Gregory Meeks

Gregory Weldon Meeks is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing New York's Sixth Congressional District  since 1998. The district includes most of Southeastern Queens including Jamaica and Far Rockaway, including John F. Kennedy International Airport.

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

Economy
In this CSPAN video (http://www.youtube.com/v/_MGT_cSi7Rs&hl=en&fs=1) you can see Gregory Meeks saying that he is "pissed off" at the 2004 warnings of OFHEO (Office of the Federal Housing Enterprise Oversite) and saying that there has been nothing that's indicated that is wrong with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Further, Gregory Meeks questions the competence of OFHEO for suggesting further regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2004.

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

Transparency
On February 5th, 2008, Meeks’ reelection campaign agreed to pay the Federal Election Commission a $63,000 civil fine for campaign finance violations. The “Meeks for Congress” committee admitted to “using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses of the congressman; misstating financial activity; receiving contributions that exceeded the act’s limits and source prohibitions; and failing to keep proper records of operating expenditures and contributions made to other political committees.” Some of the campaign finance violations included spending over $6,200 for a personal trainer for Meeks, and more than $9,800 in “vehicle lease payments and repairs.”

Bio
Meeks was born September 25, 1953 in East Harlem, New York City and raised in a housing project. He attended Adelphi University and obtained a degree in Law from Howard University. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney and Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York before joining the Investigations Commission to investigate official misconduct and organized crime. He was Supervising Judge for the New York State Workers Compensation System before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992.

Congressional career
He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1998.

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

Money in politics
cid=N00001171&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology
 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
 * Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere

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

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on Africa Global Human Rights and International Operations
 * Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere


 * Member, Congressional Black Caucus
 * Director of the National Endowment for Democracy
 * Congressional Advisory Board, Humpty Dumpty Institute
 * Advisory Board (2000 at least), The Sudan Campaign
 * Director, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database
 * Greg Meek's Colbert Report interview. (Other Colbert Report interviews with members of Congress.)

Articles

 * Gur, O Congress Person, Where Art Thou? "Room Eight", May 9, 2006.
 * 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.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Simply Left Behind