Saxby Chambliss

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Clarence Saxby Chambliss
United States Senator from Georgia
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003 Serving with Johnny Isakson
Preceded by	Max Cleland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 8th district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	J. Roy Rowland
Succeeded by	Mac Collins[1]
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Thad Cochran
Succeeded by	Tom Harkin
Born	November 10, 1943 (1943-11-10) (age 65) Warrenton, North Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Julianne Chambliss
Residence	Moultrie, Georgia
Alma mater	University of Georgia, University of Tennessee College of Law
Occupation	Lawyer
Religion	Episcopalian
Website	www.Saxby.org

Clarence Saxby Chambliss (born November 10, 1943) is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. He is a member of the Republican Party. In the 110th Congress, Chambliss serves as the ranking Republican member of the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, chairing the committee during the 109th Congress (2005-2007).

[edit] Early life, education, and family

Chambliss was born in Warrenton, North Carolina. He graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1961. He attended Louisiana Tech University from 1961-1962 and earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1966 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968. He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Chambliss received five student deferments while attending the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee College of Law and was also given a medical deferment (1-Y) for bad knees due to a football injury.^[2]

Chambliss is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Moultrie, Georgia. He married Julianne in 1966 and they have two children and two grandchildren.

Chambliss's son Bo is a registered lobbyist for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and lobbies on commodity futures trading issues that fall under legislative jurisdiction of the Senate Agriculture Committee, of which the Senator is a member. The Senator's office enacted a policy that prevents Bo from lobbying the Senator or his staff.^[3]

[edit] House of Representatives, 1995-2003

Chambliss was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 as one of the new conservative Republican congressmen whose elections caused the party to gain a majority in both houses of Congress. A long-time Congressman and fellow Georgian, Newt Gingrich, was the leader of the movement, and Chambliss and the other Republicans elected that year are known as the Class of '94.

Chambliss was elected from the Macon-based 8th District, after six-term incumbent J. Roy Rowland retired. He was elected with 63% of the vote—an unexpectedly large margin since the 8th had never elected a Republican. He faced a tough re-election fight in 1996 against Macon attorney Jim Wiggins, but breezed to reelection in 1998 and 2000.

During his four terms in the House, Chambliss served on the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and chaired the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Less than a month after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, which Chambilss chaired, investigated intelligence issues related to the attacks. The committee's investigation resulted in the first comprehensive report detailing critical shortfalls within the United States intelligence community's performance and technological capabilities.^[4]

Chambliss was criticized for remarks he made during a November 19, 2001 meeting with first responders in Valdosta, Georgia, where he said that homeland security would be improved by turning the sheriff loose to "arrest every Muslim that crosses the state line." Chambliss apologized for the remarks.^[5]

In 2006, Chambliss was among several congressional Republicans and Democrats who returned campaign donations from Jack Abramoff. ^[6]

[edit] Senate, 2003-Present

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Ranking Member)
  • As Ranking Member of the full committee, Sen. Chambliss may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Airland
  • Subcommittee on Personnel
  • Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
• Committee on Rules and Administration
• Select Committee on Intelligence
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Sen. Chambliss is the only senator since 1947 to have chaired a full standing Senate Committee (Agriculture) after serving in the Senate for just two years.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, he was named one of 10 worst congressmen by Esquire Magazine, which described the competition as "staggering." ^[7]

[edit] Caucus memberships

• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Sportsmen Foundation
• Juvenile Diabetes Caucus
• National Guard Caucus
• Rural Health Caucus
• Senate Caucus on Military Depots, Arsenals and Ammunition Plants
• Co-Chair, Senate Reserve Caucus
• Steering Committee

[edit] Elections

[edit] 2002 race

Chambliss ran for the Senate in 2002, facing freshman Democratic incumbent Max Cleland. Chambliss' political career would have likely ended even if he hadn't run for the Senate; the state legislature had shifted his home in Moultrie (along with most of the southern portion of his district) to the nearby 1st district, represented by fellow Republican Jack Kingston.

Chambliss focused on the issue of national defense and homeland security during his campaign, and released an ad that included Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, highlighted Cleland's record on the issues of war and terrorism.^[8] Cleland was one of the senators who had blocked the passage of the homeland security bill by voting against the bill.^[9][10]

Chambliss received criticism from Democrats and Republicans for this ad, pointing out that he, who hadn't served in the Vietnam War due to receiving military deferments, had attacked a Vietnam War veteran who lost three limbs during his service for not being tough enough on issues of war and homeland security. Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said of one ad, "[I]t's worse than disgraceful, it's reprehensible;" Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said the ads were "beyond offensive to me."^[11] On the other hand, Chambliss supporters say the ad did not question Cleland's patriotism, but rather his judgment.^{[12] [13]}

Chambliss won the election, receiving 53 percent of the votes to Cleland's 46 percent.

[edit] 2008 race

Wikinews has related news: Republican Senator from Georgia wins run-off election

On November 4, 2008, Chambliss received 49.8% of the vote, while Democratic challenger Jim Martin received 46.8% and Libertarian Allen Buckley received 3.4% of the vote.^[14]

Since no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote, a runoff election between Chambliss and Martin was held on December 2, 2008.

Chambliss defeated Martin 57.5% to 42.5% in the runoff election.^[15][16]

[edit] Imperial Sugar

During the run-off period, Chambliss received a subpoena regarding the investigation of a lawsuit against Imperial Sugar that claims that Imperial "wrongfully" failed to remove hazards that caused the disaster of a Savannah-based sugar refinery that exploded on Feb. 7, 2008. Chambliss was accused of "harassing"^[17] a former sugar company executive. In a statement, Chambliss said he has referred the matter to Senate lawyers. Chambliss has stated: "I continue to sympathize with the families who were devastated by this tragedy and I will continue to work to protect the interests of those families." Savannah attorney Mark Tate, "an active backer of Democratic candidates," insisted that "there is nothing political" about the timing of the subpoena. When Tate subpoenaed Chambliss to testify in the case, Chambliss claimed "legislative immunity."^[18][19][20]

[edit] Political positions

[edit] Voting Record

Chambliss's voting record is typically that of voting in line with conservative issues.^[21][22] He is the primary sponsor in the United States Senate of the tax-reform proposal The Fair Tax Act (S. 1025), attracting more cosponsors than any other fundamental tax reform bill introduced.

Although Chambliss has a conservative voting record, he has participated in bi-partisan legislation—such as the 2007 Farm Bill, the bi-partisan immigration reform (led by John McCain and Ted Kennedy) in 2007^[23] and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008,^[23]. He is also the Republican leader of the Gang of 10, a bipartisan group which has worked to create a compromise surrounding the energy policy of the United States.

[edit] Interest groups ratings

On abortion issues, the ratings given Chambliss as of 2007 by National Right to Life Committee and NARAL Pro-Choice America identify him as having a pro-life voting record. The National Right to Life Committee gave him a 100% rating, while NARAL Pro-Choice America gave him a 0% rating.^[24][25]

On 2nd Amendment issues, in 2008, the NRA gave Chambliss an "A+" rating and the NRA also endorsed him.^[26][27]

On agricultural issues, the American Farm Bureau gave Chambliss its "Friend of the Farm Bureau" award throughout his service in the U.S. Senate.^[28]

On economic issues including voting on the national budget, national spending, and taxes, in 2007, the National Tax Limitation Committee gave Chambliss a 90% rating,^[29] and the group Americans for Tax Reform gave him a 100% rating.^[30]

On civil liberties and civil rights issues, in 2007, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) gave him a 17% rating,^[31] and the NAACP gave him a 27% rating.^[32]

On education issues, in 2008, the Center for Education Reform, gave Chambliss a score of 9 out of 9, and called him a "real reformer",^[33] while the National Education Association gave him an "F" in 2007.^[34]

On organized labor issues, in 2007 the AFL-CIO gave Chambliss a 11% rating,^[35] and the International Foodservice Distributors Association gave him an 85% rating.^[36]

On environmental issues, in 2003 the LCV gave Chambliss a 0% rating.^[37]

[edit] Electoral history

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saxby Chambliss

• Chambliss for US Senate, official campaign site
• Chambliss For Senate YouTube Channel, official YouTube Channel
• Saxby Chambliss Facebook Page, Facebook Page

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Saxby Chambliss

• United States Senator Saxby Chambliss, official U.S. Senate site

• 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
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Saxby Chambliss profile

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[edit] References