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Mary Landrieu

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Mary Landrieu
United States Senator
from Louisiana
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 1997
Serving with David Vitter
Preceded byJ. Bennett Johnston
Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2009
Preceded byJohn Kerry
Louisiana State Treasurer
In office
1988–1996
GovernorBuddy Roemer
Edwin Edwards
Preceded byMary Evelyn Parker
Succeeded byKen Duncan
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseFrank Snellings
ChildrenConnor Snellings
Mary Shannon Snellings
ResidenceNew Orleans, Louisiana
Alma materLouisiana State University (B.A.)
Occupationreal estate agent
Signature
Websitelandrieu.senate.gov

Mary Loretta Landrieu (Template:Pron-en, LAN-droo;[1] born November 23, 1955) is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana, and is the second woman elected to the U.S. Senate for Louisiana. Landrieu is the daughter of former New Orleans mayor and Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Moon Landrieu and the sister of the current Mayor of New Orleans and former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana Mitch Landrieu. By national standards, Landrieu is among the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. Senate,[2] and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Personal life

Landrieu was born in Arlington, Virginia to Verna Satterlee and former New Orleans mayor Moon Landrieu,[3] and raised in New Orleans. She was raised as a Roman Catholic and attended Ursuline Academy of New Orleans. She graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1977 where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. Before entering politics, she worked as a real estate agent. She was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1980 to 1988, representing a New Orleans-based district. She then served as Louisiana state treasurer from 1988–1996, having succeeded the veteran officeholder, Mary Evelyn Parker. In the 1987 primary for treasurer, she defeated two legislative colleagues, Kevin P. Reilly, Sr., chief executive officer at the time of Lamar Advertising Company in Baton Rouge, and Claude "Buddy" Leach, a former U.S. representative and the current chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Landrieu gave up the treasurer's office to run for governor of Louisiana in 1995, but finished third in the state's jungle primary (which at that time was considered the actual election in Louisiana). The eventual winner was Democrat-turned-Republican Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.

Landrieu and her husband, attorney Frank Snellings (born 1949), who grew up in Monroe, have two children, Connor and Mary Shannon.

1996 Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 1996

Landrieu was elected in 1996 to the U.S. Senate seat previously held by John Bennett Johnston, Jr. of Shreveport after winning a close and controversial runoff election against Louisiana State Representative Woody Jenkins.

Landrieu as senator

Landrieu speaks during the second day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Landrieu narrowly won re-election in the 2002 mid-term election. She defeated Suzanne Haik Terrell of New Orleans. Some experts and pundits had considered Landrieu as a possible running mate for presidential candidate John Kerry in the 2004 election before Kerry's selection of then- Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. With the departure of John Breaux from the Senate in December 2004, his seat being taken by Republican David Vitter, Landrieu became Louisiana's senior senator.

She has made securing funding for Louisiana projects one of her top priorities as a US Senator. She has also held high profile hearings on the mistakes of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. In a break from her previous two close elections, she won a relatively comfortable 52% to 46% re-election to a third term on November 4, 2008, in a race against her challenger, Louisiana State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, a former Democrat who switched to the Republican Party in 2007.[4]

On December 15, 2008, it was announced that Landrieu would become Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for the 111th Congress when former Chairman John Kerry left to lead the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, previously headed by Vice President-elect Joe Biden.[5]

Committee assignments

Source: 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Page S729

Senate career

Landrieu supports eliminating the estate tax permanently, and voted for the tax cut passed in 2001. On November 17, 2005, she was one of only four Democrats to vote against repealing the portions of the tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 that more Democrats have charged unfairly benefit the wealthy. She voted for the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. In 2004, Landrieu was one of only six Democrats to vote against renewing the ban on semi-automatic firearms. She has also been one of the few Democrats to support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Landrieu voted for the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts in 2005, but in 2006, she opposed Samuel Alito, though she did vote in favor of cloture to send the nomination to an up-or-down vote.

Subsequent to the 2006 midterm election, in which the Democratic Party gained control of both houses of Congress, Landrieu announced (along with Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine) the formation of the "Common Ground Coalition", a group of moderate senators of both parties, with the goal of finding bipartisan consensus on legislative matters.[5]

Health care

Landrieu was opposed to the public health insurance option in the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009[6] (HR 3200) until the bill was rewritten to send a $300,000,000 payment to Medicaid for her home state.[7] When two pages were added to the bill to place $300 million in Louisiana's Medicaid system, she changed her web page in order to reflect her support of the program.[8] Conservative figures referred to the deal as the "Louisiana Purchase".[9] As a result, prominent conservative figures Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh called her a "high-priced prostitute".[10]

On November 21, 2009, Landrieu voted with fifty-nine other Senators to bring the health care bill up for debate. On December 8, 2009, she voted against the Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment which proposed to ban federal funding for private plans that covered elective abortions but allowed individuals to purchase separate individual riders that would cover abortions.[9]

Prior to a concession of $300 million being added to the bill, Landrieu responded to a question on popular support of the public option, and asserted that the option has popular support because “when people hear ‘public option’ they hear ‘free health care.’ Everybody wants free health care. Everybody wants health care they don’t have to pay for.”[11][12]

After Senator Harry Reid added the concession to the bill which sent $300,000,000 to Medicaid recipients in Louisiana, she described the bill as 'imperfect, but taking many steps to improve our broken health care system.'

Hurricane Katrina

Sen. Landrieu (center) joins Women of the Storm from the Gulf Coast

Hurricane Katrina destroyed Landrieu's lakeside New Orleans home. The senator has become a national spokeswoman for victims of the hurricane, and has complained of "the staggering incompetence of the national government."[13]

In the weeks following Katrina, Landrieu and fellow Senator David Vitter co-sponsored the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act of 2005 (S.1765),[14] a 440-page aid package worth an estimated $250 billion[15][16] (roughly $550,000 per resident) in order to rebuild New Orleans, a city of 453,726 pre-Katrina.[17] The bill was read twice by Congress, then referred to the United States Senate Committee on Finance.[18]

Protect America Act

On August 3, 2007, Landrieu broke ranks with Democrats when she and Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon sided with Republicans and the Bush Administration in voting for the Protect America Act, an amendment to the USA Patriot Act further expanding wiretap powers.[19]

Voyager reading program

Landrieu earmarked $2 million for a reading program whose founder supported her campaign for reelection. Randy Best, founder of the Voyager Expanded Learning literacy program, had hosted a fundraising event that raised $30,000 for Landrieu's reelection campaign days before she proposed his reading program in the earmark. Best and his company's top associates were among those who donated to Landrieu's campaign.[20] This earned her a spot on the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington advocacy group's "Top 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" report.[21]

In 2007, Landrieu was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.[22]

Alleged Entry of Senate Office Under False Pretenses

On January 25, 2010, four conservative activists, including Stan Dai, Joseph Basel, both 24, Robert Flanagan, son of Bill Flanagan, acting U.S. Attorney, and conservative filmmaker James O'Keefe, were arrested for their alleged role in a plot to damage the phone system of Landrieu's Louisiana offices.[23] Two of the alleged co-conspirators allegedly posed as telephone repair technicians, in order to gain access to the telephone system for the office. According to an affidavit filed on behalf of Special Agent Stephen Rayes, O'Keefe admitted to "recording" the interactions with the staff with his cell phone and aiding in the "planning, coordination, and preparation of the operation." [24] On March 27 2010, the four were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses, a misdemeanor charge.[25]

Election history

United States Senate, 1996

See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 1996

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, September 21, 1996

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Woody Jenkins Republican 322,244 (26%) Runoff
Mary Landrieu Democratic 264,268 (22%) Runoff
Richard Ieyoub Democratic 250,682 (20%) Defeated
David Duke Republican 172,244 (12%) Defeated
Others various 249,913 (20%) Defeated

Second ballot, November 5, 1996

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Mary Landrieu Democratic 852,945 (50%) Elected
Woody Jenkins Republican 847,157 (50%) Defeated

United States Senate, 2002

See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2002

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, November 5, 2002

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Mary Landrieu Democratic 573,347 (46%) Runoff
Suzanne Haik Terrell Republican 339,506 (27%) Runoff
John Cooksey Republican 171,752 (14%) Defeated
Tony Perkins Republican 119,776 (10%) Defeated
Others various 41,952 (3%) Defeated

Second ballot, December 7, 2002

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Mary Landrieu Democratic 638,654 (52%) Elected
Suzanne Haik Terrell Republican 596,642 (48%) Defeated

United States Senate, 2008

See also: United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2008
Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Mary Landrieu Democratic 988,298 (52%) Reelected
John Neely Kennedy Republican 867,177 (46%) Defeated
Richard Fontenasi Libertarian 18,590 (1%) Defeated
Others various 22,509 (1%) Defeated

References

  1. ^ AP News Pronunciation Guide
  2. ^ The American Conservative Union rated Senator Landrieu as 40% conservative in 2007, which was the highest score of any sitting Democrat and higher than the scores of two Republicans. [1]
  3. ^ Reitwiesner, William Addams. ""The Ancestors of Mary Landrieu"". wargs.com. William Addams Reitwiesner Genealogical Services. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  4. ^ Skiba, Katherine (March 14, 2008). "Senate Majority No Longer Republicans' Goal". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  5. ^ a b "Sen. Landrieu to Chair Senate Small Business Committee". CNBC. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2008-12-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ Ryan Grim (2009-06-09). "Mary Landrieu Opposed To Public Health Care Option". Huffington Post.
  7. ^ Rich Klein (2009-11-21). "The $100 Million Health Care Vote". ABC News.
  8. ^ "The Importance of Health Care Reform".
  9. ^ a b "Sen. Landrieu: No apologies for so-called Louisiana purchase". USA Today. February 4, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  10. ^ http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/12/sen_mary_landrieu_has_become_a.html
  11. ^ Zaid Jilani (2009-10-15). "Landrieu Says The Public Option Is Popular Because 'Everybody Wants Free Health Care' But the Health Care isn't free. the working tax payers are the ones paying for the so called free Health Care. Nothing is free". Think Progress.
  12. ^ "Landrieu1". 2009-10-14.
  13. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (September 9, 2005). "La. Senator Returns to Capitol to Denounce Bush". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  14. ^ Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act
  15. ^ Hulse, Carl (September 23, 2005). "Louisiana Lawmakers Propose $250 Billion Recovery Package". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  16. ^ "Louisiana Goes After Federal Billions". The Washington Post. September 26, 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-13. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "New Orleans (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". United States Census Bureau. July 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  18. ^ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-1765
  19. ^ ""U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - 1st Session: On Passage of the Bill (S.1927 as Amended)"". Legislation & Records. United States Senate. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  20. ^ Grimaldi, James V. (December 20, 2007). "A Reading Program's Powerful Patron". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  21. ^ "CREW Releases Fourth Annual Most Corrupt Members Of Congress Report". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  22. ^ ""Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame"". cityofwinnfield.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  23. ^ Leonnig, Carol D.; Franke-Ruta, Garance (January 27, 2009). "James O'Keefe charged in alleged plot to bug Senator Mary Landrieu's office". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
  24. ^ Sworn Affidavit
  25. ^ "Charges reduced in Landrieu phone incident". CNN. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mary Landrieu.
Political offices
Preceded by Louisiana State Treasurer
1988–1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairwoman of the Senate Small Business Committee
2009 – present 		Incumbent
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Louisiana
1997–present
Served alongside: John Breaux, David Vitter 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Senators by seniority
43rd 		Succeeded by
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