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Bob Casey

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This is a profile of a U.S. senator. (See all the Pennsylvania portal for all incumbents, candidates and blogs.)
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Bob Casey currently serves as the junior senator for the state of Pennsylvania

"Robert "Bob" P. Casey, Jr.,, is a Democrat, has been the Junior Senator from Pennsylvania since 2007. (map)

Contents

Record and controversies

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Bob Casey voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Robert P. Casey, Jr., also said that he would have voted to authorize force against Iraq "given the evidence available at the time". He has said that we need to "finish the job", and does not support a timeline and exit strategy. He does, however, say that knowing what he knows now, he thinks the war was a mistake. [1] Casey does support setting benchmarks to determine when to bring troops home. He also states that "[w]e were misled from the opening day of this conflict, before the war". [2]

For more information see the chart of U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War.

Israel Firster

In 2005, Bob Casey, still a Pennsylvania state treasurer, set out to further his Senatorial bid by[3]:

  1. "woo the Jewish vote (although the Jewish vote is 2.3% of the electorate."
  2. "visited Israel (paid for by the National Jewish Democratic Coalition)"
  3. "attended the AIPAC national conference "
  4. "reinforced his support of the controversial ‘security barrier’ along the West Bank"

On 16 February 2012, Casey together with Senators Lindsey Graham, Joe Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal, introduced Senate Resolution 380, requiring the US government to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.[4] Philip Giraldi, a former CIA officer, states about this resolution:

They and the other senators have presented their proposal in a particularly deceptive fashion, asserting that they are actually supporting the White House position, which they are not. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta repeated on Feb. 16 that Iran does not have and is not currently building a nuclear device. Before Christmas, he stated clearly that the “red line” for the United States is actual Iranian possession of a nuclear weapon. Even Israel’s intelligence services agree that Iran is not building a bomb. What we are seeing play out in Congress is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) position, which is that Iran has already crossed a “red line.” The AIPAC argument will no doubt be spelled out in more detail next month at the group’s annual convention in the nation’s capital, a meeting that will be addressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will attract nearly all of Washington’s power brokers.[5]

MJ Rosenberg, the former AIPAC staffer and current commentator, states the same thing. The resolution amounts to the first step to a US war against Iran.[6]

Environmental record

On 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. He is also listed as supporting increased funding for Brownfield cleanup, as well as a reinstatement of the polluter-pays principle for the Superfund program. [7]

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Vote against stem cell bill

Casey was one of two Democrats in the Senate who voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 which would have lifted restrictions on stem cell research. It passed the Senate in a vote of 63-34. It was later vetoed by President George W. Bush. The other Senator was Ben Nelson (D- Neb.).[8]

Main article: U.S. federal stem cell legislation#Senate

Biography

Casey was born on April 13, 1960 in Scranton, PA. He is the eldest son of former Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982 and taught in a Philadelphia school district as part of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before earning a law degree from Catholic University in 1988. He then worked for his father until working in a private law practice in 1991. He married the former Terese Foppiano in 1985. They have four daughters. [9]

In 1996, Casey was elected State Auditor General, a position which he held for two terms. As auditor Casey's "office exposed holes in the state Health Department's oversight of nursing homes, particularly when it came to investigating life-threatening complaints."[10]

He made a bid for the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, but was defeated in the primary by former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell. During the campaign, Casey attacked Rendell’s record and trustworthiness, but after conceding defeat, endorsed him for the general election (AP, 2002). In 2004, he was elected State Treasurer. [11]

In 2005, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) persuaded Casey to run for the Senate seat held by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) in the 2006 elections. [12] In March 2005, he announced that he would. [13] He won the Democratic primary in a landslide, receiving almost eighty-five percent of the vote in a race against lesser-known challengers. [23]. Throughout 2006, polls showed him with a comfortable lead in the race, leading many political observers to label Santorum as the most vulnerable incumbent facing reelection. [14]

Political views

Casey opposes abortion and parts ways with the national Democratic Party over a few other social issues. Unlike most Democratic officials, for example, he opposes gun control. He has publicly stated his support for overturning Roe v. Wade, keeping the death penalty, and for the confirmation of John Roberts [15] and Samuel Alito [16] for seats on the Supreme Court of the United States.

While Casey opposes abortion he has stated that it would not be a priority of his to further restrict abortions when in the Senate. Instead, Casey would like to "see more of is an emphasis on what brings people together rather than what tears people apart".[17] Casey pointed to legislation proposed by House Democrats that would target "the underlying factors that often lead women to choose abortion" as an example this kind of approach to abortion.[18]

Casey has expressed his opposition to legislation that would prohibit adoptions by homosexual couples. [19] In a candidates’ questionnaire sponsored by Pacatholic.org, Casey also 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]

On another questionnaire, when asked to state a position on legalizing same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania, Casey responded "Oppose." However on several occasions has supported same sex partners adopting children. [21].

Casey is also more supportive of birth control than his father was as governor. Indeed, 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."

On economic and education-based issues, Casey falls more closely in line with mainstream Democratic policies. According to the candidates' questionnaire, Casey opposes school vouchers. [24] On his website, Casey 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, the website states Casey's support for the Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, which would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to companies with at least 25 employees.[25] Casey is also an opponent of privatizing Social Security [26], 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. [27] Finally, Casey has also attacked Senator Santorum for voting against increasing the minimum wage [23].

2006 congressional election

Casey defeated incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum 59%-41% to take possession of his seat in the 2006 congressional elections. [24]

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00027503&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Bob Casey
from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile: 2006 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2006 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by industry: 2006 election cycle Career totals


Committees and affiliations

Committees

More background data

Background information on Rick Santorum, whom Bob Casey challenged in the 2006 congressional elections:

Contact

Washington, D.C. Office:
383 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6324
Toll Free: (866) 802-2833
Fax: (202) 228-0604
Web Email
Website

Harrisburg Office:
555 Walnut Street, First Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 231-7540
Toll Free: (866) 461-9159
Fax: (717) 231-7542

Articles and resources

Resources

Articles

References

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ [2]
  3. ↑ [3]
  4. ↑ US Senate Resolution 380: Text, 16 February 2012.
  5. ↑ Philip Giraldi, AIPAC Declares War, Antiwar, 23 February 2012.
  6. ↑ MJ Rosenberg, Is the Senate trying to force Obama to go to war?, Al Jazeera, 23 February 2012.
  7. ↑ [4]
  8. ↑ Jeffrey Young. "Senate passes stem cell research bill," The Hill. April 11, 2007.
  9. ↑ [5] [6]
  10. ↑ [7]
  11. ↑ [8]
  12. ↑ [9]
  13. ↑ [10]
  14. ↑ [11]
  15. ↑ [12]
  16. ↑ [13]
  17. ↑ [14]
  18. ↑ [15]
  19. ↑ [16]
  20. ↑ [17]
  21. ↑ [18] [19]
  22. ↑ [20]
  23. ↑ [21]
  24. ↑ [22]

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. Senate
111th Congress
Leadership Position:
 Committees Chaired:
 Committees,
Ranking Member On:
 Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position:
None		 Committees Chaired:
 Committees,
Ranking Member On:
 Caucuses:
Committees: Joint Economic Committee, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry/Subcommittee on Energy Science and Technology, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry/Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing Inspection and Plant and Animal Health, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry/Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance Sustainable and Organic Agriculture and General Legislation, Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs, Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs/Subcommittee on Housing Transportation and Community Development, Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs/Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance, Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs/Subcommittee on Securities Insurance and Investment, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations/Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations Democracy and Human Rights, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations/Subcommittee on European Affairs, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations/Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office:
November 7, 2006		 First Took Current Office:
January 3, 2007		 Next Election:
November 6, 2012		 Term Ends:
Freshman Member?
Yes		 Previous Political Work?
Pennsylvania Auditor General,		 Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 555 Walnut Street, First Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 231-7540, (866) 461-9159 / Fax: (717) 231-7542
Campaign Contact:

Website:
Webform Email: / Email:

Campaign Offices:

1.
Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:

Date of Birth: April 13, 1960
Retrieved from "http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bob_Casey&oldid=557676"
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