Neil Abercrombie
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| Neil Abercrombie | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Saiki |
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| In office September 20, 1986 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Cecil Heftel |
| Succeeded by | Pat Saiki |
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| In office 1980 – 1986 |
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Member of the
Hawaii House of Representatives |
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| In office 1975 – 1979 |
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| Born | June 26, 1938 Buffalo, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Nancie Caraway |
| Residence | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Alma mater | Union College, University of Hawaii |
| Occupation | business consultant |
| Religion | Non-denominational Protestant |
Neil Abercrombie (born June 26, 1938) is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Hawaii's 1st congressional district (map) since 1991. He is running for the office of Governor of Hawaii in the upcoming 2010 election.
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[edit] Biography
Abercrombie was born in Buffalo, New York, to Vera June and Donald Abercrombie.[1] Upon graduating from Williamsville High School (now Williamsville South High School), he went on to pursue studies in sociology at Union College in Schenectady, New York. There, Abercrombie obtained his bachelor's degree in 1959. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where he obtained his doctorate in 1974. There he attended classes with and befriended current United States President Barack Obama's parents, Ann Dunham and Barack Obama, Sr.[2] As a result, Abercrombie is the only member of Congress to have met Barack Obama when Obama was a child in Hawaii where Obama's parents lived.
Abercrombie first participated in a political campaign in 1970, seeking the Democratic nomination to the United States Senate. Unsuccessful, Abercrombie ran for the Hawaii State House of Representatives where he served from 1975 to 1979. He moved to the Hawaii State Senate, where he served from 1980 to 1986. After Representative Cecil Heftel resigned from the United States Congress in July 1986 to run for Governor of Hawaiʻi, Abercrombie was elected to the House in a September 1986 special election to complete Heftel's unexpired term. However, on the same day Abercrombie lost the Democratic primary for a full two-year term to Mufi Hannemann, who went on to lose to Republican Pat Saiki in the general election.[3]
Abercrombie then set his sights on a seat of the Honolulu City Council. He won the race and served from 1988 to 1990. At the end of his council tenure, Abercrombie once again ran for Congress and won in 1990, and has since been reelected ten times. In the 2008 election, he won with 70.6% of the vote.
Neil Abercrombie is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has generally compiled a liberal voting record. On October 10, 2002, Neil Abercrombie was among the 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq.
On Sunday, March 9, 2009, Abercrombie announced his intention to again run for Governor of Hawaii instead of running for an 11th Congressional term.[4].
Abercrombie is an avid weight-lifter and has a stated goal of lifting 200 lbs more than his age on each birthday. It has been reported and witnessed by other members of Congress that Abercrombie can indeed do this. On his 67th birthday, he bench pressed 268 lbs.[5]
Abercrombie currently resides in Honolulu, Hawaii and plans to run for governor in 2010.
[edit] Committee assignments
[edit] Caucuses
[edit] Transparency record
[edit] Support for gun control
Abercrombie cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 28, 2005. [2]
[edit] Abortion
Abercrombie's record indicates that he is supportive of most issue positions commonly held by liberal Democrats. He is pro-choice, and has voted against a ban on partial birth abortion. He voted with the interests of NARAL and Planned Parenthood 100% between 2000-2006. [3]
[edit] Voting rights
He has voted for bills designed to make it easier for Americans to vote, such as the "Motor voter" bill. [4]
[edit] Civil liberties
He has also advocated strongly for civil liberties; his voting record is supported by both the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and American Library Association. He has also voted against a constitutional amendment to limit marriage to being between one man and one woman. Notably, he was one of only nine representatives not to cast a vote for or against the USA PATRIOT ACT in 2001. In 2005, he voted against the extension of the act, calling it “a blank check to trample civil liberties." [5]
[edit] Healthcare
In 2007, he signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 676, which would establish a national health insurance program. [6]
[edit] Education
He did support and vote for No Child Left Behind, as many other Democrats did. [7]
[edit] 2008 Campaign Finances
[edit] Summary
Election Cycle 2008
Total Income $1,444,071
Total Spent $1,005,218
Cash On Hand $1,072,495
Debt $0 [8]
[edit] Top Contributors
BAE Systems $19,190
Novasol $15,550
International Longshoremens Assn $15,000
Hunt Building $13,800
University of Hawaii $12,470
Lockheed Martin $12,200
Star Cruises $12,000
Boeing Co $11,200
Seafarers International Union $10,920
Air Line Pilots Assn $10,000
American Crystal Sugar $10,000
American Federation of Teachers $10,000
American Postal Workers Union $10,000
Boilermakers Union $10,000
Carpenters & Joiners Union $10,000
General Dynamics $10,000
Honeywell International $10,000
Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $10,000
Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union $10,000
Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn $10,000
National Air Traffic Controllers Assn $10,000
National Assn of Realtors $10,000
National Auto Dealers Assn $10,000
Northrop Grumman $10,000
Painters & Allied Trades Union $10,000
Sheet Metal Workers Union $10,000
United Technologies $10,000
United Transportation Union $10,000
The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. [9]
[edit] Top Sectors
Labor $271,870
Defense $147,420
Finance/Insur/RealEst $122,590
Lawyers & Lobbyists $114,261
Misc Business $105,470
Transportation $91,200
Construction $81,900
Health $76,547
Energy/Nat Resource $54,910
Other $53,630 [10]
[edit] Top Industries
Transportation Unions $96,560
Defense Aerospace $78,860
Real Estate $73,050
Lawyers/Law Firms $72,288
Building Trade Unions $71,300
Sea Transport $67,260
Public Sector Unions $52,290
Health Professionals $51,560
Defense Electronics $42,500
Lobbyists $41,973 [11]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ abercrombie
- ^ The Story of Barack Obama's Mother
- ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6154147
- ^ [1]
- ^ Albert Eisele, "Menendez: Turn the tables on journos", The Hill, July 6, 2005.
[edit] External links
- "U.S. Congressperson Neil Abercrombie". United States House of Representatives. http://www.house.gov/abercrombie/.
- "Abercrombie For Governor". Official Campaign Website. http://www.neilabercrombie.com/.
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
- "Neil Abercrombie Voting Record". Project Vote Smart. http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26827.
- "Neil Abercrombie Campaign Finance/Money". Open Secrets. http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cycle=2008&type=I&cid=N00007665&newMem=N#funds.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cecil Heftel |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 1st congressional district 1986 – 1987 |
Succeeded by Pat Saiki |
| Preceded by Pat Saiki |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 1st congressional district 1991 – present |
Incumbent |
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