Bart Stupak

Bart Stupak
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by John Conyers
Succeeded by Dan Benishek
Personal details
Born Bartholomew Thomas Stupak
(1952-02-29) February 29, 1952
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Laurie Ann Stupak
Children Ken
Bartholomew Thomas
Alma mater Northwestern Michigan College
Saginaw Valley State University
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Religion Methodism

Bartholomew Thomas "Bart" Stupak (/ˈstuːpæk/; born February 29, 1952) is an American politician and lobbyist. A member of the Democratic Party, Stupak served as the U.S. Representative from Michigan's 1st congressional district from 1993 to 2011.

Stupak chose not to seek re-election in 2010. He departed Congress in January 2011, and was succeeded by Dan Benishek, a Republican from the Upper Peninsula. Stupak is now a lobbyist with Venable LLP.[1][2]

Early life, education and career

Stupak was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Gladstone High School in Gladstone, Michigan in 1970. He is an Eagle Scout.[3] He earned his Associate's degree from Northwestern Michigan College, a community college in Traverse City in 1972. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Saginaw Valley State University in 1977, graduating magna cum laude, and he earned a J.D. degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan in 1981. He worked as an Escanaba police officer in 1972. Stupak later served as a Michigan State Police Trooper from 1973 to 1984 and as a member of C-Street while in Congress. He also practiced law.

Michigan legislature

In 1988, Stupak was elected a Michigan State Representative, representing Menominee, Delta, and Dickinson counties, defeating two-term Republican Jim Connors. In 1990, Stupak ran for state senator but lost a hotly contested primary to eventual general election winner Don Koivisto.

Political campaigns

In 1992, incumbent Republican Representative Robert William Davis retired. He had represented the Michigan 11th Congressional district, covering the Upper Peninsula and the northernmost swath of the Lower Peninsula, which due to reapportionment was now the 1st district. Stupak won the heavily contested Democratic primary, and defeated the former representative, Republican Philip Ruppe, in the general election.

Stupak defeated Republican Don Hooper of Iron River in the 2002, 2004 and 2006 elections, and Republican Tom Casperson In 2008.[4]

On April 9, 2010, Stupak announced that he would not run for re-election, and that he would retire from Congress at the end of his then-current term.[5][6]

Campaign funding

Electric utilities and health care professionals were among the top four industries contributing to his campaigns in 2006, 2008 and 2010.[7] Of his top 20 largest contributors throughout his political career, 16 were unions and associations, two were energy companies, one was an insurance company and one was a telecommunications firm.[8]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

During his service in Congress, Stupak sponsored 36 bills, but none became law. He cosponsored 157 bills, 5 of which were enacted into law. He voted with the members of his party 96% of the time, and abstained from 5% of the votes. Because of the 1st District's extensive length of Great Lakes shoreline (over 1,600 miles), Stupak was very active on issues related to the protection of the Great Lakes, including opposing sale or diversion of Great Lakes water and drilling for oil and gas under the lakes.[9]

Political positions

Financial system

In 2009, Stupak voted against the Dodd-Frank Act, which expanded Federal regulation and oversight of the US financial system in the aftermath of the US financial and banking crisis of that year.[10]

Civil liberties

Stupak voted for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, which expanded the definition of hate crimes to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity.[11]

Health care

Stupak expressed a desire to support the 2009 health care reform bill put forth by President Obama,[12] but wanted restrictions on coverage for abortion.[13] Therefore, Stupak and Republican Congressman Joseph R. Pitts submitted an amendment known as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to prohibit such payments. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment was adopted by the House of Representatives, but a similar pro-life provision was defeated in the Senate version of the legislation (known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).[14] Stupak announced that he and several other Democratic representatives who supported health reform legislation but opposed abortion would not vote for the final version of the legislation unless the Stupak-Pitts Amendment was included.[15] The ensuing controversy made Stupak "perhaps the single most important rank-and-file House member in passing the bill."[1]

Abortion-rights advocates held a "Stop Stupak" rally on Capitol Hill in December 2009.[16] In the ensuing months, Stupak publicly stated that the pressure and opposition he received in regard to his abortion stance on the health reform legislation had caused him to unplug the phone at his house due to "obscene phone calls and threats" and had made his life a "living hell."[12][17] "My staff is overwhelmed and we're accosted basically wherever we go by people who disagree," Stupak added.[17]

In March 2010, President Obama and Stupak reached an understanding whereby the President promised to sign an Executive Order barring federal funding of abortion through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,[18] and Stupak and several of his allies promised to withdraw their opposition to the bill.[19] The Pro-life movement accused Stupak of betraying the pro-life movement,[20][21] and the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List revoked an award it had planned to give to him and instead ran $150,000 worth of radio advertisements against him.[20][22] Stupak was targeted by the Tea Party movement in the wake of his compromise.[23] In April 2010, Stupak announced his intention to retire from Congress,[24] leading conservative groups to point to the political consequences of his compromise as a possible reason for his decision.[22][23] However, Stupak himself attributed his retirement to the exertion of constant travel back and forth from Washington, D.C.[25]

Controversies

Apartment controversy

Stupak rented a room at the C Street Center, a Washington, D.C. facility of The Fellowship (also known as The Family), a Christian fraternal organization.[26][27] The Fellowship has been the subject of controversy over its claimed tax status as a church, the ownership of the property and its connection to the Fellowship, and the reportedly subsidized benefits the facility provides to members of Congress.[28]

Jeff Sharlet, author of a book about The Fellowship, said, "When I lived with The Family at Ivanwald, a house for younger men being groomed for leadership, I was told that Stupak was a regular visitor to the Cedars." The Cedars, according to the Washington Independent, is also owned by The Family and hosts weekly prayer events.[29] Stupak has denied any affiliation with the Family and appeared to deny knowledge of the organization, stating "I don’t belong to any such group" and that "I don’t know what you’re talking about, [The] Family and all this other stuff."[30]

Electoral history

Personal life

Stupak lives in Menominee, Michigan, with his wife, Laurie, who is a former mayor of Menominee, and unsuccessful candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives. Laurie Stupak was defeated by Tom Casperson. In 2008 Casperson unsuccessfully challenged Bart Stupak, the incumbent for Michigan's 1st Congressional district seat in the United States House of Representatives.

The Stupaks' son Ken graduated from Pepperdine University's School of Law in 2006 and resides in California. Their other son, Bart Jr., committed suicide in May 2000. Congressman Stupak testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee during a 2002 hearing on the safety of Accutane, an acne medication, which he believes contributed to his son's death.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 Carney, Timothy (April 11, 2011) Reforming your way to riches: Stupak gets his big K St. payday, Washington Examiner
  2. ↑ Lichtblau, Eric (April 11, 2011). "Stupak Signs On as a Lobbyist". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Newton-Small, Jay (March 21, 2010). "Health Care Clincher: The Importance of Being Stupak". Time.
  4. ↑ 2008 Official Michigan General Election Results – 1st District Representative in Congress
  5. ↑ Davey, Monica (April 9, 2010). "Under Fire for Abortion Deal, Stupak to Retire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 14, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Stupak to announce retirement". CNN. April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  7. ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00004196&type=I
  8. ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00004196&type=I
  9. ↑ OpenCongress.org – Stupak voting record
  10. ↑ Project vote Smart, Bart Stupak voting record, http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26912
  11. ↑ Project Vote Smart, http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=26244&can_id=26912
  12. 1 2 Barr, Andy (March 18, 2010). "Bart Stupak's family getting 'abusive' calls". Politico. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  13. ↑ MacGillis, Alec (November 14, 2009). "Health-care reform and abortion coverage: Questions and answers". Washington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  14. ↑ Khan, Huma (December 8, 2009). "Senators Defeat Anti-Abortion Amendment in Health Care Bill By 54-45". ABC News. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. ↑ Kantor, Jodi (January 6, 2010). "Abortion Foe Defies Party on Health Care Bill". New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Pro-Choice Groups Protest Tougher Abortion Restrictions in Health Care Bill". Fox News. December 2, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Condon, Stephanie (March 18, 2010). "Stupak's Life a "Living Hell" because of Abortion Position". CBS News.
  18. ↑ Montgomery, Lori; Shailagh Murray (March 21, 2010). "In deal with Stupak, White House announces executive order on abortion". Washington Post.
  19. ↑ O'Connor, Patrick (March 21, 2010). "Historic win close after Bart Stupak deal". Politico. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  20. 1 2 "Choice, Life Groups Slam Obama Order on Abortion Funding". Fox News. March 21, 2010.
  21. ↑ Parker, Kathleen (March 24, 2010). "Stupak's fall from pro-life grace". Washington Post.
  22. 1 2 Barr, Andy (April 12, 2010). "Conservatives claim Rep. Bart Stupak's scalp". Politico. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  23. 1 2 Allen, Mike; Kraushaar, Josh (April 12, 2010). "Tea Party target Rep. Stupak to retire". USA Today.
  24. ↑ "Rep. Bart Stupak Announces His Retirement After Health Care Controversy". Fox News. April 9, 2010.
  25. ↑
  26. ↑
  27. ↑ Parnes, Amie (February 2, 2010). "C Street Cash Questioned." Politico. Retrieved on March 5, 2010
  28. ↑ http://www.politico.com/static/PPM116_im.html
  29. ↑ Washington Independent
  30. ↑ Brayton, Ed (July 23, 2009). "Stupak denies knowledge of connections to mysterious ‘C Street’ house he lives in." Michigan Messenger. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.
  31. ↑ Stupak, Bart (December 11, 2002). "Safety Issues Surrounding Accutane". Testimony before U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. U.S. House of Representatives. Archived from the original on March 9, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Conyers		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 1st congressional district
1993–2011 		Succeeded by
Dan Benishek
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