Political Science Pulse

Welcome to House Cleaning, 2018 edition. This series explores House of Representatives members who have either left Congress early or have decided not to seek re-election. This series covers what a Representative has accomplished in Congress from 2016 until they either resigned, decided not to seek re-election, or decided to seek higher office.

Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) was the Representative from Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District for three terms. During her last term, ending in 2018, she served on the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, as well as on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. She announced that she would not seek election on April 2, 2018.

One of her endorsers was EMILY’s List. She was named as one of “72 pro-choice Democratic women who need our help right now” on February 27th, 2018. She was also officially endorsed for the first time in January 2018 by the organization.

During her final term in office, from 2016-2018, she held multiple press conference on the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, press conference on preventing gun violations, also met with the Giffords Group, the pro-gun control group linked to Representative Gabby Giffords (D-AZ), who survived a shooting herself. She was also in favor of updating the nation’s infrastructure and was spotted at NARAL Pro-Choice America’s annual event, “The Power of Roe.”

On Abortion, the Representative voted against HR 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on October 3rd, 2017. This bill would make it a crime for anyone to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the fetus was 20 weeks or older, with exceptions being made to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.  The 20-week mark is when many pro-life Republicans believe that the fetus can feel pain, hence the name of this act. The bill passed the House by a 237-189 vote. The bill died in the Senate.

On the Economy, the Representative from Connecticut voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill passed the House, 227-205, and was signed into law by the President.

Elizabeth Esty voted for an aid package for Hurricane Harvey victims, called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017. This bill passed the House  316-90, and was signed into law by President Trump.

On Finance, Ms. Esty did not vote on the Financial CHOICE Act, which would change provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The bill passed the House, 233-186, largely on partisan lines.

On Foreign Policy, she did not vote on the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. This act would allow for Congress to review and counter acts of aggression by the governments of Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The bill passed almost unanimously, 419-3, on July 25th, 2017. It was later signed into law by the President.

On Health Care, Representative Esty also did not vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017, which would essentially turn Obamacare into Trumpcare. The bill passed the House, 217-213, along partisan lines. The law eventually died in the Senate.

On Immigration, she did not vote on Kate’s Law on June 29th, 2017. This bill would provide an increase in penalty severity for illegal immigrants who are convicted of certain crimes, are deported, and then re-enter the U.S. illegally. The law’s namesake is Kate Steinle, who was allegedly shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had seven felonies. This law passed the House 257-167, but died in the Senate. The alleged murderer was later acquitted after the vote, which essentially removes any legal connection it would have had with the illegal immigrant.

She also did not vote on the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act on June 29th, 2017. This bill would withhold federal funds from states and localities that are “sanctuary cities/states” for illegal immigrants. The bill passed the House, 228-195. The law died in the Senate.

The primary reason that Rep. Esty left office was due to a scandal that involved her former chief of staff, Tony Baker. Baker was fired in 2016 following allegations that he punched, screamed at, and threatened the life of a formal female staffer. He also called her roughly 50 times and left messages where he threatened to find and kill her. A temporary protection order and a year-long civil protection order was issued as a result.

Media and by fellow politicians criticized her response to the allegations against Baker, especially because she recommended Baker for a job at Sandy Hook Promise as the Ohio state director and paid him a severance worth $5,000.

Esty accepted the blame for her mishandling of the situation, but noted that the payment and job recommendation were “an outgrowth of the House counsel’s recommendation to reach a nondisclosure agreement with Baker and ease his transition into the world outside Capitol Hill,” according to Dan Freedman of the Connecticut Post.

The local politicians and newspapers were not having her explanation. The Hartford Courant, a newspaper, called on her to resign. Democratic state Senator Mae Flexer (D-CT) also called her to resign, noting that “the congresswoman failed her staff on every level when she decided to protect an alleged abuser instead of them.”

State Senate Pro Tem Martin Looney (D-CT) also called on her to resign, noting that “if the facts of this matter involving former staff of the congresswoman’s office are as they are alleged to be in recent news articles, then Congresswoman Esty should also do the right thing and resign.”

After vowing to “do better,” she stated that she would not run for re-election on Facebook:

I have determined that it is in the best interest of my constituents and my family to end my time in Congress at the end of this year and not seek re-election. Too many women have been harmed by harassment in the workplace. In this terrible situation in my office, I could have and should have done better.

Ms. Esty’s successor is Jahana Hayes (D-CT). She cross-filed with the Working Families Party when she ran for office. She is currently a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor and the House Committee on Agriculture.

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