| Wayne Allard | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Colorado |
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| In office January 7, 1997 – January 3, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Hank Brown |
| Succeeded by | Mark Udall |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 4th district |
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| In office January 3, 1991 – January 2, 1997 |
|
| Preceded by | Hank Brown |
| Succeeded by | Bob Schaffer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 2, 1943 Fort Collins, Colorado |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Malcolm |
| Children | Christi Allard Cheryl Allard |
| Residence | Loveland, Colorado |
| Alma mater | Colorado State University |
| Profession | Veterinarian |
| Religion | Non-Denominational Protestant |
Alan Wayne Allard (born December 2, 1943) is a member of the Republican Party, and was a United States Senator from Colorado. He did not seek re-election in 2008.
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Allard was born in Fort Collins, Colorado to Sibyl Jean Stewart and Amos Wilson Allard.[1] He was raised on a ranch near Walden, Colorado. He received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1968.
Allard continued to run a veterinary practice full-time, while representing Larimer and Weld Counties in the Colorado State Senate, from 1983 to 1990. During his tenure he was a strong supporter of fiscal responsibility and the preservation of a citizen legislature. Allard's influence on local politics is still felt today as he is the sponsor of Colorado's law limiting state legislative sessions to 120 days.
Allard served in the United States House of Representatives from Colorado's Fourth Congressional District from 1991 to 1997. As a Colorado Representative, Allard served on the Joint Committee on Congressional Reform, which recommended many of the reforms included in the Contract with America. These reforms became some of the first to be passed by the Republican controlled Congress in 1995 and were the key to their platform.
In 1996, Allard was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Tom Strickland by five percentage points. He made a pledge at the time to serve just two terms in the Senate before retiring. In 2002, he was re-elected, defeating Strickland again by the same margin.
In the 110th Congress, Allard served on the following committees: United States Senate Committee on Appropriations (of which he was Ranking Minority member of the Legislative Branch subcommittee); United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (of which he was Ranking Minority member of the Securities, Insurance, and Investment subcommittee); United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the United States Senate Committee on the Budget
In an April 2006 article, Time named Allard as one of America's 5 Worst Senators, dubbing him "The Invisible Man". The article criticised him for being "so bland that his critics have dubbed him "Dullard"", for "never playing a role in major legislation, even though he's on two key Senate committees, Budget and Appropriations" and for "rarely speaking on the floor or holding press conferences to push his ideas", concluding that "few of the bills he has introduced over the past year have passed". The article did however note that he was "polite, affable and willing to take on thankless tasks, such as his current role overseeing the construction of a visitors center on Capitol Hill".[2] In response, two major Colorado newspapers defended the Senator.[3] The Rocky Mountain News retorted that Time had made the "wrong call" and that Allard was a "hard-working advocate for Colorado interests."[4] The Colorado Springs Gazette also weighed in, saying the article was "... soft, subjective, snide, impressionistic slop -- further proof of the low to which this once-serious publication has sunk." [5]
Upon his retirement, the Denver Post admitted that "While we didn't always agree with Sen. Wayne Allard on policy matters, we never doubted that he was working hard for Colorado." [1]
In March 2008 the National Journal ranked him the second most conservative U.S. Senator based on his 2007 votes.[6]
In 2003, Allard introduced into the Senate the Federal Marriage Amendment, seeking to ban same-sex marriages.[7] The amendment failed to advance to Congress.
In 2004, Allard reintroduced the Federal Marriage Amendment with minor changes. In presenting the amendment, Allard made the case that there is a "master plan" to "destroy the institution of marriage".[8] Passage of the proposed Amendment failed 227 yea votes to 186 nay votes, where 290 yea votes (two-thirds) are required for passage of a proposed Constitutional amendment.[9]
On January 15, 2007 Allard announced he would fulfill a 1996 campaign promise to serve only two Senate terms and would retire in January 2009.[10]
In April 2007, Allard announced his endorsement of Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.[11] He switched his endorsement to John McCain once he secured his spot as the presumptive Republican nominee.[12]
Allard was a co-sponsor of the James Peak Wilderness Bill, which created a 14,000-acre (57 km2) preserve around James Peak, and added 3,000 acres (12 km2) to the Indian Peak Protection Area. Allard also sponsored legislation which created Colorado's 85,000-acre (340 km2) Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Allard was also chairman and founder of the Senate Renewable Energy and Efficiency Caucus[13]
In 2006, the environmental group Republicans for Environmental Protection[14] praised Allard for his support of legislation to make the Army Corps of Engineers more accountable for its projects' environmental and economic impact, but censured him for supporting oil drilling both offshore and in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[15] The nonpartisan League of Conservation Voters issued Allard a grade of 29% for 2006.[16]
While working in Congress, Allard consistently asserted that the federal government unnecessarily spends too much money. During his Senate career, his office has returned $4.2 million dollars of its collective budget.[17] Allard was considered to be one of the most firmly anti-tax politicians in Washington. He campaigned on the goal of repealing marriage, inheritance, and capital gains taxes.[18]
While completing veterinary school, Allard married Joan Malcolm, who received her degree in microbiology, also from CSU. They then founded their veterinary practice, the Allard Animal Hospital. The Allards raised their two daughters, Christi and Cheryl, in Loveland, Colorado, and have five grandsons. He is a Protestant.
In 2007, Allard authored "Colorado's U.S. Senators: A Biographical Guide." The book was published by Fulcrum Publishing.
1996 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
United States Senate election in Colorado, 2002
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hank Brown |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 4th congressional district 1991–1997 |
Succeeded by Bob Schaffer |
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Hank Brown |
United States Senator (Class 2) from Colorado 1997–2009 Served alongside: Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Ken Salazar |
Succeeded by Mark Udall |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Hank Brown |
Republican Party nominee for United States Senator from Colorado (Class 2) 1996, 2002 |
Succeeded by Bob Schaffer |
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