Patty Murray

Patricia Lynn Murray is the Senior Senator for the state of Washington. She is a Democrat and was first elected in 1992.

Iraq War
Murray voted against 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

Tribal Campaign Contributions and Jack Abramoff
Murray "received more than $40,000 in contributions from out-of-state Indian tribes represented by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff campaign finance reports show.

"Murray's total places her ninth among lawmakers - and second among Democrats - who received campaign donations from tribes associated with Abramoff, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, D.C.-based group that tracks money in politics. The money was received from 1999 to 2005, the group said in a report posted on its Web site, www.opensecrets.org," KOMO 1000 TV News reported January 4, 2006.

"Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has been spotlighted by The Associated Press for not giving away to charity $41,000 received from Abramoff's tribal clients. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., also apparently is not giving back $10,000 in similar contributions".

Criticism of the Architect of the Capitol
Murray had harsh criticism for Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers following an investigation in to asbestos in utility tunnels under the Hill. After a work team had been exposed to the carcinogen, Ayers allegedly pressured the workers to not report the problems and refused reimbursement for asbestos-related independent medical evaluations. Murray wrote in mid-March 2007, that Ayers may have been more concerned about his "legal liabilities in this matter than providing the best care possible for these men." Murray held a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing on the issue earlier that month.

Background
Murray was born October 11, 1950 in Bothell, Washington to Irish-American parents. Murray received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University in 1972. She was a preschool teacher for several years and taught at Shoreline Community College from 1984 to 1987.

As a citizen-lobbyist for environmental and educational issues, she was once told that she couldn't make a difference because she was just a "mom in tennis shoes." The phrase stuck, and she later used it in her successful campaigns for Shoreline School District Board of Directors (1985-1989), Washington State Senate (1989-1993), and United States Senate (1993-present).

Senate Career
Her first Senate race in 1992 she faced Rep. Rod Chandler and beat him handily, 54% to 46%, in part riding Bill Clinton's coattails. In 1998 she won reelection by beating Rep. Linda Smith, 58% to 42%. In 2004 she faced yet another Republican Representative, George Nethercutt, who she defeated 55% to 43%, making her only the fourth Washington senator to win 3 consecutive terms. Following the 2006 midterm elections, Murray was named the secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference.

Murray's official Senate website states she was "Originally known for her work on education and children's issues, [and] has become a leading figure on transportation, border and port security, healthcare, and economic development."

Money in politics
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Patty Murray's escalating campaign budgets reflect the fact that reelection isn't getting any easier for the three-term Democratic senator from Washington state. Murray's elections have never been runaways; she's won three close races. Her high water mark was 1998, when she won with 58% of the vote.

Since her first campaign for the Senate in 1992, Murray has raised nearly $18 million – putting her in the top ranks of congressional fundraisers. Her list of top overall contributors includes a mixture of local employers – Microsoft, Boeing, and the University of Washington chief among them – as well as a long roster of labor unions, a traditional ally of Democrats. Her top contributor by far, however, has been EMILY's List, the PAC that supports pro-choice female Democrats, and that encourages its members to bundle contributions independently to its top-priority races.

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
 * Senate Committee on the Budget
 * Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
 * Subcommittee on Children and Families
 * Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
 * Senate Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
 * Subcommittee on Military Contruction and Veterans Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development

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

 * Senate Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Commerce Justice and Science
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Treasury the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development - Ranking Minority Member
 * Senate Committee on the Budget
 * Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
 * Subcommittee on Bioterrorism Preparendess and Public Health
 * Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development
 * Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety - Ranking Minority Member
 * Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs


 * She was the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2001 to 2003.

Affiliations

 * Public Advisory Committee, Population Institute

Resources

 * Official website
 * See how you compare to Patty Murray

Articles

 * George Howland, Jr., "Patty, Jennifer, and Osama. The race for the U.S. Senate commenced with Patty Murray's bin Laden remarks," Seattle Weekly, February 12, 2003.
 * "Murray Won't Return Money From Tribes Connected To Abramoff," KOMO 1000 TV News, January 4, 2006.
 * Curt Anderson, "Abramoff pleads guilty in SunCruz Casinos fraud case," Associated Press (San Diego Union-Tribune), January 4, 2006.
 * Joel Connelly, "Abramoff's tentacles ensnare the Northwest," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 6, 2006.
 * "Dean issues Smack-down on Wolfie," Crooks and Liars, January 8, 2006.
 * David Sarasohn, "Walter Reed a wake-up call," Portland Oregonian (Spokesman Review), March 8, 2007. re Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal
 * Bob Geiger, "Patty Murray: We are fighting a war with no cause," Bob Geiger Blogspot, March 8, 2007.