John Barrow

John Barrow, a Democrat, has represented the 12th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives since 2004.

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

Bio
Barrw was born October 31, 1955 in Athens as a seventh generation Georgian. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1976. In 1979, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University. After graduation, he entered private practice as a lawyer, working until his election to public office. From 1990 to 2004, he served as city-county commissioner for Athens, Georgia-Clarke County.

Barrow defeated incumbent Republican Max Burns in the 2004 Congressional election. Burns had won the seat in 2002 because of ethical questions surrounding the Democratic nominee, Charles "Champ" Walker, Jr. Barrow won a four-way primary and went on to defeat Burns by four percentage points.

Georgia gained the 12th district as a result of the 2000 Census. The Athens-to-Savannah district, with its 40% African-American population, was expected to favor a Democratic candidate.

In 2006, Barrow is working to raise the federal minimum wage over the next two years from its current level of $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Max Burns to face Barrow in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Barrow's race against Burns was very close, as Barrow held a lead of less than 1,000 votes after an initial count. This count, however, did not take into account overseas or provisional ballots. 

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

 * House Committee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs
 * Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture


 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials

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
 * Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture
 * House Committee on Small Business
 * Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises Agriculture and Technology - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Workforce Empowerment and Government Programs
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Biographical Directory of Congress entry
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Barrow among 50 Richest in Congress by Bob Kemper, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/14/05.
 * Wolfing down with a Blue Dog by Betsy Rothstein, The Hill, 11/16/05.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Georgia Unfiltered