Fortney Stark

Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark Jr. , a   Democrat, has represented the 13th District of California in the United States House of Representatives since 1972..

Iraq War
Stark voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

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

Support for gun control
In 1991, Stark sponsored H.R. 3104, which sought "To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation and the manufacture of firearms designed to accept a silencer, bayonet, grenade launcher, flash suppressor, or folding stock, of certain ammunition feeding devices, and of related devices, and to provide for the imposition of enhanced penalties for the possession or the use of any such item in a crime of violence or in a drug trafficking crime."

Statements
During his time in Congress, Stark has made several controversial statements. In 2003, he called Rep. Scott McInnis (R-Colo.) a "fruitcake" and was alledged to have hurled additional slurs. In 1995, he called Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) a "whore for the insurance industry," which conservatives criticized as being sexist.

Acknowledgement of nontheism
In March 2007, Stark acknowledged that he held no belief in a deity. He did so in response to an inquiry by the Secular Coalition for America. In October 2006, the coalition, a national lobby representing the interests of atheists and other nontheists, offered $1,000 to the person who could identify the highest level atheist, agnostic, humanist, or other nontheist currently holding elected public office in the U.S.

Stark was the first member of Congress in the history of the U.S. to admit nontheism.

Lori Lipman Brown, director of the Secular Coalition, stated "If the number of nontheists in Congress reflected the percentage of nontheists in the population...there would be 53-54 nontheistic Congress members instead of one."

Biography
Stark was born November 11, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley, served in the United States Air Force, and was a bank executive before entering the House. He is known to "shoot from the hip," as remarked by his less than cordial comments. In addition, Stark was one of the most vocal Congresspersons who spoke out against the war in Iraq.

Stark was first elected to the House in 1972.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated George I. Bruno to face Stark in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Stark retained his seat.

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

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Health - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support

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

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Health - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Human Resources
 * Joint Committee on Taxation

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * The Progressive Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Trustee, California Democratic Council
 * Director, Common Cause
 * Board Member, Council for Civic Unity
 * Board Member, Housing Development Corporation
 * Chair, Board of Trustees, Starr King School of the Ministry, Berkeley

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * California Congressman Pete Stark Reflects on Life Under a Republican Dictatorship in the House
 * The War on our Children: Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.)
 * Medicare for All by Rep. Pete Stark
 * Stark's opposition to the war in Iraq from a Salon.com story: The bottom line is I don't trust this president and his advisors
 * Stark's voting record from Issues 2000
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Politicks isn't Pretty
 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics