John Barrasso

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John Barrasso currently serves as the Jr. Senator for Wyoming

John Antony Barrasso, a Republican, has been the junior senator from Wyoming since 2007. (map) He was chosen on June 22, 2007 by Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal to replace Sen. Craig Thomas, who had recently died of leukemia. Barrasso's appointment was temporary until a special election for the seat was held in 2008 which Barrasso then won. The election was to fill the remaining four years of Mr. Thomas's term.

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 John Barrasso voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

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

Environmental record

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

Oil record

John Barrasso has voted in favor of big oil companies on 100% of important oil related bills, according to Oil Change International. These bills include Iraq War funding, climate change studies, clean energy, and oil import reductions. See below for oil and coal money in politics.

Political views

Barrasso is considered a "conservative" and is "pro-life," although he has changed his position on this issue. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the Senate in 1996 for the seat vacated by the moderate Alan Simpson of Cody, an abortion-rights supporter. In 1996, Barrasso characterized himself as "pro-choice." He lost the primary to anti-abortion advocate Mike Enzi. While in the the State Senate, he received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association.

In his application to fill Thomas' seat in 2007, Barrasso expressed that he would be a conservative voice in Washington. He wrote, "I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditional family values, local control and a strong national defense." He said he has "voted for prayer in schools, against gay marriage and [has] sponsored legislation to protect the sanctity of life."

Bio

Barrasso graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor of science degree in 1974. He received his medical degree from Georgetown in 1978. He conducted his residency at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut.

In addition to a private practice, he served as chief of staff of the Wyoming Medical Center, state president of the Wyoming Medical Society, president of the National Association of Physician Broadcasters, and a member of the American Medical Association Council of Ethics and Judicial Affairs.

He also served as a member of the board of directors of "Presidential Classroom," a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that brings young people to Washington to learn about their national government. Barrasso was also a member of the Casper Chamber of Commerce and the Casper Rotary Club.

Barrasso was elected to the Wyoming State Senate in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.

In the State Senate, he served on the following committees:

• Labor, Health and Social Services Committee
• Select Committee on Legislative Technology
• Department of Health Advisory Council
• NCSL - Labor and Workforce Development
• NCSL - Transportation
• CSG West - Trade & Transportation
• Chairman: Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs

Speculation that occurred about 2008 special election

After Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) appointed Barrasso over former state Treasurer Cynthia Lummis (R) and one-time Craig Thomas Chief of Staff Tom Sansonetti, a former state GOP chairman, many Wyoming Republicans geared for the possibility of challenging Barrasso in the 2008 special election. In his application for the Senate seat, Barrasso already expressed his intention to seek the final four years of Thomas' term. Ambitious Wyoming Republicans were refusing to rule out challenging either him or Rep. Barbara Cubin in next year's GOP primaries.

Matt Mead (R), a U.S. attorney who resigned so he could apply for the Senate vacancy, commented "I haven’t ruled anything out yet," hinting that he may make a bid for Barrasso's seat. Mead's grandfather, Clifford Hansen, served the state as governor and Senator.

State Rep. Colin Simpson (R), the Majority Floor Leader of the Wyoming House of Representatives and the son former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), also declined to rule out running for federal office in 2008, even if that means challenging Barrasso or Cubin in a primary.

Cynthia Lummis, one of the choices for Thomas' seat, said in an interview that she would not run against Cubin in a primary, citing her status as a sitting Republican officeholder, but she said she was contemplating a bid against Barrasso because she did not view him as a traditional incumbent. "That is an interim appointment, so that is a different circumstance," she commented.

Democrats also considered running for the seat, as Barrasso would only have served 18 months Election Day 2008. State Sen. Mike Massie, 2002 gubernatorial candidate Paul Hickey and former state Rep. Patrick Hacker all considered a bid. Barrasso faced and defeated Democrat Nick Carter for the senate seat in the 2008 election.

Money in politics

Oil and coal money in politics

John Barrasso has received $136,400 in oil contributions during the 110th congress. $110,500 of those dollars were from industry PACS. These numbers make Barrasso one of the top recipients of oil and coal money in the Senate. In addition to oil money, Barrasso has accepted $82,250 in coal contributions during the 110th congress. $70,000 of those dollars were from industry PACS . See above for oil and energy voting record.

Contact

DC Office:
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724
Email: Senator_JBarrasso@barrasso.senate.gov
Website

Casper Office:
100 East B Street, Suite 2201
Casper, Wyoming 82602
Phone: (307) 261-6413
Fax: (307) 265-6706

Cheyenne Office:
2120 Capitol Avenue, Suite 2013
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
Phone: (307) 772-2451
Fax: (307) 638-3512

Rock Springs Office:
2632 Foothills Boulevard, #101
Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901
Phone: (307) 362-5012
Fax: (307) 362-5129

Riverton Office:
325 West Main, Suite F
Riverton, Wyoming 82501
Phone: (307) 856-6642
Fax: (307) 856-5901

Sheridan Office:
2 North Main, Suite 206
Sheridan, Wyoming 82801
Phone: (307) 672-6456
Fax: (307) 672-8227

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

Carbon Dioxide Capture Technology Act of 2009

References

Wikipedia also has an article on John Barrasso. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

External resources

• Wyoming Senate Members Site
  
• Health Grades (Medical Research Site)
  
• National Science Bowl 2006
  
• CSN News
  
• Unique Opportunities Magazine for Physicians May 2000
  
• Barrasso Official Statement
  
• See how you compare to John Barrasso
• Follow the Oil Money-Senate
• Vote Tracker
• Follow the Coal Money- Senate
• Appalachian Voices

External articles

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: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources/Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources/Subcommittee on National Parks, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources/Subcommittee on Water and Power, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works/Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works/Subcommittee on Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming Oversight and Children's Health Protection, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works/Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: Appointed June 25, 2007 and won special election November 4, 2008	First Took Current Office: June 25, 2007	Next Election: November 6, 2012	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work? Wyoming Senate	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 100 East B Street, Suite 2201, Casper, Wyoming 82602 Phone: (307) 261-6413 / Fax: (307) 265-6706 2. 2120 Capitol Avenue, Suite 2013, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 Phone: (307) 772-2451 / Fax: (307) 638-3512 3. 2632 Foothills Boulevard, #101, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901 Phone: (307) 362-5012 / Fax: (307) 362-5129 4. 325 West Main, Suite F, Riverton, Wyoming 82501 Phone: (307) 856-6642 / Fax: (307) 856-5901 5. 2 North Main, Suite 206, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 Phone: (307) 672-6456 / Fax: (307) 672-8227
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: July 21, 1952