Christopher Dodd
From Conservapedia
| Christopher Dodd | |
|---|---|
| |
| U.S. Senator from Connecticut From: January 5, 1981 - Present | |
| Predecessor | Abraham A. Ribicoff |
| Successor | Incumbent (no successor) |
| U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 2nd District From: January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Predecessor | Robert H. Steele |
| Successor | Sam Gejdenson |
| Information | |
| Party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Jackie Marie Clegg |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Chris Dodd is a liberal United States Senator from Connecticut, and former Democratic presidential primary contender. Dodd is currently serving as the powerful chair of the Senate Banking Committee; he faces a difficult reelection in 2010 because of charges of corruption and his failure to head off or solve the nation's banking crisis. The November 2009 Quinnipiac University poll finds that Republican challenger Rob Simmons, a moderate former Congressman, has a wide lead 49% to 38%. [1]
Contents |
Political Career
Chris Dodd was born on May 27, 1944, in Willimantic, Connecticut. He was the fifth child of Senator Thomas J. Dodd. After Dodd graduated from Providence College, a Catholic school, with a B.A. in English Literature , he served in the United States Peace Corps in 1966-68. He served in the Dominican Republic were he worked carrying out humanitarian efforts for the rural community; he became fluent in Spanish. Dodd later served in the Army National Guard. Dodd earned a law degree from the University of Louisville in 1972. He was first elected to the United States Congress in 1974. He served three terms as congressmen, and in 1980, was elected to the United States Senate. In 1995, Dodd served as General Chairman of the Democrat National Committee, a position he held in till 1997.
In the 1980s Senator Dodd took the lead in the liberal opposition to President Ronald Reagan's anti-Communist policy in Central America. He has long opposed the nation's embargo on the Communist Cuba of Fidel Castro.
Ethics Issues
In 2008, allegations appeared that Dodd cut special discounts deals on his home mortgage from Countrywide subprime mortgage company. Dodd was cleared in 2009; he did not get a lower rate.[2]
Dodd legally received over $14,700 from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who in now in prison for his bribery.
Senate Banking Committee
Dodd has been in charge of financial-services rules for the $787 billion stimulus bill and TARP that bails-out the financial sector. On March 16, Mr. Dodd criticized bonuses given to executives of AIG, the insurance giant, saying, "This is another outrageous example of executives -- including those whose decisions were responsible for the problems that caused AIG's collapse -- enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers." One rule he included was an exemption for contractual obligations prior to Feb 11, 2009, which allowed for AIG bonuses. The exact rule below;
| “ | Crack down on bonuses, retention awards and incentive compensation: Bonuses can only be paid in the form of long-term restricted stock, equal to no greater than 1/3 of total annual compensation, and will vest only when taxpayer funds are repaid. There is an exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009. | ” |
Dodd was AIG’s largest single recipient of campaign donations during the 2008 election cycle with $103,100.
Political Positions
Abortion
Throughout Dodd’s career in the senate he has constantly voted against pro-life legislation, while supporting easier restrictions on abortion. In 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2003, Dodd voted against bills which would reduce partial-birth abortion[3].
Iraq
In 2002, Dodd voted to use force against Iraq. Dodd support the Feingold-Reid proposal- which sets a time table for ending the war in Iraq by March 2008. He does not support sending more troops to Iraq but does support more troops for the war in Afghanistan.
Health Care
Dodd supported President Bush’s, No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, and now supports its exspantion[4]. Dodd’s plan for education system is to increase salaries for teachers to create more incentives. He also is calling for increase federal funding for creating lower interest rates for student loans[5].
Unions
Dodd advocates the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act.
Presidential contender
Going into the race for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president, Dodd was an unknown senator. Only 22% of likely Democratic primary voters had a favorable opinion of Dodd, 20% were unfavorable. Dodd trailed third to last in the polls, with a mere 1% of Democrats for whom he was the first choice He had $7.5 million but withdrew from the race because of his poor finish in the Iowa Caucus. Though Dodd did not officially endorse any candidate.
External Links
References
- ↑ http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1395
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/08/ap5190637.html , AP Dodd's popularity slips in Connecticut , July 8, 2008
- ↑ http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0131103
- ↑ http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53277&type=category&category=27&go.x=11&go.y=17
- ↑ http://www.chrisdodd.com/issues/education
