Jerrold Nadler

Jerrold Lewis "Jerry" Nadler is a Democratic member of the of U.S. House of Representatives. representing New York's 8th Congressional District since 1992. He is a Majority Assistant Whip.

Iraq War
Nadler voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

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

Positions on the environment and energy
Nadler has consistently supported for the protection of the environment and energy. He supports strengthening the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Also, he has supported strengthening emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles. Notably, he supports the Kyoto Protocol to limit global warming. His interest ratings have shown that he has consistently supported interest groups for the conservation of the environment and enrergy - such as Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (both 100 percent).[|4]

First amendment
Nadler's work on First Amendment freedoms is widely recognized. As a vocal defender of both the separation of church and state, as well as the right of Americans right to exercise their religion freely, he was one of the Democratic sponsors of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Democratic sponsor of the Religious Land Use and Institutinoalized Persons Act. |1

Abortion
Nadler has a pro-choice voting record. Between 1995 and 2004, on the votes that the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association considered to be the most important, Nadler voted for their interests 100 percent of the time. His interest group rating for abortion issues have been consistently pro-choice - in fact, his rating for interest groups that are pro-choice have been nearly entirely 100 percent. |2

Civil rights
In 2000, Nadler supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the League of United Latin American Citizens. However, on the votes that Campaign for a Color Blind America considered to be most important in 1997-1998, he did not support their positions. |3

Immigration
Congressman Nadler suppports relaxing restrictions barring legal immigrants from using government funded social programs such as public housing and food stamps. However, he does not support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country or establishing English as the official national language. Nadler quotes on Project Vote Smart, "Restore due process for asylum seekers and refugees." [|5]

Objection to Saudi arms deal
On July 29, 2007, Reps. Nadler and Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) announced that they would seek to stop a $20 billion arms that the Bush Administration has negotiated with Saudi Arabia. The lawmakers objected to the deal because they do not want to provide "sophisticated weapons to a country that they believe has not done enough to stop terrorism," also noting that 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Weiner made the announcement outside of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Washington, stating that "We need to send a crystal clear message to the Saudi Arabian government that their tacit approval of terrorism can't go unpunished." Weiner and Nadler intend to use a provision of the Arms Control Export Act to review the deal and pass a Joint Resolution of Disapproval.

Nadler Criticizes Obama’s 'Courage'
On November 2, 2008, Nadler claimed during an event at the Boca Raton synagogue in Florida that Obama "didn't have the political courage to make the statement of walking out [of Reverend Wright's church]". This was proceeded by Nadler saying that Obama must think of Wright, "Jesus, the guy's a nut, the guy's a lunatic.' But you don’t walk out of a church with 8,000 members in your district.”[|5]

Bio
Nadler was born June 13, 1947 in Brooklyn. He graduated from Columbia University and Fordham University School of Law. He worked for Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign in 1968, and was elected to the New York general assembly in 1976.

He was a founder and organizer of the “West Side Kids” as an undergraduate at Columbia University. The group brought together youth on Manhattan’s West Side as a political force to reform Democratic politics in the city through support for liberal and anti-Vietnam War candidates. Jerry’s group also led the “Clean for Gene” McCarthy campaign that brought thousands of students to New Hampshire for the 1968 Democratic Presidential campaign of Sen. Eugene McCarthy, against Lyndon Johnson and the Vietnam War. In New York, through grassroots community organizing, the “West Side Kids” expanded their political base by rallying for improved local housing and education conditions. [|6]

Elected to Congress in 1992, Jerry has used his position in the US House of Representatives to battle for the needs of everyday New Yorkers, and against the powerful special interests. [|7]

Congressional career
In 1992, Congressman Ted Weiss, was expected to run for reelection in the 8th District, which had been renumbered from the 17th after the 1990 census. However, Weiss died a day before the primary election. Nadler as nominated to replace Weiss and easily elected that November, winning the seat in his own right and a special election to serve the rest of Weiss' term. He been re-elected with little serious competition in one of the most Democratic districts in the country.

Nadler has one of the most liberal voting records in the House. His record "has earned him ratings of 100 percent from such groups as the League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, the Human Rights Campaign, Children's Defense Fund, and the American Federation of Teachers." 

He first came to national prominence during the impeachment of Bill Clinton, when he described the process as a "partisan railroad job." After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Nadler helped to pass bills helping the families of those killed and small businesses that were harmed due to the attacks. Nadler opposed both the USA PATRIOT Act and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Eleanor Friedman to face Nadler in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Nadler retained his seat.

2008 elections
After the withdrawal of challenger Adam Sullivan for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District, Nadler is seeking re-election against challengers Grace Lin, a 24 year old who is running on the Republican and Conservative ticket, and John Fessel, running as an Independent write-in. Grace Lin has a significantly policy different platform in comparison to Nadler as she advocates for more fiscal responsiblily through spending cuts to balance the budget, a privatized healthcare system with greater portability, and increased alternative energy exploration.

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

 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties


 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Highways, Transit & Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads

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

 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Task Force on Antirust
 * Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
 * Subcommittee on the Constitution - Ranking Minority Member
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads

Resources

 * Official website
 * Representative Jerrold Nadler's voting record at the American Civil Liberties Union's website
 * Campaign website
 * Jerry's Nadler's Colbert Report interview. (Other Colbert Report interviews with members of Congress)
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Gur, "The Phattest Bubble You've Ever Seen?", Room Eight, May 12, 2006.
 * Gur, "What Part Of "You Will Pimp My Pay to $168K" Did You Not Understand?", Room Eight, June 30, 2006.
 * Congressional Wire, "Earth to Congress - Come In!", Room Eight, July 11, 2006.
 * Gur, "Why Bother?", Room Eight, July 12, 2006.
 * Angela Burton, "NY Control In a Democratic House," Room Eight, November 6, 2006.
 * Chat with Jerry Nadler, FireDogLake, April 7, 2007.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Simply Left Behind