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Meet Your Rep

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Meet Your Rep
Meet Your Rep I reside in California's 6th district and Doris O. Matsui is the congresswoman for this district. She was elected when she ran for the open seat that was created upon her husband's (Robert Matsui) death in January 2005. Each district now represents more than 700,000 constituents rather than the original 30,000 as intended by the Framers of the Constitution, because of a 1929 law that changed the procedure and froze the House of Representatives to its 435 member level. (Levin-Waldman, 2012). Until 1929 it was growing every census as populations grew. Matsui's district is not so much Gerrymandered as it is simply been held by the Democrats since the mid 1970's. and the name recognition gained by her husband Robert Matsui. The issue I took from her website is that of Transportation as it has the most effect upon me personally. On this one particular issue I believe she has done quite well. She introduced HB 2468, the Safe Streets Act to the 113th Congress and she has been a strong "advocate for a federal complete streets policy that would ensure our roadways are designed with all users in mind – including bicyclists and pedestrians, children, seniors, and the disabled." (Matsui, 2014). Her biggest failing is that she is beholding to her Democratic Party and she does not consider her entire constituency as a whole. The Democratic Party has considered this district Safe for four decades and it is unlikely to see any new blood enter the ring so to speak any time soon. Doris married into and then inherited the district from her husband and it is safe to say the district has her until death do us part as well. I never vote based on one issue and although I feel she represents this issue quite well, I am highly unlikely to ever vote for her. Reference
Levin-Waldman, O. M. (2012). American government. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. http://matsui.house.gov/transportation/

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