Robert J. Mellow

Infobox State Senator


imagesize = 150px
name = Bob Mellow
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state = Pennsylvania
state_senate = Pennsylvania
district = 22nd
term_start = 1971
term_end = present
predecessor =
successor = Incumbent
constituency =
majority =
party = Democratic
birth_date = Birth date and age|1942|12|10|mf=y
birth_place =Scranton, Pennsylvania
alma_mater = Bethel College
occupation =
residence =Blakely, Pennsylvania
spouse =
religion = Roman Catholic
website =

Robert J. "Bob" Mellow is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 22nd District since 1971. He is currently the Minority Floor Leader.

Personal

Mellow was born on December 10, 1943 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to James and Alice (Generotti) Mellow. He is of mixed Irish and Italian ancestry. He has lived in Lackawanna County his entire life.Fact|date=January 2008 Mellow served in the National Guard from 1962 to 1968 and, after attending Lackawanna Junior College and University of Scranton. He earned his BS in accounting from Bethel College.

Political career

He was elected to the State Senate in 1970 and has been the Democratic caucus' leader since 1989. Mellow represents the 22nd district, including all of Lackawanna County and neighboring portions of Monroe County and Luzerne County. When the Democrats held the majority in the Senate from 1992 to 1994, Mellow served as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Mellow is a supporter of efforts to establish a medical school in Scranton. He successfully appropriated $35 million of the estimated $100 million cost in the state capital budget. [ [http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5608105 Josh Brogadir, $35 Million Grant for Scranton Medical School, WNEP News, 10/30/07] ]

As president pro tempore, Mellow was the first lawmaker to authorize the use of television cameras on the state Senate floor to broadcast live Senate sessions. [ [http://www.thedailyreview.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17746971&BRD=2276&PAG=461&dept_id=465049&rfi=6 Micaehl Race, "Senate Dem leader: Open records law overhaul needed", The Daily and Sunday Review, Towanda, Pennsylvania, 1/25/07] ]

2005 Pay Raise

Mellow was one of the leaders of the ill-fated legislative pay raise in 2005. [cite news
first =
last =
url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2005&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1521
title = House Bill No. 151 Session of 2005
publisher = Pennsylvania General Assembly Committee of Conference
date = ] He told constituent Bill McIntyre to "Get a life" in an email exchange about the pay raise bill. [ [http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15522073&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=422126&rfi=6 The Times-Tribune - Politicians peek from bunker, see unemployment line ] ] This phrase became a rallying cry for reformers that year. [ [http://www.pacleansweep.com/quotes.html www.PACleanSweep.com ] ]

Candidate for Governor

Mellow announced that he is considering a run for the Governor's office in 2010, when current Governor Ed Rendell must step down. [ [http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070807_Lawmaker_considering_a_run_for_governor.html, Thomas Fitzgerald, Lawmaker considering a run for governor, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/7/07] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.senator-mellow.com/ Senator Mellow] official website
* [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=223 Pennsylvania State Senate - Robert J. Mellow] official PA Senate website
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5210 Project Vote Smart - Senator Robert J. Mellow (PA)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Robert J. Mellow
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88412 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=74494 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=6682 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=49156 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=1289 1998] campaign contributions