Mark Pryor

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This article is about the United States Senator. For the British entomologist, see M.G.M. Pryor. For the Major League Baseball pitcher with a similar name, see Mark Prior.
Mark Pryor
United States Senator
from Arkansas
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Serving with John Boozman
Preceded byTim Hutchinson
53rd Arkansas Attorney General
In office
January 12, 1999 – January 3, 2003
GovernorMike Huckabee
Preceded byWinston Bryant
Succeeded byMike Beebe
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 57th district
In office
1991–1995
Succeeded byLisa Ferrell
Personal details
Born
Mark Lunsford Pryor

(1963-01-10) January 10, 1963 (age 61)
Fayetteville, Arkansas
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJill Pryor (Divorced)
ChildrenAdams Pryor
Porter Pryor
ResidenceLittle Rock, Arkansas
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas (B.A., J.D.)
OccupationAttorney
Politician
Signature
Websitewww.pryor.senate.gov

Mark Lunsford Pryor (born January 10, 1963) is the senior United States Senator from Arkansas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party and former Attorney General of Arkansas.

Born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Pryor is the son of former Arkansas Governor and U.S. Senator David Hampton Pryor. He received his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He worked in private practice for several years until being elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1990. He was elected the state Attorney General in 1998. Pryor announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2001, running for the same Senate seat his father had held from 1979 to 1997. He was elected with 54 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected with no Republican opposition in 2008. In January 2009 he briefly became the youngest member of the Senate, the oldest "youngest member" of the Senate ever to serve. During the 112th Congress he served as the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance.

Early life, education, and early political career

Pryor was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas to the former Barbara Jean Lunsford and former Governor and U.S. Senator David Hampton Pryor. He is divorced from Jill Pryor, and has two children, Adams and Porter, as well as a dog named Nic. He attended Walt Whitman High School in Maryland, graduating in 1981.[1] He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the university's law school in 1988. During college, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Prior to entering politics, Pryor worked as a private practice attorney. He was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995. In 1994, he ran for Arkansas Attorney General, challenging incumbent Winston Bryant in the Democratic primary. Pryror lost 58%-42%.[2] In 1998, he ran for the same position again and became the Democratic party nominee. He defeated Republican nominee Betty Dicky, the Redfield City Attorney, 59%-41%. He won all but four counties in the state: Benton, Boone, Marion, and Baxter.[3] He was also delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2000.

U.S. Senate

Elections

2002
Main article: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2002

In late 2001, Pryor announced his candidacy for the Senate seat held by Tim Hutchinson, who six years earlier had become the first Arkansas Republican to serve in that body since Reconstruction. The seat had been held by David Pryor, who actively campaigned for his son. Hutchinson's popularity was considerably dragged down by the fact that he had divorced his wife of 29 years and married a congressional aide, but Pryor didn't make an issue of it during the campaign. Pryor defeated Hutchinson 54% to 46%. He was the only Democratic candidate for the Senate to defeat a Republican incumbent in that election cycle.

2008
Main article: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008

He faced no major-party opposition in 2008, which is unusual for a freshman Senator. There had been speculation that former Governor Mike Huckabee would run against Pryor if his presidential bid were unsuccessful, but on March 8, Huckabee said he wouldn't contest the race.[4] The only Republican to express interest in the race, health care executive Tom Formicola, decided not to run.[5] His only announced opponent was Green candidate Rebekah Kennedy whom he defeated 80% to 20%.

2014
Main article: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2014

Pryor is running for re-election to a third term. He is being challenged by U.S. Congressman Tom Cotton.

The "Freedom Index" rates Mark Pryor voting record based on the U.S. Constitution. [6]

Tenure

Somewhat atypically, he was, for 19 days in January 2009, the Baby of the Senate, despite not having previously held that distinction during his first term, because of the defeat of the younger John E. Sununu (elected in the same year as Pryor). He was succeeded by Michael Bennet (who himself held it for only five days before the appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand). He also has the distinction of being the oldest Senator (at 45) to become Baby of the Senate.

In June 2007, before the annual Arkansas Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson dinner, Pryor announced his endorsement of his colleague Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who served as First Lady of Arkansas for 12 years, for the President of the United States. Pryor noted the ability and competence of Clinton as a Senator and former U.S. First Lady.[7]

Fiscal policy

In June 2006, Pryor voted against repeal of the federal estate tax.[8]

On February 13, 2009, Pryor voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as The Stimulus or The Recovery Act). The approximate cost of the economic stimulus package was estimated to be $787 billion at the time of passage, later revised to $831 billion between 2009 and 2019.

Pryor voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") in December 2009,[9] but later voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[10]

On April 16, 2012, Pryor was the only Democratic Senator to vote against the "Buffett Rule", which was defeated 51 voting in favor to 45 voting against cloture of the Filibuster.[11][12]

Foreign policy

Pryor opposes bringing Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the United States for trial.[13]

On September 28, 2006, Pryor was one of 12 Senate Democrats who voted to adopt S.3930, the Military Commissions Act of 2006.[14] He voted against the flag burning amendment in June 2006.

On March 15, 2007, Pryor was one of two Democratic Senators to vote against a resolution aimed at withdrawing most American combat troops from Iraq in 2008. The vote, requiring 60 votes to pass, was 50 to 48 against.[15]

Social policy

Pryor has expressed opposition to abortion on demand, and voted in favor of the partial birth abortion ban; however, he has voted in favor of the expansion of embryonic stem cell research and has also voted no on restricting UN funding for population control policies, on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion, and on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions.[16]

In 2013, Pryor voted against a measure that would have required background checks for all firearms purchases.[17]

On May 23, 2005, Pryor was one of the 14 senators who forged a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster. This effectively ended any threat of a Democratic filibuster (and thus also avoided the Republican leadership's threatened implementation of the so-called nuclear option.) Under the agreement, the Democrats would exercise the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance." The threat of a filibuster removed, Republicans were able to force cloture on the three most conservative Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor-no relation), who subsequently passed a vote by the full Republican-controlled Senate. He did, however, vote against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing his concerns over Alito's views on the president's powers during wartime.

On December 18, 2010, Pryor voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.[18][19]

Fundraising

Since 2009, Pryor's top threedonors have been lawyers ($227,480), lobbyists ($134,254) and retirees ($103,050).[20]

Pryor introduced the Drought Information Act of 2013 (S. 376; 113th Congress) on February 25, 2013.[21] The bill that would authorize funding for the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) through 2018.[22] The NIDIS is "charged with providing timely information to prevent drought and extreme weather damage."[22] The bill passed the United States Senate on February 3, 2014.

Committee assignments

Personal life

Pryor lives in Little Rock and has a son and a daughter, Adams and Porter.[23] He was married to Jill Pryor from July 4, 1992 until their divorce in July 2012 at Pulaski County Court.[24][25]

Religious views

Pryor is Christian.[26] He was featured in the 2008 Bill Maher documentary Religulous, in which he tells Maher that he could believe in Young Earth creationism,[27] yet he also sees evolution as a feasible idea.[28] He states at the beginning of the interview that he is an Evangelical Christian. He also states that he believes in the Rapture, and that "You don't need to pass an IQ test to be in the Senate".[29]

According to author Jeff Sharlet, Pryor is affiliated with a political organization called the Family. Sharlet quoted Pryor as stating that through the Family he "had learned that the separation of church and state was a sort of secular exaggeration" and that "Jesus did not come to bring peace. Jesus came to take over."[30]

Electoral history

2008

See also: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008
United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Pryor (incumbent) 804,678 79.53
Green Rebekah Kennedy 207,076 20.47
Total votes 1,011,754 100.00
Invalid or blank votes 75,586 n/a
Democratic hold

2002

See also: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2002
Arkansas U.S. Senate Election 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mark Pryor 433,306 53.9
Republican Tim Hutchinson (Incumbent) 370,653 46.1

References

  1. ^ http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/March-April-2010/Class-of-81/
  2. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=261757
  3. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=953
  4. ^ Huckabee says he won't run against Pryor, Nasdaq.com
  5. ^ Mark Pryor uncontested for second term in U.S. Senate. KTHV Little Rock, 2008-03-10
  6. ^ "The Freedom Index: A Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution".
  7. ^ HillaryClinton.com - Media Release
  8. ^ "Democrats halt move to kill off death tax". Washington Times. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  11. ^ Davis, Susan (April 16, 2012). "Senate Fails to advance Buffett rule". USA Today. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  12. ^ Senate official website. Accesseed April 17, 2012.
  13. ^ "Lincoln, Pryor back bid to block funding to hold terror suspects in U.S. | Arkansas News". Arkansasnews.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  14. ^ U.S. Senate roll call votes, 109th Congress http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00259
  15. ^ Toner, Robin (March 15, 2007). "Senate Rejects Measure for Iraq Pullout". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  16. ^ Mark Pryor on Abortion
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ [3]
  19. ^ "Senate Vote 281 - Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'". The New York Times.
  20. ^ Mark Pryor: Campaign Finance/Money - Summary - Career. Center for Responsive Politics, August 1, 2013
  21. ^ "S. 376 - All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  22. ^ a b Cox, Ramsey (3 February 2014). "Senate passes bill funding drought information program". The Hill. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  23. ^ http://www.pryor.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/aboutmark
  24. ^ http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Arkansas-Sen-Mark-Pryor-wife-file-for-divorce/RPW6kNJDXUWdPR-JjhAANw.cspx
  25. ^ http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/10/12/sen-mark-pryor-announces-divorce
  26. ^ http://www.adherents.com/people/pp/Mark_Pryor.html
  27. ^ Patrick Goldstein (2008-08-07). "Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion". The Big Picture. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  28. ^ "Larry King: Bill Maher On His Movie Religulous". YouTube. August 19, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  29. ^ Religulous (2008).
  30. ^ "Behind the closed doors on C Street.". Las Vegas Sun (July 19, 2009). Retrieved on July 26, 2009.
  31. ^ "U.S. Senate Statewide Results". Secretary of State of Arkansas. 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-12-09.

External links

U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Arkansas
2003–present
Served alongside: Blanche Lincoln, John Boozman 		Incumbent
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Arkansas
1999–2003 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator from Arkansas (Class 2)
2002, 2008 		Succeeded by
Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Senators by seniority
37th 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Youngest Member of the United States Senate
January 3, 2009 – January 22, 2009 		Succeeded by

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