Marcy Kaptur

Marcy Kaptur
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Ed Weber
Personal details
Born	June 17, 1946 (1946-06-17) (age 65) Toledo, Ohio
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Toledo, Ohio
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.A.), University of Michigan (M.U.P.), University of Manchester, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Occupation	Urban planner
Religion	Roman Catholic

Marcia Carolyn "Marcy" Kaptur (born June 17, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 9th congressional district, serving since 1983. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, anchored by the city of Toledo, includes all of Ottawa and Erie counties, and part of Lucas and Lorain counties.

Serving her fourteenth term in the House of Representatives, Kaptur is the most senior member of Ohio's congressional delegation, and is the longest-serving woman in the House, and the second longest-serving ever after Edith Rogers; in the Congress, she is currently the fourth longest-serving woman, behind Senators Barbara Mikulski, Olympia Snowe, and Barbara Boxer. She ranks 25th out of 435 members in seniority and serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Early life, education, and early political career

Kaptur, a Polish-American,^[1] is a Toledo native. Her family operated a small grocery. Kaptur graduated from St. Ursula Academy in 1964 and became the first member in her family to attend college. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1968 and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan in 1974.^[2] She did post-graduate study in urban planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.

Kaptur served on the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions from 1969 to 1975 and was director of planning for the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs (1975–1977) founded by the late Msgr. Geno Baroni. She later served as a domestic policy advisor during President Jimmy Carter's Administration.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Ohio's 9th District

While pursuing a doctorate in urban planning development finance at MIT, Kaptur was recruited to run for Congress in 1982 against freshman Republican Ed Weber, who had upset 26-year incumbent Lud Ashley two years earlier. Kaptur had been a well-known party activist and volunteer since age 13. Despite being outspent by almost 3-1, she defeated Weber 58%-39%.^[3] Although the 9th had traditionally been a Democratic bastion, Kaptur's win was considered a major upset.^[4]

In 1984, Kaptur faced a strong challenge from Republican Frank Venner, longtime anchorman and weatherman at WTVG, but defeated him 55%-44%,^[5] even as Ronald Reagan carried the district. Since then, she has won re-election with at least 74% of the vote until 2004, when she faced her first serious opponent in 20 years in Lucas County auditor Larry Kaczala. However, Kaptur dispatched him fairly easily, winning by 68%-32%.

2006

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2006#District 9

Kaptur won her 13th term with 74% of the vote.^[6]

2008

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2008#District 9

Kaptur won her 14th term with 74% of the vote.^[7]

2010

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2010#District 9

In the weeks preceding the 2008 election, controversial Joe Wurzelbacher (a.k.a "Joe the Plumber"), known for personally confronting Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama about the effects of his tax policies upon small businesses, announced he was considering challenging Kaptur in the 2010 election.^[8][9][10] However, he chose not to run. Kaptur was instead challenged by Republican Rich Iott, a Tea party movement favorite. Kaptur won re-election to her 15th term with with 59% of the vote.^[11] That was the worst re-election performance since 1984.

2012

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012#District 9

She will run for re-election to a 16th term. Joe Wurzelbacher (a.k.a "Joe the Plumber") has filed to run as a Republican in the district. Fellow U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) may run a primary campaign against her.^[12]

Tenure

Toledo, Ohio

Kaptur is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She was once named "Most Valuable Member" of the House by The Nation. In 1996, Kaptur was asked by Ross Perot to be his vice-presidential running mate. Kaptur, like Perot, being a fierce opponent of free trade would have been a natural selection, but she eventually declined.^[13]

Patent reform

Kaptur is a huge opponent of the America Invents Act, a bill that is attempting to change the current Patent System. Kaptur opposes changing from a "first to invent system" to a "first to file system" claiming it hurts the little guy.^[14] Kaptur stated "Our patent system is the finest in the world. There are patent concerns that Congress can and should address, starting with the high cost of fees for inventors who hold less than three patents. However, this legislation addresses fictions of global corporations and the proposed solutions are special fixes that benefit these few giants at the expense of everyone else." She went on to say "Congress should not do to American innovation what it did to the American financial industry."^[15]

Abortion

Though generally reckoned as a liberal-to-progressive Democrat, Kaptur holds moderately conservative views on abortion. She has voted in favor of some proposals to restrict access to abortion but has opposed others. In January 2007, she was the only member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to vote against funding for stem-cell research.^[16] Kaptur has expressed support for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, an amendment to America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, and voted in favor of it on November 9.^[17]Kaptur was one of only sixteen Democrats to vote in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act on May 4, 2011.^[18] Kaptur also voted in favor of banning partial-birth abortions in 2000 and 2003.^[19][20] Kaptur voted against the Child Custody Protection Act in 1999 and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act in 2005.^[21][22]Kaptur voted against allowing privately-funded abortions at overseas military hospitals twice in 1995, as well as 1997, 1998 and 1999.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} Most recently on the issue, in 2005, Kaptur voted in favor of lifting the ban on abortions at overseas military hospitals.^[28]

Free Trade

Kaptur is a staunch opponent of free trade agreements. She helped lead opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Permanent Normal Trade Relations for the People's Republic of China, and fast track authority for the president. She has consistently supported military spending bills.

World War II Memorial

Responding to a constituent - Roger Durbin, a World War II veteran - Kaptur first suggested the creation of a National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The World War II National Memorial in Washington, D.C

On December 10, 1987, Kaptur introduced the World War II Memorial Act to the House of Representatives. The legislation authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a World War II memorial, however, as the bill was not voted on before the end of the session it failed to be enacted into law. Kaptur introduced similar legislation in 1989 and 1991 but these bills also failed to become law.

Kaptur introduced legislation for the fourth time on January 27, 1993. This time the legislation was voted on and passed in the House on May 10, 1993. After a companion bill was passed in the United States Senate, President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law on May 25, 1993. Unfortunately, Roger Durbin died before he managed to see the memorial built, but Kaptur spoke at the memorial dedication ceremony, along with Durbin's granddaughter, on May 29, 2004.

Kaptur later said that she felt "a great sense of fulfillment" that the memorial was finally built. "This generation was the most unselfish America has ever seen," she said. "They never asked anybody for anything in return."^[29]

2008 Economic crisis

Marcy Kaptur has expressed her strong opposition to the multibillion dollar bailout plan brought before Congress. In her speech^[30] she criticized Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson's Plan for

1. Forcing congress to rush the decision.
2. Disarming the public through fear. Controlling the media enough to ensure that the public will not notice that this bailout will indebt them for generations taking from them trillions of dollars they earned and deserved to keep.
3. Controlling the playing field (hiding info from the public, holding private hearings, and private teleconferencing calls).
4. Diverting attention and keeping people confused.
5. Having the goal to privatize gains and socialize losses.

She also blamed Wall Street executives for their greed and held them responsible for the crisis and said

You have perpetrated the greatest financial crimes ever on this American Republic. You think you can get by with it because you are extraordinarily wealthy, and the largest contributors to both presidential and congressional campaigns in both major parties.

She pleaded a "Wall Street Reckoning" and an alternate plan whereby "America doesn't need to bail you out. It needs to secure real assets and property. Federal regional reserve banks should have a new job to help renegotiate . American people should get equity in any companies. Major job creation to rebuild our infrastructure. Regulate, we need a modern Glass–Steagall Act. Refinancing must return a major share of profits to a new social security and medicare lock box."

Kaptur's opposition to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 was highlighted in Michael Moore's 2009 documentary Capitalism: A Love Story, describing it as "a financial coup d'etat."^[31]

Marcy Kaptur backed The American Clean Energy and Security Act in the U.S. House after she was able to insert an amendment that would authorize the Secretary of Energy to create power marketing authorities in regions where none currently exist. One such area would be the Great Lakes region. Kaptur said the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation could serve as the vehicle for administering up to $3.5 billion in borrowing authority to stimulate economic development through creation of green energy such as solar power and wind power. Kaptur said the $3.5 billion in borrowing authority would promote "regional equity" and serve as a powerful engine for job creation in a region that has suffered from high energy costs, especially expensive electricity.

On April 12, 2011 Marcy Kaptur introduced H.R. 1489 to restore Glass Steagall. It states "To repeal certain provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and revive the separation between commercial banking and the securities business, in the manner provided in the Banking Act of 1933, the so-called "Glass-Steagall Act", and for other purposes." There are currently 30 co-sponsors. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1489

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on the Budget

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Arts Caucus

See also

• Ohio's 9th congressional district
• List of United States Representatives from Ohio
• National World War II Memorial

References

1. ^ The Online Office of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur - News & Features
2. ^ Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. "Lecture: Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, An Urban Planner in Congress". http://taubmancollege.umich.edu/news_and_events/events/archives/2009-2010/?event=000000000000000000000000000000000000000003227876. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
3. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37212
4. ^ The Online Office of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur - Biography
5. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=52145
6. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=207165
7. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=389954
8. ^ "Now, Joe the Plumber wants to be a Congressman!". Asian News International. 2008-10-25. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/now-joe-the-plumber-wants-to-be-a-congressman_100111532.html. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
9. ^ "'Joe the Plumber' Considers Run for Congress". Fox News. 2008-10-25. http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/25/joe-plumber-considers-run-congress/. Retrieved 2008-10-27. 
10. ^ Shipman, Tim (2008-10-27). "Joe the Plumber says he may run for Congress". London: The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/republicans/3259997/Joe-the-Plumber-says-he-may-run-for-Congress.html. Retrieved 2008-10-27. 
11. ^ "2010 Election: Live Results". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-results-2010/#/house/. Retrieved 2010-11-08. 
12. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=745617
13. ^ November 18, 1996 (1996-11-18). "Ross Reruns". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/103411/page/4. Retrieved 2010-08-23. 
14. ^ http://thehill.com/special-reports/patent-reform-june-2009
15. ^ http://thehill.com/special-reports/patent-reform-june-2009/47125-tech-giants-are-aiming-to-infringe
16. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll020.xml
17. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll884.xml
18. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll292.xml
19. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2000/roll104.xml
20. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll530.xml
21. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1999/roll261.xml
22. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll144.xml
23. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1995/roll382.xml
24. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1995/roll642.xml
25. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1997/roll217.xml
26. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll171.xml
27. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1999/roll184.xml
28. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll216.xml
29. ^ Janofsky, Michael (May 30, 2004). "Veterans Gather to Dedicate World War II Memorial". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E7DD1F3EF933A05756C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
30. ^ THE LATEST REALITY GAME--WALL STREET BAILOUT House of Representatives - September 22, 2008.
31. ^ http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1920771,00.html

External links

• Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur official U.S. House site
• Marcy Kaptur for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Profile at SourceWatch
• Jake Whitney interviews Marcy Kaptur in Guernica magazine, December 2009

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Ed Weber	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 9th congressional district 1983–	Succeeded by Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Dan Burton R-Indiana	United States Representatives by seniority 25th	Succeeded by Sander Levin D-Michigan

Persondata
Name	Kaptur, Marcy
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 17, 1946
Place of birth	Toledo, Ohio
Date of death
Place of death