Thomas Carper

Thomas Richard "Tom" Carper, a Democrat, has represented Delaware in the United States Senate since 2000. He is a Deputy Whip.

Iraq War
Carper 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

Electric Utility Cap and Trade Act
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) introduced the Electric Utility Cap and Trade Act of 2007 (S.317) on January 17, 2007 to "to amend the Clean Air Act to establish a program to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases from electric utilities." It was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The legislation would set an emissions "cap and trade" system for electric utilities.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
On April 6, 2006, Sens. Carper, Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (S.2590). The bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to create a searchable online database of all governments contracts and has been hailed as a "Google" for federal spending. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 26, 2006, and created the website ExpectMore.gov.

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans
Carper 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
Carper was born January 23, 1947 in Beckley, West Virginia, grew up in Danville, Virginia, and graduated from Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1968, where he was in the U.S. Navy ROTC and earned a degree in economics. Serving as a pilot in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he saw active duty in Vietnam, piloting submarine hunting planes. He remained in the U.S. U.S. Naval Reserve for another 18 years and retired with the rank of Captain. Meanwhile he moved to Delaware and earned an MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975.

While in college at Ohio State University, Carper had worked on the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy, the Minnesota peace candidate. Once in Delaware, he was campaign treasurer for University of Delaware professor, James R. Soles, in his unsuccessful 1974 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Upon receiving his MBA degree in 1975, Carper went to work for the State of Delaware in its economic development office. In 1976, with his good contacts in the Democratic Party leadership and a $5,000 personal loan, Carper convinced the party leaders, and later the voters, that he was the right person to be Delaware State Treasurer. He served three terms, from January 18, 1977 through January 3, 1983, during which time he developed Delaware's first cash management system.

After being convinced to run by Joe Biden, Carper served five terms in the U. S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1983 until January 4, 1993. As a Representative, he was a member of the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He chaired the House Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization.

In 1992, the popular incumbent Governor of Delaware, Michael N. Castle, was forced to retire due to term limits. The result was what became known as "the Swap." Castle ran for Carper's seat in the U. S. House of Representatives and Carper ran for Governor. Neither faced any significant opposition.

In 1992 Carper was elected Governor and served two terms from January 19, 1993 until January 3, 2001. As a moderate, business oriented Democrat, two successes were stopping the feared closing of the huge General Motors automobile assemply operation near Newport, and winning the contest with Pennsylvania for the location of the headquarters of pharmaceutical giant, AstraZenaca.

Continuing Pierre S. du Pont, IV's tax cutting policies, he lead an ongoing effort to reduce income tax rates, eliminate the marriage penalty and estate tax, cut the public utility tax, and eliminate the gross receipts tax for many small businesses. By doing so his administration improved the state's credit rating from among the worst in the nation to a respectable "AAA" rating. In educational programs he continued Castle's standards-based education programs, raising standards, testing students, and pushing through a teacher accountability bill. Other programs included a fully funded Head Start program and creation of a prescription drug benefit for seniors.

Because of term limits on the Governor's position Carper had to retire in 2000. Incumbent Senator William V. Roth, Jr. would not retire voluntarily, even though Rep. Michael Castle expressed interest in running for Senate but did not wish to face him in a primary. In a contest between two popular and respected politicians, the issue seemed to be Roth's age versus Carper's relative youth. Carper defeated Roth by over ten points.

Carper is a member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), of which he presently serves as Vice-Chairman. In December 2004 Carper became a part of the Senate Democratic Leadership. As a member of the four person "Executive Committee" he is one of four deputy whips. David Broder of the Washington Post called Carper, "a notably effective and nonpartisan leader, admired and trusted on both sides of the aisle." Carper has worked to institute a national energy policy, a balanced budget, strong environmental protections, welfare reform, and national education standards.

Carper joined in the unsuccesful attempt to tie the Bush administration tax cuts to deficit reduction and has supported additional funding for school choice programs and charter schools. He has also sought additional funding for railroad projects and for rail security. Carper has been a leader on Postal reform issues, limiting Internet taxation, and expanding emission controls. He strongly supported legislation to limit class action lawsuits and also changing the law to restrict personal bankruptcy. In addition, he is a strong proponent of free trade. Carper proposed the creation of a National Park in Delaware, the Coastal Heritage Park, to be in four locations along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay.

Carper will be seeking reelection when his term expires in January 2007, and his seat is considered to be among the safest in the U.S. Senate]]. "The Republicans would like to avoid the spectacle of holding their state convention in late April with the only potential challenger being Michael D. Protack, a constant candidate-in-search-of-an-office," according to Delaware political writer Celia Cohen in her January 13, 2006 Delaware Grapevine article.

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

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

 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
 * Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
 * Subcommittee on Economic Policy - Chairman
 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
 * Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
 * Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
 * Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety
 * Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
 * Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
 * Subcommittee on Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming, Oversight and Children's Health Protection
 * Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery
 * Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security
 * Subcommittee on Investigations
 * Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
 * Senate Special Committee on Aging

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

 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Financial Insitutions
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation
 * Banking Subcommittee on Securities and Investment
 * Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security (Ranking Member)
 * Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
 * Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
 * Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
 * Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change and Nuclear Safety (Ranking Member)
 * Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Senate Special Committee on Aging

Party leadership

 * Democratic Leadership Council- Vice-Chairman

More Background Data

 * See how you compare to Tom Carper

External resources

 * Official Website.
 * Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress.
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * The All-Spin Zone