Thad Cochran

William Thad Cochran, a Republican, has been a U.S. Senator from Mississippi since 1978.

Iraq War
Cochran voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

In 2003, Cochran killed an amendment to the FY2004 defense appropriations bill (S.AMDT.1271) by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), requiring the Defense Secretary to submit a report to Congress every thirty days detailing the costs of military action, the number of troops deployed in the region, and any contributions received from foreign governments. Supporters argued that the Bush administration was using deceitful tactics to circumvent Congress's right to appropriate funds for the war. Republican opposition was unanimous, and Sen. Cochran effectively motioned to table (kill) the amendment.

On March 27, 2007, Cochran introduced an amendment to the Senate's Iraq supplemental spending bill to strip the withdrawal deadline from the measure. The amendment was narrowly defeated, 48-50, with the support of two Republicans.

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

Budget
In 2006, the Republican-led 109th Congress was unable to pass spending bills for the next fiscal year. After learning that the bills would not be completed during the 109th Congress and would require a continuing resolution, a spokesperson for then Committee Chair Cochran stated, “Senator Cochran thinks it’s completely irresponsible that the responsibilities of this Congress have been abdicated for the year.”

Background
Cochran was born December 7, 1937 in Pontotoc, Mississippi. He earned Eagle Scout rank as a youth and graduated from Byram High School near Jackson. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi with a major in psychology and a minor in political science in 1959. After serving in the United States Navy (1959-1961), he attended the University of Mississippi School of Law and graduated in 1965. He practiced law for seven years.

Cochran had always been active in politics, working on several state Democratic campaigns. He became a Republican in the late 1960s and served as Mississippi executive director of Richard Nixon's 1968 campaign.

In 1972, Cochran ran succesfully for Congress. He was reelected in 1974, and by an even larger margin in 1976.

Senate Career
In 1978, James Eastland retired after six terms in the Senate, and Corchran decided to run. Cochran defeated state senator and future circuit court judge Charles Pickering, Sr. for the Republican nomination. The independent candidacy of Charles Evers, mayor of Fayette and brother of slain civil rights worker Medgar Evers, siphoned off enough black votes from Democrat Maurice Dantin to allow Cochran to become the first Republican to win a statewide election in Mississippi since Reconstruction. When Eastland resigned two days after Christmas, Cochran was appointed to the seat and started his Senate career a week early. He was reelected in 1984, was unopposed in 1990, reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in 1996 and faced no major-party opposition in 2002.

Cochran's voting record has been fairly moderate by Southern Republican standards. He has maintained a very low profile, at least compared to his colleague Trent Lott, who was elected to the Senate in 1988.

Money in politics
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Committees and Affiliations

 * Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
 * Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance, Sustainable and Organic Agriculture, and General Legislation
 * Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support
 * Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit
 * Senate Committee on Appropriations - Ranking Member
 * Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Interior, Environment
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

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

 * Senate Committee on Appropriations- Chair, Appointed 2005.
 * Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry- Chair, 2003-2005
 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
 * On the board of reagents for the Smithsonian Institution

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Cochran served as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference (caucus) from 1991 to 1996.

External resources

 * Official website
 * See how you compare to Thad Cochran