Jerry Costello

Jerry Francis Costello has been a Democratic member of the U. S. House of Representatives since 1988, representing the 12th District of Illinois.

Record and controversies
Committee Assignments: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Science and Technology

Abortion
Costello has been given a 100% by the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), indicating a strong pro-life stance. He voted for banning all partial-birth abortions in 2000, and in 2003, voted for banning partial-birth abortions except to save a mother’s life. In the 2003 bill, there would be significant fines or prison sentence for those who performed the procedure. Costello has voted against using human embryonic stem cells for research. He has also voted to press criminal charges against those who harm a fetus during another crime. In 2002, Costello voted to strip funding from health providers who provide information on abortion. Jerry Costello on Abortion

Civil Rights
Costello has mixed voting records on civil rights. He has been given a 47% by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Regarding Affirmative Action, Costello received an 86% by the National Association of Colored People indicating a fairly strong pro-affirmative action state. Regarding gay rights, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) he has been given a 55%, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. However, in 2004 Costello voted YES on the Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. He also voted for the banning of gay adoption in the District of Columbia. With regards to the PATRIOT Act, in 2005 Costello voted against making the act permanent. He strongly believes that the PATRIOT Act harms civil liberties. Jerry Costello on Civil Rights

Iraq War
Costello voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War. In 2003, he voted YES on the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2003, supplying $78 billion dollars towards continued military action on the War on Terrorism. In early 2007, Costello issued a statement on a televised address regarding Bush’s plan to deploying 20,000 more troops to Iraq. In his address he said: “I am adamantly opposed to sending any additional troops to Iraq. This is another in a series of bad decisions that the President and his administration have made in regard to Iraq, as it is clear to me that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war and that our troops will continue to be significant targets.” For Costello's Complete Address In 2008, Costello voted for the investigation for Bush’s impeachment on the basis of his lies about the Iraq War. Jerry Costello on the Iraq War

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

Bio
Costello was born September 25, 1949 in East St. Louis, Illinois. He was educated at Maryville College of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, and was a county bailiff, deputy sheriff, director of court services and probation and chief investigator for the Illinois State Attorney's office before entering the House.

Congressional Career
Costello took office on August 9, 1988, filling the seat of the deceased Melvin Price. He was elected to a full term that November, and has been reelected to every succeeding Congress. Costello is one of the more conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives. He has a pro-life voting record and has received favorable ratings from the American Conservative Union and the John Birch Society.

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

Money in politics
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Committees

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Chair
 * Subcommittee on Aviation - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
 * House Committee on Science and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Energy
 * Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight

Committees and Affiliations 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Science
 * Subcommittee on Energy
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Philosophe Forum
 * Prairie State Blue - Statewide Progressive Blog