113th Congress: Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif. (1st District)

By Anne L. Kim, CQ Staff

Doug LaMalfa is a proponent of less government regulation as well as more local and individual autonomy.

His experience in the California Legislature perhaps has contributed to his questioning the effectiveness of solving problems through legislation. He argues that while sometimes laws might be the solution, in many instances change can be made by reeling in government regulators.

He doesn’t think Washington should drive education policy and questions the cost-effectiveness of the government’s role in constructing highways and large infrastructure projects. LaMalfa wants to see devolution of federal land ownership to states and private entities. He maintains that the government’s purview should be limited to core constitutional duties such as border defense and public safety.

His priorities in Congress include balancing the budget and reducing federal spending. He also seeks a an energy policy that opens up domestic oil drilling and includes clean coal, nuclear power and hydropower.

LaMalfa is likely to seek assignments on committees dealing with agriculture, energy and natural resources, focusing on water storage, timber land management, domestic mineral mining, trade and agriculture regulations.

LaMalfa has been a strong opponent of California’s high-speed rail project, arguing that it is not cost effective.

Like most Republicans, he says he will seek to defund or repeal the 2010 health care law.