Bob Casey, Jr.
| Bob Casey, Jr. | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2007 Serving with Arlen Specter |
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| Preceded by | Rick Santorum |
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| In office January 18, 2005[1] – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Hafer |
| Succeeded by | Robin Wiessmann |
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| In office January 21, 1997 [2] – January 18, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Hafer |
| Succeeded by | Jack Wagner |
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| Born | April 13, 1960 Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Terese Foppiano Casey |
| Children | Elyse Casey Caroline Casey Julia Casey Marena Casey |
| Residence | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | The Catholic University of America (J.D.) College of the Holy Cross (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Committees | Foreign Relations, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Joint Economic Committee, Special Committee on Aging |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. |
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Jr. (born April 13, 1960) is the junior United States Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party. When Arlen Specter's term expires in January 2011, Casey will become the senior senator from Pennsylvania. He defeated two-term Republican incumbent Rick Santorum in the 2006 U.S. Senate election. He is the first Democrat elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania since 1962.[3]
Before his election to the U.S. Senate, Casey served as Pennsylvania Treasurer from 2005 to 2006. He previously served as Pennsylvania Auditor General from 1997 to 2005. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2002 gubernatorial election.
Casey, the son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr., is a native of Scranton, and a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and the Catholic University of America.
Though registered as a Democrat, Casey is said to have a more conservative viewpoint on politics.
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[edit] Biography
Casey, one of eight children, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, of Irish American descent on both his mother's and father's side. He is the son of Ellen Harding Casey and Bob Casey, the 44th governor of Pennsylvania.
Casey played basketball and graduated from Scranton Preparatory School in 1978. Following in his father's footsteps, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982, and received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in 1988. Between both college and law school, Casey served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and spent a year teaching 5th grade and coaching basketball at the Gesu School in inner city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Terese were married in 1985, and they have four daughters: Elyse, Caroline, Julia, and Marena.
Casey practiced law in Scranton from 1991 until he ran for and was elected Pennsylvania State Auditor General in 1996. The Auditor General also serves as an ex officio commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority. He served in this capacity for two terms, from 1997 to 2005. While holding this position, Casey attempted to combat fraud and presented a fiscally conservative image.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA feature story designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, he was named the "Most Likely to Succeed."[4]
In 2002, Casey attempted to follow in his father's footsteps by running for Pennsylvania Governor. Casey faced former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell in the Democratic primary election. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party threw their support behind Casey whom they saw as a more electable candidate against the liberal Rendell. In a bitter primary, Rendell won the nomination by winning only 10 out of 67 counties: Philadelphia and its suburbs: Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware, its Lehigh Valley exurbs: Berks, Lehigh and Northampton, and Centre County, the home of Penn State University.[5] Rendell went on to win the general election.
In 2004, Casey, who was term limited in his auditor general position, ran for another state-wide office. He was elected Pennsylvania State Treasurer on a platform advocating government accountability. In this capacity, he fought to make children's healthcare and daycare more affordable, nursing homes safer, and Megan's Law as a better enforced provision.[6]
[edit] 2006 U.S. Senate race
In 2005, Casey received calls from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, as well as U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), the Senate Minority Leader. Both men asked him to run for U.S. Senate in 2006. On March 5, 2005, Casey announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for the Senate race. Casey's run for the Senate was his fifth statewide campaign in nine years.
After he announced that he would run, Casey was almost immediately endorsed by Governor Ed Rendell, his primary election opponent from 2002.[7] He was endorsed by two Democrats who had been mentioned as possible U.S. Senate nominees: former Congressman Joe Hoeffel who ran against Pennsylvania's other Senator, Arlen Specter, in 2004, and former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, whom many in the pro-choice movement attempted to convince to run against Casey in the Democratic primary.
In the Democratic primary, Casey faced two Democrats with more liberal viewpoints: college professor Chuck Pennacchio and pension lawyer Alan Sandals. Both argued that Casey's views on abortion and other social issues were too conservative for most Pennsylvania Democrats. However, Casey easily defeated both challengers in the May 16th primary, receiving 85% of the vote.
On election night, Casey won the race with 59% of the vote, compared to 41% for incumbent Senator Rick Santorum. Casey's margin of victory was the highest ever for a Democrat running for the United States Senate in Pennsylvania.[8] Casey's 17.4-point victory margin was the largest victory margin for a challenger to an incumbent Senator since James Abdnor unseated George McGovern by 18.8 points in 1980.
Casey is the first Pennsylvania Democrat elected to a full term in the Senate since Joseph S. Clark was reelected in 1962.
[edit] U.S. Senate
[edit] Committee assignments
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Special Committee on Aging
- Joint Economic Committee
[edit] Political views
[edit] Illegal immigration
Casey supported the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348), a bill voted down in the 110th United States Congress, which could have provided a path to legal citizenship for illegal aliens currently residing in the United States. He has also supported the Clinton amendment, the Menendez amendment, and the Alaska amendments.[9]
During the 2006 U.S. Senate race, Casey also express support for the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006; saying "if I were in the United States Senate I would vote yes." [10]
[edit] Abortion
Casey, like his late father, is pro-life. He has publicly stated his support for overturning Roe v. Wade.[11] From Casey's election until Specter's party switch in April 2009, Pennsylvania had the distinction of being represented in the Senate by a pro-life Democrat and a pro-choice Republican (Arlen Specter).
He supports the Pregnant Women Support Act[12], legislation that grew out of Democrats for Life of America's 95-10 Initiative. The Initiative and the Pregnant Women Support Act seek to reduce the abortion rate by providing support to women in unplanned pregnancies. He expressed support for the confirmation of both John Roberts[13] and Samuel Alito[14] for seats on the Supreme Court of the United States; these judges are believed to be in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade. Casey also opposes the funding of embryonic stem-cell research.[15]
However, Casey voted against barring HHS grants to organizations that provide abortion services, though such services may often not be central to the organization’s chief purpose.[16]
[edit] LGBT issues
Casey is in support of civil unions / equal rights for same-sex couples[17]
Casey is a co-sponsor of S. 909 ("Matthew Shephard" Hate Crimes Prevention Act)[18]
Casey is a co-sponsor of S. 1584 (Employment Non-Discrimination Act)[19]
In a candidates’ questionnaire sponsored by PACatholic.org, Casey stated that he feels that "... employers should be permitted to extend domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples in committed, long-term relationships". However, Casey opposes making such benefits mandatory.[20]
Casey has, on several occasions, supported same sex partners adopting children,[21][22] and specifically expressed his opposition to legislation that would prohibit adoption by same-sex couples.[23]
[edit] Birth control
In the Archdiocese survey, Casey expressed support for "requiring employers or health insurance plans to cover contraceptives in their prescription drug plans". He also stated his support for "a provision in the state’s budget to fund contraceptive services."[22] Casey's views on this extend to the federal funding of contraception, which he also supports. However, Casey also opposes laws that would "force pharmacists to fill a prescription contrary to their moral beliefs."
[edit] Economics and education
On economic and education-based issues, Casey falls more closely in line with mainstream Democratic policies.
Casey's website reports he has also criticized what he views as "draconian cuts to Medicare and Medicaid," and has stated that Medicare Part D is "fundamentally flawed" and in need of a "complete overhaul." Furthermore, it states Casey's support for the Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, which would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act, authored in the early 1990s by Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, to companies with at least 25 employees.[24]
Casey is an opponent of privatizing Social Security[25], and is a critic of many recent tax cuts, which he claims have "not caused the 'trickle-down' economic growth" that was promised from them. Casey had also criticized Senator Santorum for voting against increasing the minimum wage.[26]
According to the candidates' questionnaire, Casey opposes school vouchers.[22]
[edit] Environmental issues
Casey opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Instead, he supports increased federal investment in hybrid and alternative fuel technology to help wean the United States off of foreign oil.[27] In a debate, Casey criticized his Republican opponent Rick Santorum for not recognizing the danger of global warming.[28] He also supports increased funding for Brownfield cleanup, as well as a reinstatement of the polluter-pays principle for the Superfund program.[29]
[edit] 2008 Presidential election
On March 28, 2008 Casey announced his endorsement of frontrunning candidate Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic Party presidential primary.[30] The Pennsylvania Report said that he "struck gold" by endorsing Barack Obama early in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, a move that gave him "inside access to the halls of the White House."[31]. Casey campaigned across Pennsylvania in support of Obama's candidacy in the months leading up to the PA primary, and the two bowled together at Holiday Bowl in Altoona, PA.
[edit] ACORN funding
Casey was only one of 7 Senators to vote against a measure that would have blocked federal funds to ACORN, a group that has "come under fire after hidden-camera videos show ACORN workers in Baltimore giving financial advice to individuals posing as a pimp and a prostitute; they were actually conservative activists."[32]
[edit] Electoral history
- 1996 Race for Pennsylvania Auditor General
- Bob Casey, Jr. (D), 56%
- Bob Nyce (R), 40%
- Sharon Shepps (Libertarian), 3%
- 2000 Race for Pennsylvania Auditor General[33]
- Bob Casey, Jr. (D) (inc.), 56.8%
- Katie True (R), 39.9%
- Anne Goeke (Green), 1.3%
- Jessica Morris (Libertarian), 0.9%
- John Rhine (Constitution), 0.5%
- James Blair (Reform), 0.5%
- 2002 Race for Pennsylvania Governor (Democratic primary)[34]
- Ed Rendell (D), 56.5%
- Bob Casey, Jr. (D), 43.5%
- 2004 Race for Pennsylvania Treasurer[35]
- Bob Casey, Jr. (D), 61.3%
- Jean Craige Pepper (R), 36.5%
- Darryl W. Perry (Libertarian), 1.1%
- Paul Teese (Green), 0.7%
- Max Lampenfeld (Constitution), 0.4%
| Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Election 2006[36] | |||||
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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 2,392,984 | 58.7% | +15.2 | |
| Republican | Rick Santorum (Incumbent) | 1,684,778 | 41.3% | -17.4 | |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ http://www.zwire.com
- ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com
- ^ "Biography". Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.. http://casey.senate.gov/about/biography.
- ^ "Keystone State Yearbook Committee". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2002-08-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20020803170058/www.politicspa.com/yearbookcommittee.htm.
- ^ Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information
- ^ http://casey.senate.gov/about/biography/
- ^ Governor Rendell Endorses Bob Casey for U.S. Senate
- ^ The Times-Tribune - Casey dominated like no one before
- ^ All Immigration Votes of Senator Robert Casey
- ^ YouTube - Fragile
- ^ Bob Casey on the Issues
- ^ http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis/releaseseptember202006.htm
- ^ http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Campaign/012506.html
- ^ McGough, Michael (January 25, 2006). "Alito nomination moves to full Senate after committee recommendation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06025/643738.stm.
- ^ Interview with Bob Casey, Jr. | Valerie Schmalz | July 29, 2005
- ^ U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote
- ^ http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Bob_Casey_Civil_Rights.htm
- ^ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:5:./temp/~bdIkp8:@@@P|/bss/111search.html|
- ^ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:3:./temp/~bdRf11:@@@P|/bss/111search.html|
- ^ http://www.pacatholic.org/election%20archive/Primary%202004.pdf
- ^ http://www.lancastercountyaction.org/pdf/2004Nov_LCA_VoterGuide.pdf
- ^ a b c [1]
- ^ http://www.pacatholic.org/election%20archive/gen04audtr.htm
- ^ Bob Casey - United States Senate - Better Health Care
- ^ Bob Casey - United States Senate - Secure Retirement
- ^ Bob Casey - United States Senate - Media Release
- ^ Bob Casey - United States Senate - Cleaner Environment
- ^ 6abc.com: Santorum, Casey Meet in Final Debate 10/16/06
- ^ Bob Casey - United States Senate - Cleaner Environment
- ^ "Bob Casey to endorse Obama, join bus tour". philly.com. 2008-03-28. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20080328_Bob_Casey_to_endorse_Obama__join_bus_tour.html?referrer=digg. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ "PA Report 100" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc.. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. http://www.webcitation.org/5j0zKOG5a.
- ^ Hockensmith, Dustin (2009-09-15). "Sen. Bob Casey Jr. taking heat for vote in support of ACORN". The Patriot-News. doi:2009-09-21.
- ^ Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information
- ^ Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information
- ^ Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information
- ^ Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bob Casey, Jr. |
- U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, U.S. Senate site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- About.com — Bob Casey, Jr. profile
- Bob Casey for U.S. Senate, Campaign site
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Barbara Hafer |
Auditor General of Pennsylvania 1997 – 2005 |
Succeeded by Jack Wagner |
| Treasurer of Pennsylvania 2005 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Robin Wiessmann |
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| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Rick Santorum |
United States Senator (Class 1) from Pennsylvania 2007 – present Served alongside: Arlen Specter |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Ron Klink |
Democratic nominee for United States Senator (Class 1) from Pennsylvania 2006 |
Succeeded by To be determined |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Sherrod Brown D-Ohio |
United States Senators by seniority 75th |
Succeeded by Jim Webb D-Virginia |
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