| Bob Casey, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Pennsylvania |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2007 Serving with Pat Toomey |
|
| Preceded by | Rick Santorum |
| 34th Treasurer of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 18, 2005[1] – January 3, 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Barbara Hafer |
| Succeeded by | Robin Wiessmann |
| 49th Auditor General of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 21, 1997[2] – January 18, 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | Barbara Hafer |
| Succeeded by | Jack Wagner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Patrick Casey, Jr. 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 | College of the Holy Cross (B.A.) The Catholic University of America (J.D.) |
| 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 senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as Pennsylvania Treasurer, and Pennsylvania Auditor General. He is the son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr..
He is the first Democrat elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania since 1962.[3]
Contents |
Casey was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, one of eight children of Ellen (née Harding) and Bob Casey, the 42nd governor of Pennsylvania. He is of Irish descent on both his mother's and father's side.
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.
Casey practiced law in Scranton from 1991 until 1996.
Casey ran for and was elected Pennsylvania State Auditor General in 1996. He was re-elected in 2000, and served for two terms, from 1997 to 2005. While holding this position, Casey attempted to combat fraud and was fiscally conservative.
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, who they saw as a more electable candidate against 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]
Casey supported President Barack Obama's health reform legislation; he voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009,[7] and he voted for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[8]
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 undocumented persons 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 expressed support for the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006; saying "if I were in the United States Senate I would vote yes."[10]
Casey, like his late father, identifies as 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 self-identified 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] Casey also supports over-the-counter sale of emergency contraception,[17] and has voted to overturn the Mexico City policy, which bars the issuance of federal funds to overseas organizations that perform or refer for abortions.[18] The authenticity of Casey's pro-life commitment has been questioned by some pro-life sources.[18][19]
Casey was a co-sponsor of and voted for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.[20][21]
Casey was a co-sponsor of and voted for the Matthew Shephard" Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Casey is a co-sponsor of S. 1584 (Employment Non-Discrimination Act)[22]
Casey is a supporter of civil unions for same-sex couples.[23]
Casey has, on several occasions, supported same sex partners adopting children,[24][25] and specifically expressed his opposition to legislation that would prohibit adoption by same-sex couples.[26]
In the Archdiocesan 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."[25] 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."
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.[27]
Casey is an opponent of privatizing Social Security,[28] 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 Santorum for voting against increasing the minimum wage.[29]
According to the candidates' questionnaire, Casey opposes school vouchers.[25]
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.[30] In a debate, Casey criticized his Republican opponent Rick Santorum for not recognizing the danger of global warming.[31] He also supports increased funding for Brownfield cleanup, as well as a reinstatement of the polluter-pays principle for the Superfund program.[32]
On March 28, 2008 Casey announced his endorsement of frontrunning candidate Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic Party presidential primary.[33] The Pennsylvania Report said that he "struck gold" by endorsing Obama early in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, a move that gave him "inside access to the halls of the White House.".[34] 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.
Casey was only one of seven 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."[35]
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 against Republican incumbent Rick Santorum. 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.[36] 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 16 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.[37] 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 was the first Pennsylvania Democrat elected to a full term in the Senate since Joseph Clark was reelected in 1962.
Casey is up for re-election in 2012, and has stated that he intends to seek a second term in the Senate.[38][39]
| Pennsylvania Auditor General Primary Election, 1996[40][41] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 252,645 | 34.6% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Tom Foley | 242,190 | 33.2% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Bill Lloyd | 128,500 | 17.6% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Sandra Miller | 105,868 | 14.5% | N/A | |
| Majority | 10,455 | 1.4% | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 729,203 | -32.2% | |||
| Pennsylvania Auditor General Election, 1996[42][43][44] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 2,367,760 | 56.1% | +10.8% | |
| Republican | Bob Nyce | 1,706,835 | 40.4% | -10.7% | |
| Libertarian | Sharon Shepps | 103,234 | 2.4% | -1.2% | |
| Constitution | Robert Lord | 43,487 | 1.1% | N/A | |
| Majority | 514,204 | 12.2% | +9.8% | ||
| Turnout | 4,221,316 | 65.3% | -1.0% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
| Pennsylvania Auditor General Election, 2000[43][45] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. (inc.) | 2,651,551 | 56.8% | +0.8% | |
| Republican | Katie True | 1,862,934 | 39.9% | -0.1% | |
| Green | Anne Goeke | 62,642 | 1.3% | N/A | |
| Libertarian | Jessica Morris | 41,967 | 0.9% | -2.1% | |
| Constitution | John Rhine | 23,971 | 0.5% | -0.5% | |
| Reform | James Blair | 21,476 | 0.5% | N/A | |
| Majority | 638,561 | 13.6% | +1.4% | ||
| Turnout | 4,664,541 | 63.1% | -2.2% | ||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
| Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Primary Election, 2002[46][47][48] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Ed Rendell | 702,442 | 56.5% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 539,794 | 43.5% | N/A | |
| Majority | 162,648 | 13.1% | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 1,242,236 | 28.0% | +13% | ||
| Pennsylvania State Treasurer Election, 2004[43][49] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 3,353,489 | 61.3% | +14.1% | |
| Constitution | Max Lampenfield | 20,406 | 0.4% | -0.5% | |
| Republican | Jean Craige Pepper | 1,997,951 | 36.5% | -12.8% | |
| Libertarian | Darryl Perry | 61,238 | 1.1% | -0.4% | |
| Green | Paul Teese | 40,740 | 0.7% | -0.8% | |
| Majority | 1,233,154 | 22.5% | +24.0% | ||
| Turnout | 5,473,824 | 68.9% | +5.8% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
| Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Primary Election, 2006[50][51] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 629,271 | 84.5% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Chuck Pennacchio | 66,364 | 8.9% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Alan Sandals | 48,113 | 6.5% | N/A | |
| Democratic | Others | 1,114 | 0.1% | N/A | |
| Majority | 513,680 | 68.9% | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 744,862 | +1.3% | |||
| Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Election, 2006[52][53][54] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 2,392,984 | 58.7% | +15.2% | |
| Republican | Rick Santorum (inc.) | 1,684,778 | 41.3% | -17.4% | |
| Majority | 708,206 | 17.3% | +10.4% | ||
| Turnout | 4,077,762 | 41.8% | +3.0% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | -24.4 | |||
Casey and his wife Terese were married in 1985, and they have four daughters.
| 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 |
|
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Rick Santorum |
United States Senator (Class 1) from Pennsylvania 2007–present Served alongside: Arlen Specter, Pat Toomey |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Ron Klink |
Democratic nominee for United States Senator (Class 1) from Pennsylvania 2006 |
Succeeded by To be determined |
| Preceded by Catherine Baker Knoll |
Democratic nominee for Treasurer of Pennsylvania 2004 (won) |
Succeeded by Rob McCord |
| Preceded by Craig Lewis |
Democratic nominee for Auditor General of Pennsylvania 1996 (won), 2000 (won) |
Succeeded by Jack Wagner |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Sherrod Brown D-Ohio |
United States Senators by seniority 62nd |
Succeeded by Jim Webb D-Virginia |
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||