Bob Beauprez
Robert L. Beauprez (born September 22 1948) is an American politician who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing (although he currently spends most of his time running for governor) the 7th Congressional District of Colorado (map). The seventh district was newly created by redistricting, which added an extra seat to Colorado. Beauprez narrowly won by 121 votes. In the House, Beauprez serves on the Ways and Means Committee.
After he, his father, and his brother retired in 1990 from the family cattle farm, Beauprez bought into a local bank, which has since expanded from one location to a dozen. Beauprez then set about developing the farm. Beauprez ran unopposed to become Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party from 1999 to 2002.
Beauprez is an extremely moderate Republican candidate in Colorado's 2006 gubernatorial race, and has been endorsed in the Republican primary by sitting governor Bill Owens (Owens supported Beauprez after endorsing the largest tax increase in the states history). His chief primary opponent is Marc Holtzman. Beauprez is allegedly coordinating a lawsuit filed by lobbyist Steve Durham aimed at Holtzman.
Beauprez was a recipient of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC campaign contributions. Beauprez was very closely associated to Delay and Lobbyist Jack Abramoff.DeLay is being prosecuted on charges of felony money laundering of campaign finances and conspiracy to launder money. To date, Beauprez has not offered to return or donate to charity any of the $30,000 he received, despite calls from Democrats to do so. [1]
Military uniform outraged veterans
On February 2, 2006, veterans called on Beauprez to apologize for publicly wearing and being widely photographed in a military-issued uniform, even though he had never served in the military. He had requested and received three draft deferments and then a medical release during the Vietnam War. [2]
"We are calling on Mr. Beauprez to apologize for misleading us," stated retired Sergeant Jim Hudson, a Vietnam Veteran.[3]
"Mr. Beauprez appears to want it both ways: he publicly parades in a military-issued uniform, and yet the records show he never served," stated retired Staff Sergeant Michael D. Collins, a veteran who served in Vietnam with the 1st Air Calvary Division. "While Beauprez claims he's for veterans, he has the worst voting record on veterans' issues of any of the Colorado members of Congress."[4]