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| In 2000 Craig formed a ] called ] with Senators ], ], and ].<ref> ''They Put the Party in GOP'' 19 April, 2000.</ref> | In 2000 Craig formed a ] called ] with Senators ], ], and ].<ref> ''They Put the Party in GOP'' 19 April, 2000.</ref> | ||
| ==Unconfirmed rumors== | |||
| - - - {{currentevent}} | |||
| In October 2006, it was reported by blogger political activist ] <ref>, ], ], ]</ref> that Larry Craig has led a double life with extra-marital gay affairs. Rogers claims he personally interviewed four anonymous sources for the story, verifying the accuracy of their claims they each had extended sexual relationships with Craig. Rogers produced no evidence to back up these claims. The story was strongly denied by Craig's staff, but was picked up by several blogs and a few news outlets, including the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello Idaho, the ] in ], KLIX-AM radio in Twin Falls Idaho and KIDO-AM in Boise Idaho. The alleged "outing" was also discussed by ] and ] on television on October 20th. | |||
| - - - <ref> , ''New West Politics'', ], 10/19/2006, Joan Opyr.</ref><ref>, ''Baxter Bulletin'', Mike Reagan, 10/21/2006 </ref><ref>, ], ], "Public Eye", 10/19/2006</ref><ref>, ''Boise Weekly'', 10/18/2006, Shea Andersen</ref><ref> , 10/19/2006, from "Gossipmonger" section.</ref><ref>, ], opinion column, Chuck Raasch, ], ]</ref>. | |||
| == Other == | == Other == | ||
Revision as of 15:29, 24 October 2006
| Larry Craig | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Senator, Idaho | |
| In office 1991–Present | |
| Preceded by | Jim McClure |
| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2009) |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | american |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Suzanne Thompson |
Larry Edwin Craig (born July 20, 1945) is the senior United States Senator from Idaho. He is a member of the Republican Party, and has been a Senator since 1991; he was a U.S. Representative from 1981 to 1991.
Early life and education
Craig was born in Council, Idaho. In 1969, he earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Idaho, where he served as Student Body President and was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity. He pursued graduate studies at George Washington University before returning to the family ranching business in 1971.
Idaho legislature
Craig was elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1974 and reelected in 1976 and 1978.
U.S. Congress
Including his service in the House of Representatives, as of 2006 Craig is the third-longest serving member of the United States Congress in Idaho history, trailing only Burton L. French and William E. Borah. Craig will pass French to take second place in January 2007. If reelected in 2008 Craig would pass Borah in November 2013.
House of Representatives
In 1980, Craig was elected to an open seat United States House of Representatives from the Idaho First Congressional District, succeeding Steve Symms. He was re-elected four times, serving until 1991. While in the House, he supported Ronald Reagan's push to expand vocational education.
U.S. Senate
Elections
In 1990, Craig announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat vacated by the retiring Jim McClure. Craig defeated Idaho Attorney General Jim Jones in the Republican primary and former state legislator Ron J. Twilegar in the general election, getting 57% of the vote. Craig was reelected in 1996 with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Walt Minnick, and in 2002, when he spent $3.2 million to defeat Alan Blinken, winning with 65 percent of the vote.
Committees
Craig was chairman of the Republican Policy Committee from 1997 until 2003. He then became chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. He is currently chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Political positions and actions
Craig is a long-time, leading advocate for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In May 2003, Craig put a hold on more than 200 Air Force promotions in an attempt to pressure the Air Force to station four new C-130 cargo planes in Idaho, saying that he received a commitment from the Air Force almost seven years earlier that the planes would be delivered. Defense officials said the reason the C-130s had not been sent to Idaho was that no new aircraft were being manufactured for the type of transport mission done by the Idaho Air National Guard unit where Craig wanted the planes delivered.
Craig is a supporter of President Bush's Guest-Worker Program. In April 2005, Craig attempted to amend an Iraq War supplemental bill with an AgJOBS amendment that would have granted legal status to between 500,000 and 1 million illegal immigrants in farm work. The amendment recieved 53 votes; 60 were needed because the amendment was not relevant to the matter at hand. A version of the AgJOBS bill legislation was included in the Senate-passed immigration reform bill in 2006.
In October 2005, Craig suggested that flooded sections of New Orleans should be abandoned after Hurricane Katrina had hit. "Fraud is in the culture of Iraqis. I believe that is true in the state of Louisiana as well," Craig was quoted as saying in a local paper.
On December 16, 2005, Craig voted against a cloture on the USA PATRIOT Act. The result of 52 to 47 allowed a Democratic filibuster against extension of the Act (due to expire at the end of 2005) to continue. On December 21, 2005, Craig backed a six-month extension of the Act while further negotiations took place. On February 9, 2006, Craig announced an agreement between himself, the White House, and fellow Senators John E. Sununu, Arlen Specter, Lisa Murkowski, Chuck Hagel, and Richard Durbin to reauthorize the Act.
In 2006, Craig posted to his Senate website all the earmarks he had inserted into federal spending bills since joining the Senate Appropriations Committee in 1998.
The American Conservative Union gave Craig's 2005 voting record 96 points out of 100. The liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him 15. Considered a social conservative, Craig has long been an advocate of adoption. He supports the Federal Marriage Amendment, voting for cloture on the amendment in both 2004 and 2006. He voted against cloture on a bill in 2002, which would have extended the federal definition hate crimes to cover sexual orientation.
Personal
Craig and his wife Suzanne have two sons, Mike and Jay, and a daughter, Shae; the childen are from her previous marriage and were adopted by Craig.
In 2000 Craig formed a barbershop quartet called The Singing Senators with Senators Trent Lott, John Ashcroft, and James Jeffords.
Unconfirmed rumors
- - -
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In October 2006, it was reported by blogger political activist Mike Rogers that Larry Craig has led a double life with extra-marital gay affairs. Rogers claims he personally interviewed four anonymous sources for the story, verifying the accuracy of their claims they each had extended sexual relationships with Craig. Rogers produced no evidence to back up these claims. The story was strongly denied by Craig's staff, but was picked up by several blogs and a few news outlets, including the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello Idaho, the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, KLIX-AM radio in Twin Falls Idaho and KIDO-AM in Boise Idaho. The alleged "outing" was also discussed by Bill Maher and Barney Frank on television on October 20th. - - - .
Other
Prior to the nomination of Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Craig had been mentioned as a possible contender to succeed Gale Norton as United States Secretary of the Interior in March, 2006.
Craig is on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association.
References
- ^ Congressional biography
- Official biography
- "Idaho senator holds up Air Force promotions: Dispute over cargo planes at issue", Kate Snow, Steve Turnham and Trish Turner, CNN, June 10, 2003
- San Diego Tribune Legal status for undocumented farmworkers fails April 20, 2005
- "Senator: LA is as Corrupt as Iraq", WAFB (Louisiana), October 18, 2005
- CNN.com Patriot Act renewal fails in Senate. December 17, 2005.
- USA TODAY Senate strikes deal to extend Patriot Act, December 21, 2005.
- CBS News Agreement Reached on Patriot Act Changes, February 10, 2006.
- Senate: Roll Call
- Associated Press Election Coverage, October 18, 2006. Retrieved 10/18/2006
- Wired News They Put the Party in GOP 19 April, 2000.
- Blog Active, Mike Rogers, Blog, 2006
- The outing of Larry Craig, New West Politics, Blog, 10/19/2006, Joan Opyr.
- Conservatives don't hate gays, just agenda, Baxter Bulletin, Mike Reagan, 10/21/2006
- Out, Out Damn Rumors, CBS News, Blog, "Public Eye", 10/19/2006
- Blogger "Outs" Craig, Boise Weekly, 10/18/2006, Shea Andersen
- New York Magazine, 10/19/2006, from "Gossipmonger" section.
- Blogosphere buzzes with anonymous 'outing' , USA Today, opinion column, Chuck Raasch, October 20, 2006
- Red Orbit Kempthorne, Craig Could Be Nominees, March 11, 2006.
External links
- Official website
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
- Associated Press profile, accessed October 18, 2006.
| Preceded bySteve Symms | United States House of Representatives, Idaho First Congressional District January 5, 1981–January 3, 1991 |
Succeeded byLarry LaRocco |
| Preceded by Jim McClure | Republican Party nominee, U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Idaho 1990 (won), 1996 (won), 2002 (won) |
Succeeded by(none) |
| Preceded by Jim McClure | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Idaho January 3, 1991–present Served alongside: Steve Symms, Dirk Kempthorne, Mike Crapo |
Succeeded byIncumbent |
| Members of the United States House of Representatives from Idaho | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Territorial (1863–1890) |
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| One at-large seat (1890–1913) |
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| Two at-large seats (1913–1919) |
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| Districts (1919–present) |
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| Idaho's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
|---|---|
| Senators |
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| Representatives (ordered by district) |
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| Current United States senators | ||
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| President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Patty Murray (D) | ||
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