Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Tammy Baldwin

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Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator-elect
from Wisconsin
Taking office
January 3, 2013
Succeeding Herb Kohl
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 1999
Preceded by Scott L. Klug
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 78th district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by David Clarenbach
Succeeded by Mark Pocan
Personal details
Born Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin
February 11, 1962 (age 50)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party Democratic Party
Alma mater Smith College
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Website House website
Campaign website
Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, serving since 1999. She is a member of the Democratic Party. On November 6, 2012, Baldwin won the United States Senate election in Wisconsin, becoming the first openly gay Senator-elect.

Contents

Early life, education, and early political career

Baldwin was born and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of Pamela (née Green) and Joseph Edward Baldwin. She was raised by her mother and her maternal grandparents.[1][2] Her maternal grandfather was Jewish (the son of immigrants from Russia and Germany) and her maternal grandmother, who was Anglican, was English-born.[3] Baldwin is a third cousin of actor and comedian Andy Samberg (their maternal grandfathers were first cousins).[4] Baldwin graduated from Madison West High School in 1980 as the class valedictorian. She earned a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1984 and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989.[5] She practiced law between 1989–1992.[6]
Baldwin was first elected to political office in 1986 when she was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors, a position that she held until 1994. She also served for one year on the Madison City Council to fill a vacancy in the coterminous district.[citation needed]
For fifteen years, her domestic partner was Lauren Azar, until the couple separated in 2010.[7] In 2009, the couple had registered as domestic partners in Wisconsin.[8]

Wisconsin Assembly (1993–1999)

Elections

In 1992, she ran for Wisconsin's 78th Assembly District. She won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 43% of the vote.[9] In the general election, she defeated Mary Kay Baum (Labor and Farm party nominee) and Patricia Hevenor (Republican party nominee) 59%-23%-17%.[10] She was one of just six openly gay political candidates nationwide to win a general election in 1992.[11]
In 1994, she won re-election to a second term with 76% of the vote.[12] In 1996, she won re-election to a third term with 71% of the vote.[13]

Tenure

She was the first openly lesbian member of the Wisconsin Assembly and was one of the very few openly gay politicians in the country at the time. In 1993, Baldwin said she was disappointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton's compromise on LGBT rights by supporting don't ask, don't tell policy of the military.[14] In early 1994, she proposed legalizing gay marriage in Wisconsin.[15][16] In 1995, she proposed Domestic partnerships in Wisconsin.[17]
Baldwin opposed capital punishment in Wisconsin.[18]

Committee assignments

  • Criminal Justice Committee[19]
  • Education Committee (Chair)[20]

U.S. House of Representatives (1999–present)

Tammy Baldwin presiding over the House while serving as Speaker Pro Tempore

Elections

In 1998, Rep. Scott Klug of the 2nd District, based in Madison, announced he would retire, prompting Baldwin to run for the seat. She won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 37% of the vote.[21] In the general election, she defeated Republican nominee Josephine Musser 53%-47%.[22]
Baldwin was the first woman elected to Congress from the state of Wisconsin. She was also the first openly gay non-incumbent elected to the House of Representatives.[23]
In 2000, she won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican John Sharpless 51%-49%, a difference of 8,902 votes. She won only one of nine counties in the district, Dane County, in which she took 55% of the vote, enough for her to win.[24]
In 2002, she won re-election to a third term in the newly redrawn 2nd district with 66% of the vote against Republican Ron Greer.[25] In 2004, she beat Dave Magnum 63%-37%.[26] She won a 2006 rematch against Magnum, again winning 63%-37%.[27] In 2008, she won 69%-31% against Peter Theron.[28] She won re-election to a seventh term with 62% of the vote against Chad Lee.[29]

Committee assignments

Political positions

Ideology

In October 2012, Baldwin described herself as a proud progressive. Specifically, she said, “Fighting Bob La Follette stood up to fight the monopolies of the day and wanted people to have a stronger voice. We have the same powerful interests today who think they can write their own rules in Washington … I consider myself a progressive and a fighter who’s not afraid to stand up to those interests.” [30]
In a 2010 ranking of House members done by the National Journal, Baldwin tied with six other representatives as most liberal. The rankings were based on an analysis of 93 votes designed to capture ideological differences. Most of the votes were on economic issues.[citation needed]

Opposition to Iraq War

On October 10, 2002, Baldwin was among the 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq. She described the 'postwar challenges,' saying 'there is no history of democratic government in Iraq,' that its 'economy and infrastructure are in ruins after years of war and sanctions,' and that rebuilding would take 'a great deal of money.'[31] In 2005 she joined the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus.[citation needed]

Progressive Caucus and Progressive Majority

In 2003 Baldwin served on the advisory committee of the Progressive Majority, a political networking group dedicated to electing progressive candidates to public office.[32]
Baldwin is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. According to a 2011 survey by the National Journal, Baldwin is among the most liberal members of the House.[32]

Impeachment of Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzales

On August 1, 2007, Baldwin signed on to co-sponsor H. Res. 333, a bill proposing articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney and H Res. 589, a bill proposing the impeachment of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. On January 20, 2008, Baldwin wrote in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that on Dec. 14, 2007, “I joined with my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee, Reps. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), in urging Chairman Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) to conduct hearings on a resolution of impeachment now pending consideration in that committee.” Although some constituents “say I have gone too far,” others “argue I have not gone far enough” and feel “we are losing our democracy and that I should do more to hold the Bush administration accountable for its actions.”[33]
Baldwin speaks during the second day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Health care reform

An outspoken advocate of a single-payer, government-run health-care since her days as a state legislator, Baldwin introduced the Health Security for All Americans Act, aimed at creating such a system, multiple times beginning in 2000.[citation needed]
On July 26, 2004, Baldwin spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in prime time on the issue of health care. During the 110th Congress, Baldwin wrote several pieces of legislation that were passed by the House. The Reeve Paralysis Act authorizes additional funding for the treatment of ailments that result in immobility, while the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Act increases funding for low-income women to receive preventative screenings. Another bill that she authored, the Veteran Vision Equity Act, guarantees benefits for military veterans.[34]
In November 2009 she voted for the version of healthcare reform that passed in the House and included a public option, a government-run healthcare plan that would have competed with private insurers. She ultimately voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that become law in 2010.[citation needed]

Women's rights

Baldwin has lent her support to such initiatives as the Equal Pay Act (EPA) and has voted for the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.[35][36] These acts criminalize and outline prosecution guidelines and punishments for wage discrimination based on sex. She received a grade of 100 from the League of Women Voters as of 2007.[37] She has received favorable evaluations from other civil rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union.[37]
Baldwin has also advanced what she sees as stronger enforcement of laws against sexual violence and violence against women.[35] She is a supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, which allowed victims of sexual violence and other sexual crimes to take their cases to federal courts and provided funding for various anti-sexual violence initiatives and programs. She is also among the sponsors of a resolution to promote and support National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.[35]
Baldwin has also promoted her efforts on behalf of women's health and reproductive rights.[35] She sponsored the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, which helped low-income, underinsured, and uninsured women pay for cervical and breast cancer-related medical services.[35][38]

Resolution on 9/11 victims

Baldwin was one of 22 members of Congress to vote against a 2006 resolution honoring victims of the September 11 attacks on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. (The resolution passed 395-22.) Baldwin says that she voted against the resolution because she said it used divisive language that amounted to an endorsement of the Patriot Act and immigration bills that she characterized as overly harsh.[39][40]
Her vote received renewed attention in the 2012 U.S. Senate campaign when Tommy Thompson's campaign released an ad about it. Thompson said in a statement, "Wisconsin voters need to know that Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin put her extreme views above honoring the men and women who were murdered by the terrorists in the Sept. 11 attacks on our nation.”[39] The Baldwin campaign responded by saying Thompson's ad was a “dishonest attack that tries to suggest Tammy Baldwin opposes honoring the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”[39]

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 2012
Baldwin is the Democratic nominee, running against Republican nominee Tommy Thompson. She announced her candidacy on September 6, 2011, in a video emailed to supporters.[41] If elected, Baldwin would become the first openly LGBT member of the US Senate.[42] She has been endorsed by Democracy for America, and she has received campaign funding from EMILY's List, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and LPAC.[43] Baldwin has also been endorsed by the editorial board of The Capital Times, who wrote that "Baldwin’s fresh ideas on issues ranging from job creation to health care reform, along with her proven record of working across lines of partisanship and ideology, and her grace under pressure mark her as precisely the right choice to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl."[44]
Baldwin spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention about tax policy, campaign finance reform, and equality in the United States.[45]
The two nominees faced off in their first debate September 28, 2012. Baldwin advocated for allowing Bush tax cuts to expire and supported legislation to adopt the Buffet Rule.[46] Thompson criticized Baldwin passing only three bills out of 105 sponsored.[47]
On November 6, 2012, Democratic candidate Tammy Baldwin won election to the Senate, the first openly gay candidate to do so.

Electoral history

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 1998 [48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 116,377 52.49% +11.49

Republican Josephine Musser 103,528 46.69% -10.68%

Write-ins
1,578 0.80% +0.76%
Turnout 221,693
-21.50%

Democratic gain from Republican Swing

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2000 [49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 163,534 51.36% -1.13%

Republican John Sharpless 154,632 48.56% +2.07%

Write-ins
214 0.06% -0.70%
Turnout 318,380
+30.36

Democratic hold Swing

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2002 [50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 163,313 66.00% +14.64

Republican Ron Greer 83,694 33.82% -14.74%

Write-ins
403 0.16% +0.10
Turnout 247,410
-28.68%

Democratic hold Swing

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2004 [51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 251,637 63.26% -2.74%

Republican Dave Magnum 145,810 36.66% +2.84%

Write-ins
277 0.06% -0.10%
Turnout 397,724
+37.79%

Democratic hold Swing

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2006 [52]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 191,414 62.82% -0.56%

Republican Dave Magnum 113,015 37.09% +0.53%

Write-ins
259 0.08% +0.02%
Turnout 304,688
-23.39%

Democratic hold Swing

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2008 [53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 277,914 69.33% +6.51%

Republican Peter Theron 122,513 30.56% 6.53%

Write-ins
414 0.10%
Turnout 400,841
+23.98%

Democratic hold Swing

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2010 [54]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%

Democratic Tammy Baldwin 191,164 61.73% -7.60%

Republican Chad Lee 118,099 38.16% +7.60%

Write-ins
197 0.06% -0.04%
Turnout 309,460
-22.79%

Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  2. ^ Baldwin, Tammy. "About". Friends of Tammy Baldwin. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  3. ^ Roehr, Bob (June 14, 2007). "Marriage activists mark Loving anniversary". The Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  4. ^ http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/i/s/Stuart-Liss-CO/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0276.html
  5. ^ "Tammy Baldwin's Biography on TammyBaldwin.com (pertaining to education)". Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  6. ^ "Biography on http://tammybaldwin.house.gov". Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  7. ^ "Wis. congresswoman separates from longtime partner". WQOW. May 29, 2010.
  8. ^ Emily Miller (4 June 2010). "Lesbian Congresswoman Splits With Domestic Partner". Human Events.
  9. ^ "WI State House 78 - D Primary Race - Sep 08, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  10. ^ "WI State House 78 Race - Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  11. ^ "AIDS, gay rights top agenda". The Telegraph-Herald. January 4, 1993.
  12. ^ "WI State House 78 Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  13. ^ "WI State House 78 Race - Nov 05, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  14. ^ "Baldwin disappointed with Clinton compromise". The Milwaukee Journal. July 20, 1993.
  15. ^ Weintraub, Joanne (February 11, 1994). "Activist denounces move to legalize gay marriages". The Milwaukee Journal.
  16. ^ "Lesbian can't adopt child". The Milwaukee Sentinel. June 9, 1994.
  17. ^ "Benefits/ Mates gain coverage". The Milwaukee Journal. July 17, 1995.
  18. ^ "JSOnline.com News Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 1994-09-16. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "'Pre-emption bill' deserves to be shot down". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 3, 1995.
  20. ^ "Former prisoners blast, laud prison 'boot camp'". The Telegraph-Herald. December 17, 1993.
  21. ^ "WI - District 02 - D Primary Race - Sep 08, 1998". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  22. ^ "WI District 2 Race - Nov 03, 1998". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  23. ^ [1]
  24. ^ "WI District 2 Race - Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  25. ^ "WI District 2 Race - Nov 05, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  26. ^ "WI - District 02 Race - Nov 02, 2004". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  27. ^ "WI - District 02 Race - Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  28. ^ "WI - District 02 Race - Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  29. ^ "WI - District 02 Race - Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  30. ^ [2]
  31. ^ Pincus, Walter. "Democrats Who Opposed War Move Into Key Positions". Washington Post.
  32. ^ a b "Vote Ratings 2010". National Journal. Atlantic Media. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  33. ^ Tammy Baldwin (Jan. 20, 2008). "Impeachment resolution a matter of accountability". JSOnline. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  34. ^ "Congresswoman Tamy Baldwin - About Tammy". Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin - Women's Rights". Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  36. ^ "S.181 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress".
  37. ^ a b "Project Vote Smart - Representative Tammy Baldwin - Interest Group Ratings". Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  38. ^ "H.R. 1132 (110th): National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (GovTrack.us)". Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  39. ^ a b c Thompson ad attacks Baldwin on 9-11 vote
  40. ^ [3]
  41. ^ Glauber, Bill (September 6, 2011). "Tammy Baldwin enters race for open Senate seat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  42. ^ Weiner, Rachel (September 13, 2011). "Will Tammy Baldwin be the first gay senator". Washingtonpost.org. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  43. ^ Craver, Jack (September 5, 2012). "Can Tammy Win?". Capital Times. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  44. ^ "Baldwin offers integrity and independence". The Capital Times. October 24, 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  45. ^ "Tammy Baldwin at the 2012 Democratic National Convention". September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  46. ^ Stein, Jason, and Lee Bergquist. “Baldwin, Thompson Spar on Their Records, Nation’s Future.” JSOnline.com, September 28, 2012. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/baldwin-thomson-spar-on-their-records-nations-future-j271k4f-171880811.html.
  47. ^ Kertscher, Tom. “Tommy Vs. Tammy: A US Senate Debate Primer.” PolitiFact Wisconsin, September 27, 2012. http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/article/2012/sep/27/tommy-vs-tammy-us-senate-debate-primer/.
  48. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 1998
  49. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2000
  50. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2002
  51. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2004
  52. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
  53. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
  54. ^ Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district election, 2010

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