Robert Bennett

Robert Foster "Bob" Bennett was the Junior Senator for the state of Utah from 1993 to 2011. He is a Republican. (map)

Iraq War
Bennett voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Lobbying reform
On January 18, 2007, Sen. Bennett introduced an amendment (S.Amdt.20) to the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007 (S.1.) that struck Section 220 from the bill, a measure that contained grassroots/astroturf lobbying disclosure provisions for organizations that spend more than $25,000 quarterly. The amendment passed 55-43, successfully removing the astroturf provision.

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans
Bennett cosponsored The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act in the 110th Congress which would establish a commission that would determine the facts and circumstances involving the relocation, internment and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans.

Bio
Born September 18, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bennett was the son of U.S. Senator Wallace Foster Bennett and the grandson of Mormon church president Heber J. Grant. He attended Utah public schools and received a B.S. from the University of Utah in 1957.

He was a chaplain in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1969, when he entered public service as congressional liaision of the United States Department of Transportation, serving from 1969 to 1970. That year he became president of Robert Mullen Associates, a Washington, D.C. public relations firm that was a front for the Central Intelligence Agency. Because his company employed Watergate burglar E. Howard Hunt, he was suspected of being Woodward and Bernstein's source Deep Throat.

In 1974, he became the public relations director for billionaire Howard Hughes's holding company, Summa Corporation, working there until 1978 when he became president of Osmond Communications. In 1979, he went into computers, first as chairman of American Computers Corporation, then as president of Microsonics Corporation from 1981 to 1984. In 1984, he was named CEO of Franklin Quest, the maker of organizers and appointment books.

A Senate seat opened up in 1992, when Jake Garn, who hated Washington and made no secret of it, refused to run for a fourth term. Bennett was narrowly elected (51%) to the Senate in 1992, his opponent being another millionaire with famous forebears. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2004. His Democratic opponent in 2004 was Paul Van Dam and Bennett won by a vote of 68%-29%.

Bennett currently serves as the Deputy Republican Whip.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * Joint Economic Committee
 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
 * Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance
 * Senate Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Military Contruction and Veterans Affairs
 * Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
 * Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development
 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration - Ranking Member

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Joint Economic Committee
 * Senate Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Agriculture Rural Development and Related Agencies - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations and Related Programs
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Interior
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Treasury the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development
 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Securities and Investment
 * Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
 * Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
 * Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia
 * Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management Government Information and International Security
 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * See how you compare to Robert Bennett

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * One Utah
 * The World, According to Me
 * NewWest.net -- A Refreshing, new kind of journalism.