Sheldon Whitehouse

Sheldon Whitehouse is the Junior Senator for the state of Rhode Island. He is a Democrat, and was first elected in 2006.

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

Cornel Young, Jr. Death
When black Providence police officer Cornel Young Jr. was shot by two fellow officers while he was off-duty in January 2000, Whitehouse was criticized for not appointing an independent prosecutor to investigate the shooting. Later that year, Whitehouse was criticized when 15-year-old Jennifer Rivera, a witness in a murder case, was shot by a relative of the man she was to testify against later that year. After Rivera's shooting, Whitehouse strengthened the state's witness protection program.

Biography
Born in 1955, Whitehouse is the son of Charles Whitehouse, a WWII veteran and a three-time ambassador. Whitehouse is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia Law School. In 1994 President Bill Clinton appointed Whitehouse to be the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island. As U.S. Attorney Whitehouse prosecuted the first case the new federal "three strikes" law and began the investigation into what became Operation Plunder Dome, a municipal corruption case that sent Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci to jail on conspiracy charges.

In 1998 Whitehouse was elected Rhode Island's Attorney General. As Attorney General he initiated a lawsuit against the lead paint industry that ended in a mistrial; the state later won a second lawsuit against former lead paint manufacturers Sherwin Williams Co., Millennium Holdings and NL Industries that found them responsible for creating a public nuisance. Whitehouse also founded the Rhode Island Quality Institute, "an organization dedicated to improving health care quality in the State of Rhode Island," and authorized the first Rhode Island State Police wire tap to investigate public corruption.

In 2002 Whitehouse made a run for the Democratic nomination for Governor. He lost to Sen. Myrth York by 900 votes.

2006 Senate race
When Whitehouse entered the race he initially faced a tight primary against Secretary of State Matt Brown. Whitehouse held a clear fundraising edge and Brown soon dropped out of the race after questions about his fundraising practices brought increasing negative attention.

Whitehouse has used Rhode Island's status as the most Democratic state in the nation as a means to ask voters to send a Democrat to the Senate over his opponent, liberal Republican Lincoln Chafee. Despite Chafee's liberal positions on social issues and the war Whitehouse has been able to use President Bush's unpopularity against the incumbent Senator.

Whitehouse favors bringing "the troops home from Iraq in a reasonable time frame". Whitehouse has labeled the American health care system as "both our biggest national problem and our biggest national opportunity."

Polls showed Whitehouse with a lead throughout the race. In the general election, he defeated Chafee 53%-47%. 

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

 * Senate Committee on the Budget
 * Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
 * Senate Special Committee on Aging
 * Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
 * Subcommittee on Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming, Oversight and Children's Health Protection
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality
 * Senate Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts
 * Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law

Resources

 * Whitehouse for Senate, official campaign site.
 * See how you compare to Sheldon Whitehouse

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * 4&20 blackbirds.
 * A Chicken Is Not Pillage.
 * Intelligent Discontent.
 * Left in the West.
 * Kmareka
 * Matthew - RI

Audio of Whitehouse Introducing His First Congressional Legislation -- 3 Bills on Health Care Reform

Articles

 * Jonathan Rockoff, "Minority leaders seek independent inquiry," Providence Journal, February 6, 2000.
 * Michael Cote, "Sheldon Whitehouse, Democratic candidate for Senate From Rhode Island," ePluribusMedia, August 12, 2005.
 * Jonathan Singer, "MyDD Conversation with RI Sen Candidate Sheldon Whitehouse," MyDD.com, December 19, 2005.
 * Peter B. Lord, "3 companies found liable in lead-paint nuisance suit," Providence Journal, February 23, 2006.
 * Stephanie A. Salmon, "10 things about Sheldon Whitehouse," U.S. News & World Report, September 13, 2006.
 * Michele Smith, "R.I.'s Chafee, Whitehouse Meet in Debate," Associated Press, October 19, 2006.
 * Michele Smith, "Corruption Claims in R.I. Senate Race," Associated Press, October 27, 2006.
 * Scott MacKay and Timothy C. Barmann, Campaigns go traditional in last days,  Providence Journal, November 5, 2006.