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Patty Murray

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This is a profile of a U.S. senator. (See all the Washington portal for all incumbents, candidates and blogs.)

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Patty Murray currently serves as the Sr. Senator for Washington

Patricia Lynn Murray is the Senior Senator for the state of Washington. She is a Democrat and was first elected in 1992. (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 Patty Murray voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Murray voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

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

Tribal Campaign Contributions and Jack Abramoff

Murray "received more than $40,000 in contributions from out-of-state Indian tribes represented by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff campaign finance reports show.

"Murray's total places her ninth among lawmakers - and second among Democrats - who received campaign donations from tribes associated with Abramoff, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, D.C.-based group that tracks money in politics. The money was received from 1999 to 2005, the group said in a report posted on its Web site, www.opensecrets.org," KOMO 1000 TV News reported January 4, 2006.

"Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has been spotlighted by The Associated Press for not giving away to charity $41,000 received from Abramoff's tribal clients. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., also apparently is not giving back $10,000 in similar contributions".[1]

Criticism of the Architect of the Capitol

Murray had harsh criticism for Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers following an investigation in to asbestos in utility tunnels under the Hill. After a work team had been exposed to the carcinogen, Ayers allegedly pressured the workers to not report the problems and refused reimbursement for asbestos-related independent medical evaluations. Murray wrote in mid-March 2007, that Ayers may have been more concerned about his "legal liabilities in this matter than providing the best care possible for these men." Murray held a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing on the issue earlier that month. [1]

Bio

Background

Murray was born October 11, 1950 in Bothell, Washington to Irish-American parents. Murray received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University in 1972. She was a preschool teacher for several years and taught at Shoreline Community College from 1984 to 1987.

As a citizen-lobbyist for environmental and educational issues, she was once told that she couldn't make a difference because she was just a "mom in tennis shoes." The phrase stuck, and she later used it in her successful campaigns for Shoreline School District Board of Directors (1985-1989), Washington State Senate (1989-1993), and United States Senate (1993-present).

Senate Career

Her first Senate race in 1992 she faced Rep. Rod Chandler and beat him handily, 54% to 46%, in part riding Bill Clinton's coattails. In 1998 she won reelection by beating Rep. Linda Smith, 58% to 42%. In 2004 she faced yet another Republican Representative, George Nethercutt, who she defeated 55% to 43%, making her only the fourth Washington senator to win 3 consecutive terms. Following the 2006 midterm elections, Murray was named the secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference.

Murray's official Senate website states she was "Originally known for her work on education and children's issues, [and] has become a leading figure on transportation, border and port security, healthcare, and economic development."[2]

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00007876&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Patty Murray
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

Patty Murray's escalating campaign budgets reflect the fact that reelection isn't getting any easier for the three-term Democratic senator from Washington state. Murray's elections have never been runaways; she's won three close races. Her high water mark was 1998, when she won with 58% of the vote.

Since her first campaign for the Senate in 1992, Murray has raised nearly $18 million – putting her in the top ranks of congressional fundraisers. Her list of top overall contributors includes a mixture of local employers – Microsoft, Boeing, and the University of Washington chief among them – as well as a long roster of labor unions, a traditional ally of Democrats. Her top contributor by far, however, has been EMILY's List, the PAC that supports pro-choice female Democrats, and that encourages its members to bundle contributions independently to its top-priority races.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

Affiliations

More Background Data

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

Contact

DC Office:
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4701
Phone:202-224-2621
Fax:202-224-0238
Web Email
Website

District Office- Everett:
2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 903
Everett, WA 98201
Phone: 425-259-6515
Fax: 425-259-7152

District Office- Seattle:
2988 Jackson Federal Building
915 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 98174
Phone: 206-553-5545
Fax: 206-553-0891

District Office- Spokane:
601 West Main Avenue, Suite 1213
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509-624-9515
Fax: 509-624-9561

District Office- Tacoma:
950 Pacific Avenue, Suite 650
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-572-3636
Fax: 253-572-9892

District Office- Vancouver:
The Marshall House
1323 Officer's Row
Vancouver, WA 98661
Phone: 360-696-7797
Fax: 360-696-7798

District Office- Yakima:
402 East Yakima Avenue, Suite 390
Yakima, WA 98901
Phone: 509-453-7462
Fax: 509-453-7731

Articles and Resources

Resources

Articles

Local blogs and discussion sites

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:
Secretary of the Conference		 Committees Chaired:
 Committees,
Ranking Member On:
 Caucuses:
Committees: Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Defense, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on the Financial Services and General Government, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on the Budget, Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions, Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions/Subcommittee on Children and Families, Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions/Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office:
November 3, 1992		 First Took Current Office:
January 5, 1993		 Next Election:
November 2, 2010		 Term Ends:
Freshman Member?
No		 Previous Political Work?
Washington State Senate		 Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 903, Everett, WA 98201
Phone: 425-259-6515 / Fax: 425-259-7152
2. 2988 Jackson Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174
Phone: 206-553-5545 / Fax: 206-553-0891
3. 601 West Main Avenue, Suite 1213, Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509-624-9515 / Fax: 509-624-9561
4. 950 Pacific Avenue, Suite 650, Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-572-3636 / Fax: 253-572-9892
5. The Marshall House, 1323 Officer's Row, Vancouver, WA 98661
Phone: 360-696-7797 / Fax: 360-696-7798
6. 402 East Yakima Avenue, Suite 390, Yakima, WA 98901
Phone: 509-453-7462 / Fax: 509-453-7731
Campaign Contact:

Website:
Webform Email: / Email:

Campaign Offices:

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

Date of Birth: October 11, 1950








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