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Money and Politics ... USA |
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COMMENTARY I contrast my own experience with the experience of the members of the US Debt Super Committee, and I am appalled. The US political system has been hijacked not only by the money from lobbyists, but by people trained in law, and experience in not much but politics.
Obviously I have a bias ... but the absence of people with much background in engineering and accountancy is a nonsense, and not easily rectified simply by calling for background material in these areas.
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The Money Behind the Mediators: Profiles of the Debt Supercommittee In August 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the Budget Control Act, which raised the debt ceiling of the United States and called for the creation of a new congressional committee tasked with producing legislation to reduce the national deficit by $1.5 trillion. This new group is officially known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Unofficially, it's been dubbed the 'super Congress' or 'Supercommittee.' Whatever you call it, it's going to be the target of a lobbying bonanza, as special interest groups work to keep their pet projects off the chopping block. Below, OpenSecrets.org helps you explore the money-in-politics connections that each of the 12 members of this Supercommittee bring to the table. And go here to learn more about the call for transparency in the supercommittee's work. The members of this committee have raised around $100 million during their careers according to the OpenSecrets data some of which is copied into the following page: Influence of Money on the Super Committee These are the members: From the SENATE Patty Murray of Washington, Co-Chair John Kerry of Massachusetts Max Baucus of Montana Jon Kyl of Arizona Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania Rob Portman of Ohio From the HOUSE Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Co-Chair Dave Camp of Michigan Fred Upton of Michigan James Clyburn of South Carolina Xavier Becerra of California Chris Van Hollen of Maryland These the short bios from the Congressional bio website with links plus links to WikiPedia From the SENATE Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, Co-Chair
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Murray
MURRAY, Patty, a Senator from Washington; born in Seattle, King County, Wash., October 11, 1950; graduated, Washington State University 1972; education volunteer 1977-1984; instructor, Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, Wash., 1984-1987; citizen lobbyist for environmental and educational issues 1983-1988; member, board of directors, Shoreline School District 1985-1989, serving as president and legislative representative for two terms; member, Washington state senate 1988-1992, Democratic whip 1990-1992; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1992; reelected in 1998, 2004 and again in 2010 for the term ending January 3, 2017; chairwoman, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2001-2003, 2011-), Committee on Veterans Affairs (One Hundred Twelfth Congress; Democratic Conference secretary (2007-).
TBM/PB note: Training in Education Career in Education Elected into Politics Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry
KERRY, John Forbes, a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Fitzsimons Army Hospital (Colorado), December 11, 1943; graduated, St. Paul’s School, Concord, N.H., 1962; graduated, Yale University 1966; served in the United States Navy 1966-1970, with service in Vietnam; graduated, Boston College Law School 1976; admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1976 and commenced practice in 1976; assistant district attorney of Middlesex County, Mass. 1977-1982; lieutenant governor of Massachusetts 1982-1984; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1984; reelected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and again in 2008 for the term ending January 3, 2015; chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (One Hundredth Congress), Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3-20, 2001; June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003], One Hundred Tenth Congress), Committee on Foreign Relations (One Hundred Eleventh and One Hundred Twelfth Congresses); Democratic candidate for U.S. president, 2004.
TBM/PB note: Family wealth. Trained in political science. Career in politics. Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Baucus
BAUCUS, Max Sieben, a Senator and a Representative from Montana; born in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Mont., December 11, 1941; attended the public schools of Missoula and Helena, Mont.; attended Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. 1959-1960; graduated, Stanford (Calif.) University 1964 and Stanford University Law School 1967; admitted to the Montana Bar in 1969 and commenced practice in Washington, D.C. with various federal agencies; returned to Montana and practiced law in Missoula; served in the Montana house of representatives 1973-1974; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974; reelected to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1975, until his resignation December 14, 1978; was not a candidate in 1978 for reelection to the House of Representatives, but was elected as a Democrat on November 7, 1978 to the United States Senate for the term commencing January 3, 1979; subsequently appointed by the Governor on December 15, 1978 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Paul Hatfield for the term ending January 3, 1979; reelected in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and again in 2008 for the term ending January 3, 2015; chair, Committee on Environment and Public Works (One Hundred Third Congress), Committee on Finance (One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3-20, 2001; June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003], One Hundred Tenth to One Hundred Twelfth Congresses); vice chair, Joint Committee on Taxation (One Hundred Seventh Congress, One Hundred Eleventh Congress). TBM/PB note: Family land wealthy Lawyer by training. Career Politician Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kyl
KYL, Jon Llewellyn, (son of John Henry Kyl), a Senator and a Representative from Arizona; born in Oakland, Nebr., April 25, 1942; B.A., University of Arizona, Tucson 1964; LL.B., University of Arizona 1966; admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1966 and practiced law as a member of Jennings, Strouss and Salmon, in Phoenix 1966-1986; chairman, Phoenix Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 1984-1985; elected as a Republican to the One Hundredth and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1987-January 3, 1995); was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives in 1994; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1994 and reelected in 2000, and again in 2006 for the term ending January 3, 2013; Republican party whip (2007-); chair, Republican Policy Committee (2003-2007), Republican Conference (2007). TBM/PB note: Lawyer by training. Career Lobbyist and Politician Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Toomey
TOOMEY, Patrick Joseph, a Senator and a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Providence, Providence County, R.I., November 17, 1961; graduated from LaSalle Academy, Providence, R.I.; graduated Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., B.A., 1984; elected to Allentown, Pa., Government Study Commission 1994; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Sixth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1999-January 3, 2005); was not a candidate for reelection in 2004, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate; elected as a Republican to the United States in 2010 for the term ending January 3, 2017. TBM/PB note: Trained in Government. Career in Finance. Elected to Politices Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Portman
PORTMAN, Robert Jones (Rob), a Senator and a Representative from Ohio; born in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, December 19, 1955; graduated from the Cincinnati Country Day School, Cincinnati, Ohio; graduated Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., B.A., 1979; graduated University of Michigan School of Law, Ann Arbor, Mich., J.D., 1984; associate counsel to President George H. W. Bush 1989; deputy assistant and director, Office of Legislative Affairs, White House Office 1989-1991; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Third Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Willis D. Gradison, Jr.; reelected to the six succeeding Congresses until his resignation on April 29, 2005 (May 4, 1993-April 29, 2005); U.S. Trade Representative, in the cabinet of President of George W. Bush 2005-2006; Director, Office of Management and Budget, in the cabinet of President George W. Bush 2006-2007; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2010 for the term ending January 3, 2017. TBM/PB note: Trained in anthropolgy and law, Career in trade law Elected to Politics From the HOUSE Republican Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Co-Chair
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeb_Hensarling
HENSARLING, Jeb, a Representative from Texas; born in Stephenville, Erath County, Tex., on May 29, 1957; B.A., Texas A&M University, 1979; J.D., University of Texas, Austin, Tex., 1982; lawyer, private practice; staff, United States Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, 1985-1989; business executive; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2003-present); chair, House Republican Conference (One Hundred Twelfth Congress). TBM/PB note: Trained as a lawyer, Career in Texas companies, Elected to Politics Republican Congressman Dave Camp of Michigan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Camp
CAMP, David Lee, a Representative from Michigan; born in Midland, Midland County, Mich., July 9, 1953; graduated from Midland Dow High School, Midland, Mich.; attended the University of Sussex, Brighton, England, 1973-1974; B.A., Albion College, Albion, Mich., 1975; J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, Calif., 1978; member of the Midland County, Mich., board of canvassers; member of the Midland County, Mich., Republican executive committee; special assistant attorney general, Michigan state attorney general, 1980-1984; staff, United States Representative Bill Schuette of Michigan, 1984-1987; member of the Michigan state house of representatives, 1989-1990; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Second and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1991-present); chair, Committee on Ways and Means (One Hundred Twelfth Congress) . TBM/PB note: Trained in Law, Career in Law Elected to Politics Republican Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Upton
UPTON, Frederick Stephen, a Representative from Michigan; born in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., April 23, 1953; graduated from Shattuck School, Fairbault, Minn.; B.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1975; staff, United States Representative David Stockman of Michigan, 1976-1980; staff, Office of Management and Budget, 1981-1985; elected as a Republican to the One Hundredth and to the twelve succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1987-present); chair, Committe on Energy and Commerce (One Hundred Twelfth Congress). TBM/PB note: Trained in Journalism Experience in OMB with Stockman Elected to Plotics Democratic Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Clyburn
CLYBURN, James Enos, (relative of George Washington Murray), a Representative from South Carolina; born in Sumter, Sumter County, S.C., July 21, 1940; graduated from Mather Academy, Camden, S.C., 1957; B.S., South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C., 1961; teacher; employment counselor, South Carolina state employment security commission, 1965-1966; director, Charleston County, S.C., neighborhood youth corps and new careers projects, 1966-1968; executive director, South Carolina state commission for farm workers, 1968-1971; member of the staff of Governor John C. West, 1971-1974; South Carolina human affairs commissioner, 1974-1992; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1993-present); chair, House Democratic Caucus (One Hundred Ninth Congress); majority whip (One Hundred Tenth Congress and One Hundred Eleventh Congress); assistant Democratic leader (One Hundred Twelfth Congress). TBM/PB note: Training in History Career as teacher before politics Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra of California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Becerra
BECERRA, Xavier, a Representative from California; born in Sacramento, Sacramento County, Calif., January 26, 1958; B.A., Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 1980; J.D., Stanford University School of Law, Stanford., Calif., 1984; lawyer, private practice; staff for California state Senator Art Torres, 1986; deputy attorney general, Office of the Attorney General, State of California, 1987-1990; member of the California state assembly, 1990-1992; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1993-present). TBM/PB note: Training in Law, Local Politics, National Politics Democratic Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Van_Hollen
VAN HOLLEN, Christopher, a Representative from Maryland; born in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 10, 1959; B.A., Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa., 1982; M.P.P., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., 1985; J.D., Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 1990; lawyer, private practice; member of the Maryland state house of representatives, 1990-1994; member of the Maryland state senate, 1994-2002; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2003-present). TBM/PB note: Training in Public Policy and Law, Career in Government Elected to Politics |
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| The text being discussed is available at http://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/supercommittees.php?cycle=2012&party=a&kerr=n&type=d&ind=E11#sec_det |