State House 150 – Special Election Race – Nov 08, 2005". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  13. ^ "SOS, Missouri – Elections: Special Election – November 8, 2005 – District 150, Missouri House of Representatives". mo.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Missouri House of Representatives". www.house.mo.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  15. ^ "Missouri House of Representatives". www.house.mo.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  16. ^ "Our Campaigns – MO State House 150 Race – Nov 04, 2008". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  17. ^ "State of Missouri - Election Night Results". Missouri Secretary of State - IT.
  18. ^ "State of Missouri - Election Night Results". Missouri Secretary of State - IT.
  19. ^ "Our Campaigns – MO State House 150 Race – Nov 02, 2010". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  20. ^ "Missouri House of Representatives". www.house.mo.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  21. ^ Rupp, Kelsey (February 12, 2017). "Puppy mills aren't partisan: Animal abuse deserves scrutiny". TheHill. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  22. ^ "Mo. Senate passes reversal of Proposition B". St. Louis Public Radio. March 10, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  23. ^ Group, Sinclair Broadcast (February 23, 2011). "Lawmaker could benefit from Prop. B repeal". KRCG. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  24. ^ "Our Campaigns - MO State House 120 Race - Nov 06, 2012". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  25. ^ "Our Campaigns - MO State House Speaker Pro Tem Race - Jan 09, 2013". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  26. ^ "SOS, Missouri - Elections: Special Election - June 4, 2013 – U.S. Congress, District 8". www.sos.mo.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  27. ^ Ostermeier, Eric (June 5, 2013). "Missouri Democratic US House Pick-Up Drought Extends to 47". Smart Politics.
  28. ^ "State of Missouri - Election Night Results". enrarchives.sos.mo.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  29. ^ Holmes, Jack (March 9, 2017). "Watch This Republican Congressman Call for Taxing the Sun". Esquire. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  30. ^ "GOP rep wonders why Obamacare taxes tanning salons instead of the sun". Death and Taxes. March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  31. ^ Wicentowski, Danny (December 19, 2017). "All 6 GOP Reps in Missouri Voted for That Crazy 'Tax Reform'". River Front Times.
  32. ^ "Estate Tax Repeal". www.fb.org. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  33. ^ Raasch, Chuck. "In heated moment, Missouri lawmaker yells 'go back to Puerto Rico' to House Democrats". STLtoday.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  34. ^ Scholtes, Jennifer; Emma, Caitlin; Ferris, Sarah. "GOP Rep. Jason Smith tells Democrats to 'go back to Puerto Rico!'". POLITICO. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  35. ^ Weigel, David (January 14, 2019). "Democratic delegation's trip to Puerto Rico becomes a target for Trump". The Washington Post.
  36. ^ "Ozarks Congressman Jason Smith apologizes for yelling, 'Go back to Puerto Rico'". KY3. January 18, 2019.
  37. ^ Cohn, Alicia (January 17, 2019). "Democrat responds to being told 'go back to Puerto Rico' on House floor". TheHill. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  38. ^ Johnson, Mike (December 10, 2020). "Motion for Leave to File Brief Amicus Curiae and Brief Amicus Curiae of U.S. Representative Mike Johnson and 105 Other Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in Support of Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint and Motion for a Preliminary Injunction" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States.
  39. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  40. ^ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  41. ^ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  42. ^ Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  43. ^ "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  44. ^ R-MO, U. S. Rep Jason Smith. "Congressman Smith Capitol Report: What I Witnessed". The Rolla Daily News - Rolla, MO. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  45. ^ Nast, Condé (August 6, 2021). "The Struggle to Vaccinate Springfield, Missouri". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  46. ^ Homan, Timothy R. (December 1, 2020). "Jason Smith set to serve as top Republican on House Budget Committee". TheHill. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  47. ^ "Committee Membership". U.S. House Committee on the Budget. January 2021.
  48. ^ Dunn, Rachael Herndon (November 20, 2014). "Smith has historic rise to Ways and Means". The Missouri Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  49. ^ "Health Subcommittee". Ways and Means Republicans. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  50. ^ "Column: Congressman Jason Smith: "Making Washington more like Missouri"". The Missouri Times. August 14, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  51. ^ Gerstein, Josh. "Holder at center of marijuana debate". POLITICO. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  52. ^ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  53. ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  54. ^ "Members". U.S. - Japan Caucus. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  55. ^ Becker, Kristen (October 25, 2013). "Smith". TheHill. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  56. ^ correspondent, Sarah Mearhoff Journal. "Noem sworn in as South Dakota's first female governor". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  57. ^ Sherman, Jake; Palmer, Anna; Bresnahan, John. "Aaron Schock's final hours". POLITICO. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  58. ^ Swanson, Ian (September 18, 2015). "Smith-Schock ties attract scrutiny". TheHill. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  59. ^ McConnell, Tyler. "From Water Street to Washington: Salem's Jason Smith goes back to Capitol Hill". thesalemnewsonline.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  60. ^ "Rep. Markwayne Mullin describes coming face-to-face with rioters in Capitol". KJRH. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  61. ^ R-MO, U. S. Rep Jason Smith. "Congressman Smith Capitol Report: What I Witnessed". The Rolla Daily News - Rolla, MO. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  62. ^ "Smith leads effort to overturn ammunition and tackle ban – The Salem News Online, February 9, 2017 – Elect Jason Smith". Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  63. ^ JENKINS 573-518-3614, KEVIN R. "Two challenging Rep. Smith". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  64. ^ "Rooted in Agriculture – Missouri FFA and Agriculture Education". Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  65. ^ "Protect The Harvest Newsmakers - Jason Smith". Protect The Harvest. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

External links[]

Missouri House of Representatives
Preceded by
Frank Barnitz 		Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 150th district
2005–2013 		Succeeded by
Kent Hampton
Preceded by
Scott Largent 		Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 120th district
2013 		Succeeded by
Shawn Sisco
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jo Ann Emerson 		Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 8th congressional district
2013–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Virginia Foxx 		Secretary of the House Republican Conference
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Rich Hudson
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Robin Kelly 		United States representatives by seniority
200th 		Succeeded by
Katherine Clark
  • v
  • t
Missouri's delegation(s) to the 113th–present United States Congress (ordered by seniority)
113th
Senate:
  • ▌C. McCaskill (D)
  • ▌R. Blunt (R)
House:
  • ▌J. Emerson (R)
  • ▌W. L. Clay (D)
  • ▌S. Graves (R)
  • ▌E. Cleaver (D)
  • ▌B. Luetkemeyer (R)
  • ▌V. Hartzler (R)
  • ▌B. Long (R)
  • ▌A. Wagner (R)
  • ▌J. Smith (R)
114th
Senate:
  • ▌C. McCaskill (D)
  • ▌R. Blunt (R)
House:
  • ▌W. L. Clay (D)
  • ▌S. Graves (R)
  • ▌E. Cleaver (D)
  • ▌B. Luetkemeyer (R)
  • ▌V. Hartzler (R)
  • ▌B. Long (R)
  • ▌A. Wagner (R)
  • ▌J. Smith (R)
115th
Senate:
  • ▌C. McCaskill (D)
  • ▌R. Blunt (R)
House:
  • ▌W. L. Clay (D)
  • ▌S. Graves (R)
  • ▌E. Cleaver (D)
  • ▌B. Luetkemeyer (R)
  • ▌V. Hartzler (R)
  • ▌B. Long (R)
  • ▌A. Wagner (R)
  • ▌J. Smith (R)
116th
Senate:
  • ▌R. Blunt (R)
  • ▌J. Hawley (R)
House:
  • ▌W. L. Clay (D)
  • ▌S. Graves (R)
  • ▌E. Cleaver (D)
  • ▌B. Luetkemeyer (R)
  • ▌V. Hartzler (R)
  • ▌B. Long (R)
  • ▌A. Wagner (R)
  • ▌J. Smith (R)
117th
Senate:
  • ▌R. Blunt (R)
  • ▌J. Hawley (R)
House:
  • ▌S. Graves (R)
  • ▌E. Cleaver (D)
  • ▌B. Luetkemeyer (R)
  • ▌V. Hartzler (R)
  • ▌B. Long (R)
  • ▌A. Wagner (R)
  • ▌J. Smith (R)
  • ▌C. Bush (D)
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