Edward Markey

Edward John Markey has been a Democratic member of the U. S. House of Representatives, representing the 7th District of Massachusetts, since 1977.

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

On January 9, 2007, Rep. Markey introduced a House version (H.R. 353) of Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-Mass.) bill to restrict Bush from committing more troops to Iraq unless Congress approved the move.

Abortion
His beliefs on Abortion are not consistent with his beliefs on Environmental issues. He openly believes abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape and when the life of the woman is endangered. Usually, a view like this on the issue of abortion is considered quite conservative. His interest group ratings are mostly 100%, and the things he is in support of contrast his beliefs on abortion. 

Environmental record
Markey stands strong for the environment. His actions that he takes to save our world cry out, “I’m a liberal.” Markey has introduced new legislation to not drill off Georges Bank. He also introduced a revolutionary Global Warming bill.  A majority of his interest group ratings range between 95 and 100%, showing his compassion for our world.

Energy and Fuel Economy
Markey has fought hard in the fight for energy independence since the beginning of his days in Congress. A long-time advocate of shifting away from a dependence on foreign oil, Markey has been a captain and determined leader of increasing fuel economy standards for automobiles. He has introduced a proposal to increase the minimum fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, and became a law in December 2007. His interest group rating of the Campaign for America’s Future is 100%, however, the group is comprised of conservative views. 

Markey calls on the house to pass energy bill, here is a link to the video. 

Support for gun control
In 1991, Markey cosponsored H.R. 3104, which would have amended title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation and the manufacture of firearms designed to accept a silencer, bayonet, grenade launcher, flash suppressor, or folding stock, of certain ammunition feeding devices, and of related devices, and to provide for the imposition of enhanced penalties for the possession or the use of any such item in a crime of violence or in a drug trafficking crime.

He also cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 28, 2005.

He also cosponsored H.R. 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2007) on March 13, 2007.

Calls for arrest of security researcher
In 2006, Markey called for the arrest of Christopher Soghoian, a security researcher at Indiana University. Markey indicated on the floor of the House that he wanted Soghoian arrested for exposing security problems related to the potential to use counterfeit boarding passes at US airports. 

Later, Markey commented that rather than being jailed, Soghoian should be "put to work showing public officials how easily our security can be compromised." 

The COPE Act
The Communications Opportunities Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act became the main vehicle for the network neutrality battle in 2006. On April 26, 2006, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce debated the Act and several amendments. The most relevant of these with regard to net neutrality was sponsored by Rep. Markey. He introduced an amendment which would have specifically given the Federal Communications Commission the authority to prohibit discrimination and enforce network neutrality. The amendment was co-sponsored by Reps. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Jay Inslee (D-Wash.). The amendment was defeated, 34-22. The committee eventually approved the Act by a vote of 44-12 and sent it to the House floor.

Chemical security legislation
In January, 2007, Markey announced that he would introduce legislation requiring manufacturers to replace the most toxic chemicals used in production with safer substitutes. One of the primary motivations for the bill was the danger faced by trains which transport the toxic materials. Ed Hamberger, president of the American Association of Railroads, said that more than half of his industry's insurance costs stem from delivering dangerous chemicals. With a $1 billion liability cap on a terrorist event, Hamberger said an attack could literally bankrupt a railroad company.

Bio
Markey was born July 11, 1946 in Malden, Massachusetts. He was educated at Malden Catholic High School, Boston College and Boston College Law School, served in the United States Army Reserve, and was a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives before entering the House.

Congressional career
In 2004 he announced that he would run for John Kerry's seat in the United States Senate if Kerry were to be elected President of the United States. Kerry, however, lost the election, and Markey will continue to serve in the House, to which he was reelected easily in 2004 over Republican Ken Chase and independent Jim Hall by a margin of 74%-21%-5%.

Since May 2005 he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

2006 elections
No major candidates announced their intentions to contest Markey’s seat in the November 2006 election. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

2008 Electtions

 * Dem Con Watch
 * Markey's district went for Clinton by 82,465 to 56,388 in the Massachusetts primary.

Money in politics
cid=N00000270&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
 * House Committee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection
 * House Committee on Natural Resources

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

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet - Ranking Minority Member
 * House Committee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Economic Security Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity
 * Subcommittee Management Integration and Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack
 * House Committee on Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Jonathan Silverstein, "Web Site Lets Anyone Create Fake Boarding Passes," ABC News, October 27, 2006.
 * Ryan Singel and Kevin Poulsen, "Congressman Ed Markey Wants Security Researcher Arrested," Wired News, October 27, 2006.
 * Ed Markey, "Markey: Don't arrest student, use him to fix loopholes," Congressman Ed Markey, October 29, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Mass Revolution Now
 * St. Kermit