Wayne Allard
Wayne Allard | |
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| United States Senator from Colorado | |
| Assumed office January 7, 1997 Serving with Ken Salazar | |
| Preceded by | Hank Brown |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 2, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Hank Brown |
| Succeeded by | Bob Schaffer |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Joan Malcolm |
| Children | Christi Allard Cheryl Allard |
| Residence | Loveland, Colorado |
| Alma mater | Colorado State University |
| Occupation | veterinarian |
| Profession | Veterinarian |
Alan Wayne Allard (born December 2, 1943) is the senior United States Senator from Colorado and a member of the Republican Party.
Early life
Allard was born in Fort Collins, Colorado to Sibyl Jean Stewart and Amos Wilson Allard.[1] He was raised on a ranch near Walden, Colorado. He received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1968.
Political career
State Senate
Allard continued to run a veterinary practice full-time, while representing Larimer and Weld Counties in the Colorado State Senate, from 1983 to 1990. He was best known during his time in the Colorado State Senate for sponsoring the state law limiting state legislative sessions to 120 days.
US House of Representatives
Allard served in the United States House of Representatives from Colorado's Fourth Congressional District from 1991 to 1997. As a Colorado Representative, Allard served on the Joint Committee on Congressional Reform, which recommended many of the reforms included in the Contract with America. These reforms became some of the first to be passed by the Republican controlled Congress in 1995 and were the key to their platform.
US Senate
In 1996, Allard was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Tom Strickland by five percentage points. He made a pledge at the time to serve just two terms in the Senate before retiring. In 2002, he was re-elected, defeating Strickland again by the same margin.
In the 110th Congress, Allard serves on the following committees: United States Senate Committee on Appropriations of which he is Ranking Minority member of the Legislative Branch subcommittee United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of which he is Ranking Minority member of the Securities, Insurance, and Investment subcommittee United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee United States Senate Committee on the Budget
In April 2006, Allard was named by Time as one of "America's 5 Worst Senators." The magazine called him "The Invisible Man" and said he was one of the "least influential Senators" because he "almost never plays a role in major legislation" and "rarely speaks on the floor or holds press conferences to push his ideas" despite his ten years in the Senate and his presence as a majority party member on two key committees.[2] The Rocky Mountain News retorted that Time made the "wrong call" and that Allard was a "hard-working advocate for Colorado interests."[3] The Colorado Springs Gazette claimed the article was "soft, subjective, snide, impressionistic slop — further proof of the low to which this once-serious publication has sunk."[citation needed]
In 2003, Allard introduced into the Senate the Federal Marriage Amendment, banning same-sex marriages. [4]
On January 15, 2007 Allard announced he would fulfill a 1996 campaign promise to serve only two Senate terms and would retire in January 2009.[5] In turn, the 2008 Senate race is expected to become competitive.[5] Democratic Representative Mark Udall and former Republican Representative Bob Schaffer have already announced their intention to run for the seat.
In April 2007, Allard announced his endorsement of Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.[6] He switched his endorsement to John McCain once he secured his spot as the presumptive Republican nominee.[7]
Environmental record
Allard was a co-sponsor of the James Peak Wilderness Bill, which created a 14,000-acre (57 km2) preserve around James Peak, and added 3,000 acres (12 km2) to the Indian Peak Protection Area. Allard also sponsored legislation which created Colorado's 85,000-acre (340 km2) Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Allard is also chairman and founder of the Senate Renewable Energy and Efficiency Caucus[8]
In 2006, the environmental group Republicans for Environmental Protection[9] praised Allard for his support of legislation to make the Army Corps of Engineers more accountable for its projects' environmental and economic impact, but censured him for supporting oil drilling both offshore and in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[10] The nonpartisan League of Conservation Voters issued Allard a grade of 29% for 2006.[11]
Fiscal conservatism
While working in Congress, Allard has consistantly asserts that the federal government unnecessarily spends too much money. During his Senate career, his office has returned $4.2 million dollars of its collective budget.[12] Allard is considered to be one of the most firmly anti-tax politicians in Washington. He has campaigned on the goal of repealing marriage, inheritance, and capital gains taxes.[13]
Personal life
While completing veterinary school, Allard married Joan Malcolm, who received her degree in microbiology, also from CSU. They then founded their veterinary practice, the Allard Animal Hospital. The Allards raised their two daughters, Christi and Cheryl, in Loveland, Colorado, and have five grandsons. He is a Protestant.
Role in the Senate
Committee Assignments
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Securities, Insurance, and Investment Subcommittee (Ranking Member)
- Financial Institutions Subcommittee
- Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee
- Committee on Appropriations
- Interior Subcommittee(Ranking Member)
- Legislative Branch Subcommittee
- Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
- Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee
- Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
- Transportation/HUD Subcommittee
Electoral history
1996 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
- Wayne Allard (R), 57%
- Gale Norton (R), 43%
- Wayne Allard (R), 51%
- Tom Strickland (D), 46%
United States Senate election in Colorado, 2002
- Wayne Allard (R) (inc.), 51%
- Tom Strickland (D), 46%
See also
Footnotes
- ^ 1
- ^ Massimo Calabresi and Perry Bacon, Jr., "Wayne Allard: The Invisible Man", Time Magazine, April 24, 2006, page 28.
- ^ On Point: Wrong call on Allard : Columns & Blogs : The Rocky Mountain News
- ^ Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
- ^ a b Paulson, Steven (January 15, 2007). "Report: Sen. Allard won't seek 3rd term". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ Governor Mitt Romney Announces Support of Senator Wayne Allard Romney for President, Inc. Press Releases. April 16, 2007 Retrieved April 16, 2007
- ^ Senator Wayne Allard Endorses John McCain for President
- ^ Sen. Allard details stance on environment | AspenTimes.com
- ^ Republicans for Environmental Protection 2006 Scorecard
- ^ ibid.
- ^ League of Conservation Voters 2006 Scorecard
- ^ http://allard.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Biography.Home
- ^ http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Wayne_Allard.htm
External links
- United States Senator Wayne Allard, U.S. Senate site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- New York Times — Wayne Allard News collected news and commentary
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Wayne Allard profile
- 2008 Colorado Senate Race, at 2008RaceTracker.com
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