Kurt Schrader

Kurt Schrader has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 5th district of the State of Oregon, since 2009.

Positions, record and controversies
During the 2008 campaign, Schrader took the following positions on the issues.

The Economy
Schrader did not support the bailout. He supports opening up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help lower gas prices in the short term, and requiring oil companies to drill on land already leased. Schrader also supports fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax so that it is tied to inflation, extending the child care tax credit for families making $100,000 or less, increasing unemployment benefits, providing community college scholarships for dislocated workers to help with retraining, and investing in green jobs.

He also favors instituting pay-as-you-go requirements in Congress for all new spending and taxes. In addition, Schrader wants to cut the federal budget, reduce reliance on government contractors, reduce government travel and use telecommuting and conferencing instead, ban bonuses for political appointees, reduce the number of no-bid contracts, get rid of tax cuts and subsidies for corporations that don't need them or those that do not stimulate the economy, eliminate oil and gas subsidies, and withdraw from Iraq.

Education
During his time in the Oregon legislature, Schrader strengthened math and English standards and advocated stronger vocational and technical training programs. He also favored performance based budgeting as a way of increasing government accountability.

Healthcare
Schrader said he will work to improve insurance coverage and include preventive care, protect services for seniors, and lower prescription drug prices.

Environment
Schrader supports strong investments in renewable and alternate energy research, increases in fuel efficiency standards and strong requirements for carbon emissions, and better management of our federal forestry land.

Bio
Schrader is a small businessman and a veterinarian. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1997 and then to the State Senate in 2003, where he served as the "budget chief."

2008 elections
Schrader won the Democratic nomination for the vacated seat of Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.) after prevailing in the primary election held on May 20, 2008. . He went on to defeat Republican nominee Mike Erickson in the November 2008 general election.

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

 * House Committee on Agriculture

External resources

 * Official Schrader for Congress Web site
 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Oregon’s 5th congressional district