James Marshall

James Creel Marshall, a Democrat, has represented the 8th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives since 2003.

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

Bio
Marshall was born March 31, 1948 in Ithaca, New York. He entered Princeton University in 1966 but left in 1968 to enlist in the United States Army. He served in Vietnam as an Airborne Ranger reconnaissance platoon sargeant and earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He returned to Princeton in 1970 and graduated in 1972. Marshall later earned his Juris Doctor degree from Boston University and was a lawyer, a professor at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and the mayor of Macon before being elected to the House.

Marshall first ran for Congress in 2000 for the 8th District, giving Saxby Chambliss his closest contest ever. The Georgia state legislature renumbered the 8th as the 3rd after the 2000 Census, making it much more Democratic. Despite this, he barely defeated Republican Calder Clay due to the Republican wave that swept through Georgia. Marshall handily defeated Clay in their 2004 rematch, winning 63% of the vote.

In 2006, Marshall faced a tougher reelection fight. Early in 2005, the Georgia state legislature approved a new map of congressional districts; Marshall's new district, numbered the 8th, leaned significantly more Republican and included the home of former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, who announced that he is running against Marshall. Marshall retained his seat by winning 51% of the vote to Collins' 49%. 

Marshall's House biography states, "Jim works hard to reflect the values and advance the interests of Middle Georgia and our Nation. He works well with both Democrats and Republicans. According to the National Journal, the most respected non-partisan political publication, Jim's voting record makes him one of the few centrists in Congress." As a centrist, Marshall tends to be a social conservative. He opposes abortion, gay marriage and gun control, and supports a constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning. He has cited the concerns of people who have ethical objections to embryonic stem-cell research as influencing his votes on federal funds for such research: he supports allowing cell extraction only if embryos are not destroyed. Some social conservatives fault Marshall for his "no" vote on the "Smith of New Jersey Amendment." This amendment, which passed 216-211, blocked aid to the United Nations Population Fund, a family planning organization.

Marshall opposed the repeal of the Estate Tax and opposed reducing environmental regulations on the construction of new oil refineries ("Gasoline for America's Security Act"). He voted against bankruptcy reform, for American withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and against tort reform. He has also been a vocal advocate of larger benefits for military servicemen and veterans.

Money in politics
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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 Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
 * Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture Programs
 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
 * Subcommittee on Readiness
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities

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

 * House Committee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs
 * Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Projection Forces
 * Subcommittee on Readiness
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism Unconventional Threats and Capabilities

More Background Data

 * 2006 Georgia CD 3 Candidate List from VIS

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Linda S. Morris, "Marshall vows to fight ag cuts," Macon Telegraph, March 12, 2005.
 * "Thank You Congressman Marshall," full-page ad in Macon Telegraph supporting "embattled" Democrat Jim Marshall, September 28, 2006. Paid for by and posted on Vets for Freedom website.
 * Opinion: "Another sickening season of campaign ads has arrived," Macon Telegraph, September 29, 2006.
 * Travis Fain, "Collins, Marshall spar about ad content," Macon Telegraph, October 2, 2006.
 * Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Zachary A. Goldfarb, "Outside Groups Shoveling Cash Into Tight Races," Washington Post, October 3, 2006.
 * Ben Evans, "Voters turned off by ad wars in middle Georgia congressional race," Associated Press (Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA)), October 4, 2006. re Economic Freedom Fund
 * Ben Evans, "Voters getting dizzy from the spinning. Public getting turned off by ad wars in 8th District race," Associated Press (Macon Telegraph), October 5, 2006.
 * CyberPastor Ed, "Vets for Freedom - First Night," Do The Right Thing Blog, September 17, 2007. Vets for Freedom guest speakers: Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.); General, U.S. Army (Ret.) Jack Keane: and Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.)

Articles by Jim Marshall

 * "The reality of stem cell research," Macon Telegraph, June 11, 2005.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Georgia Unfiltered