Specter, A Sen

<p><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter</a></p>

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<p>rip single bullet theory jfk warren comm

<span style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>Arlen Specter</b> lost the Democratic primary in 2010. "Specter's nearly 30-year Senate career ended in May 2010 when he was ousted by a Democratic congressman after deciding to bolt the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party" class="mw-redirect">Republican Party</a> just a year earlier because he was threatened with defeat in a GOP primary." </span></p>

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"Despite support from President Obama and the rest of the national and state Democratic establishment, Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Sestak" title="Joe Sestak">Joe Sestak</a> (D-Pa.) beat the veteran incumbent by tying him to former ally <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George W. Bush</a>."<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></p>

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Republican <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pat_Toomey&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Pat Toomey (page does not exist)">Pat Toomey</a> then went on to defeat Joe Sestak in the general election.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup> (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/pagecgd109_pa3.gif">map</a>)

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<h2>Contents</h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Record_and_controversies"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Record and controversies</span></a>

<ul>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Troop_Surge"><span class="tocnumber">1.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Troop Surge</span></a></li>

</ul>

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<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Environmental_record"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Environmental record</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Restricting_presidential_signing_statements"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Restricting presidential signing statements</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Impeachment_trial_of_Bill_Clinton"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Abortion_rights"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">Abortion rights</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Tax_issues"><span class="tocnumber">1.6</span> <span class="toctext">Tax issues</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Warrantless_surveillance"><span class="tocnumber">1.7</span> <span class="toctext">Warrantless surveillance</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#FBI_interest_in_financial_disclosure_forms"><span class="tocnumber">1.8</span> <span class="toctext">FBI interest in financial disclosure forms</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Elimination_of_earmarks"><span class="tocnumber">1.9</span> <span class="toctext">Elimination of earmarks</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-12"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Allowing_for_unapproved_U.S._Attorneys"><span class="tocnumber">1.10</span> <span class="toctext">Allowing for unapproved U.S. Attorneys</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Television_coverage_of_the_Supreme_Court"><span class="tocnumber">1.11</span> <span class="toctext">Television coverage of the Supreme Court</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Involvement_in_the_U.S._Attorneys_controversy"><span class="tocnumber">1.12</span> <span class="toctext">Involvement in the U.S. Attorneys controversy</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Restoring_Habeas_Corpus_for_detainees"><span class="tocnumber">1.13</span> <span class="toctext">Restoring Habeas Corpus for detainees</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Support_for_stem_cell_research"><span class="tocnumber">1.14</span> <span class="toctext">Support for stem cell research</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Employee_Free_Choice_Act"><span class="tocnumber">1.15</span> <span class="toctext">Employee Free Choice Act</span></a></li>

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<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Background"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Background</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Senate_career"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Senate career</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Positions_and_views"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Positions and views</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-22"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Health_Problems"><span class="tocnumber">2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Health Problems</span></a></li>

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<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Money_in_politics"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Money in politics</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-24"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Committees_and_Affiliations"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Committees and Affiliations</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Committees"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Committees</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-26"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Committee_assignments_in_the_109th_Congress_.282005-2006.29"><span class="tocnumber">4.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</span></a></li>

</ul>

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<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-27"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Coalitions_and_caucuses"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Coalitions and caucuses</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-28"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Boards_and_other_affiliations"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Boards and other affiliations</span></a></li>

</ul>

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<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#More_background_data"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">More background data</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Contact"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Contact</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Articles_and_resources"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Articles and resources</span></a>

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<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-32"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Resources"><span class="tocnumber">7.1</span> <span class="toctext">Resources</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-33"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#References"><span class="tocnumber">7.2</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-34"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Related_SourceWatch_articles"><span class="tocnumber">7.3</span> <span class="toctext">Related SourceWatch articles</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-35"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Articles"><span class="tocnumber">7.4</span> <span class="toctext">Articles</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-36"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Local_blogs_and_discussion_sites"><span class="tocnumber">7.5</span> <span class="toctext">Local blogs and discussion sites</span></a></li>

</ul>

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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Record_and_controversies">Record and controversies</span></h2>

<div style=" margin: 0.5em 0.75em 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; background: #dce8f8; border: 1px solid #5c79b5; padding: .25em .25em 0.25em .25em;"><span>General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:U.S._legislation" title="Category:U.S. legislation">articles on legislation</a>. You can add information you find on how Arlen Specter voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Help:References" title="Help:References">cite your sources</a>!</span></div>

<p>Specter voted for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_Iraq" title="Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq" class="mw-redirect">Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq</a> in Oct. 2002.

On February 17, 2007, Specter was one of seven Republicans to cross party lines and vote in favor of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Cloture" title="Cloture" class="mw-redirect">cloture</a> on a non-binding resolution opposing the troop "surge." The measure failed 56-34.</p>

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<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Congressional_actions_regarding_President_Bush%E2%80%99s_2007_proposed_troop_%E2%80%9Csurge%E2%80%9D_in_Iraq" title="Congressional actions regarding President Bush’s 2007 proposed troop “surge” in Iraq">Congressional actions regarding President Bush’s 2007 proposed troop “surge” in Iraq</a></i></dd>

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<div style=" margin: 0.5em 0.75em 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; background: #dce8f8; border: 1px solid #5c79b5; padding: .25em .25em 0.25em .25em;"><span>For more information see the chart of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._Senate_votes_on_the_Iraq_War" title="U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War">U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War</a>.</span></div>

<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Troop_Surge">Troop Surge</span></h4>

<p>In January 2007, during senate hearings on Congressional war powers Sen. Arlen Specter said, "I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider... The decider is a shared and joint responsibility". At this point it is not clear what option Sen. Specter is considering, however, as an experienced Republican Senator, this move is significant. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/30/war.powers.ap/index.html">[1]</a></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Environmental_record">Environmental record</span></h3>

<p><i>For more information on environmental legislation, see the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Portal:Energy_and_Environment_Policy_%28U.S.%29" title="Portal:Energy and Environment Policy (U.S.)">Energy and Environment Policy Portal</a></i></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Restricting_presidential_signing_statements">Restricting presidential signing statements</span></h3>

<p>On July 26, 2006, Specter introduced legislation, the <b>Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2006</b>, to challenge President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George W. Bush</a>'s use of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Presidential_signing_statements" title="Presidential signing statements">Presidential signing statements</a>, which have asserted his intentions not to enforce certain provisions of laws that he believes overstep his authority or interpretation of the Constitution. The bill would allow Congress to bring lawsuits to test the constitutionality of Bush's signing statements. An <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Bar_Association" title="American Bar Association">American Bar Association</a> task force issued a report on July 24 saying Bush had violated the Constitution through his issuing of more than 800 statements, more than all other U.S. presidents combined. Senate Majority Leader <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bill_Frist" title="Bill Frist">Bill Frist</a> (R-Tenn.) expressed disagreement with Specter over the issue, and believes Bush’s actions are constitutional. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/07/26/specter_proposes_challenge_of_bushs_power_on_laws/?rss_id=Boston.com%2B%2F%2BNews%2B%2F%2BNation">[2]</a>

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<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Presidential_signing_statements" title="Presidential signing statements">presidential signing statements</a></i></dd>

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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Impeachment_trial_of_Bill_Clinton">Impeachment trial of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a></span></h3>

<p>In 1998 and 1999 Specter criticized his own party for its impeachment of President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a>. Believing that Clinton had not received a fair trial, Specter famously cited <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_law" class="extiw" title="w:Scottish law">Scottish law</a> to render a verdict of "not proven" on President Clinton's impeachment. However, his verdict was recorded as "not guilty" in the Senate records.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Abortion_rights">Abortion rights</span></h3>

<p>Soon after the 2004 election, Specter stepped into the public spotlight as a result of controversial statements about his views of the future of the Supreme Court, specifically in warning <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W.Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">President Bush</a> about the implications of nominating Supreme Court justices who are opposed to the <i><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Roe_v.Wade&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Roe v. Wade (page does not exist)">Roe v. Wade</a></i> decision.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Tax_issues">Tax issues</span></h3>

<p>Despite Specter's mixed voting record on tax issues, he is a strong advocate of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Flat_tax&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Flat tax (page does not exist)">flat tax</a> system. On May 15, 2003, an amendment submitted by him calling on the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Economic Committee to hold hearings and consider legislation providing for a flat tax, was passed 70-30, with every Republican colleague of his supporting the measure.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Warrantless_surveillance">Warrantless surveillance</span></h3>

<p>Specter has been very critical of President Bush's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSA_warrantless_surveillance_controversy" class="extiw" title="w:NSA warrantless surveillance controversy">wiretapping of American residents without warrants</a>. When the story first broke, he called the effort "inappropriate" and "clearly and categorically wrong." He intends to hold hearings into the matter early in 2006, and had <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Alberto_Gonzales" title="Alberto Gonzales" class="mw-redirect">Alberto Gonzales</a> appear before the Senate judiciary committee to answer for the program (though Specter declined to force Gonzales to testify under oath). On January 15, 2006, Specter mentioned impeachment and criminal prosecution as potential remedies if President Bush broke the law, though he downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="FBI_interest_in_financial_disclosure_forms">FBI interest in financial disclosure forms</span></h3>

<p>In April 2006, the FBI reviewed Specter's financial disclosure forms. This action is historically rare. Specter was the second senator to have his records inspected during the 109th session of Congress. Sen. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Conrad_Burns" title="Conrad Burns">Conrad Burns</a> (R-Mont.) was the other, having been looked at previously in relation to campaign finance and earmarking investigations. Soon after, Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Jerry_Lewis" title="Jerry Lewis">Jerry Lewis</a> (R-Calif.) and Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Ken_Calvert" title="Ken Calvert">Ken Calvert</a> (R-Calif.) also had their records pulled in relation to similar investigations. Unlike the other legislators, however, Specter was not immediately named or implicated in any ongoing investigation. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://rollcall.com/issues/52_37/news/15395-1.html">[3]</a> Instead, it was revealed that the target of the probe was a staffer, Vicki Siegel Herson, who allegedly steered up to $50 million dollars in defense spending to clients of her husband, a lobbyist.<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-10-specter-staffer-investigation_x.htm?csp=34">[4]</a></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Elimination_of_earmarks">Elimination of earmarks</span></h3>

<p>In October of 2006, it was reported that Specter was considering eliminating all <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Earmarks" title="Earmarks">earmarks</a> from the annual Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies spending measure. The bill falls under the jurisdiction of the sub-committee of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/House_Committee_on_Appropriations" title="House Committee on Appropriations">House Committee on Appropriations</a> that Specter chairs. In explaining his reasoning for the possible move, he cited recent scandals involving Reps. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Duke_Cunningham" title="Duke Cunningham" class="mw-redirect">Duke Cunningham</a> (R-Calif.), <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bob_Ney" title="Bob Ney">Bob Ney</a> (R-Ohio), and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/William_Jefferson" title="William Jefferson">William Jefferson</a> (D-La.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_41/news/15619-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS">[5]</a></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Allowing_for_unapproved_U.S._Attorneys">Allowing for unapproved U.S. Attorneys</span></h3>

<p>On January 17, 2007 a spokesperson admitted that Specter made a last minute change to a bill in 2006 that would allow for the Executive to install U.S. Attorneys without the approval of the Senate. The Administration, shortly after the bill was passed, began to replace U.S. Attorneys with new, unapproved, ones. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002357.php">[6]</a></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Television_coverage_of_the_Supreme_Court">Television coverage of the Supreme Court</span></h3>

<p>In February 2007, Specter reintroduced a bill requiring television coverage of oral arguments in the Supreme Court. Specter had introduced similar measures before, although none passed due to a fear that increased "notoriety would imperil the security of Supreme Court justices." Citing recent public appearance of justices of the Supreme Court on networks, cable television, and public debates, Specter said, "the court's work, the court's operation, ought to be more broadly understood... That can be achieved by television." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021101157.html">[7]</a></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Involvement_in_the_U.S._Attorneys_controversy">Involvement in the U.S. Attorneys controversy</span></h3>

<p>Specter's chief counsel inserted a provision in the 2006 reauthorization of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/USA_PATRIOT_Act" title="USA PATRIOT Act" class="mw-redirect">USA Patriot Act</a> at the request of the Justice Department that allowed for the replacement of interim U.S. Attorneys. Specter later denied support and knowledge of the provision at the time of its passage. As Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Specter made several statements expressing concern over Attorney General Gonzales' credibility and ability to effectively do his job.</p>

<dl>

<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bush_administration_U.S._attorney_firings_controversy" title="Bush administration U.S. attorney firings controversy">Bush administration U.S. attorney firings controversy</a></i></dd>

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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Restoring_Habeas_Corpus_for_detainees">Restoring Habeas Corpus for detainees</span></h3>

<p>The <b>Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s185/show">(S.185)</a>: "A bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States," was introduced on January 4, 2007 in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._Senate" title="U.S. Senate">U.S. Senate</a> by Sen. Specter and committee Chairman Sen. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Patrick_Leahy" title="Patrick Leahy">Patrick Leahy</a> (D-V.T.), with <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s185/show">18 cosponsors</a>. On May 22, 2007, hearings were held on the bill by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_the_Judiciary" title="Senate Committee on the Judiciary">Senate Judiciary Committee</a>, and on Jun 7, 2007, the committee reported the bill favorably without amendment.

On December 5, 2006, Sen. Specter introduced the same bill in the 109th Congress as <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-4081">S.4081</a>. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.</p>

<dl>

<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Habeas_Corpus_Restoration_Act_of_2007" title="Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007">Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007</a></i></dd>

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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Support_for_stem_cell_research">Support for stem cell research</span></h3>

<p>Specter sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 which would have lifted restrictions on <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Stem_cell_research" title="Stem cell research" class="mw-redirect">stem cell research</a>. It passed the Senate in a vote of 63-34. It was later vetoed by President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George W. Bush</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup></p>

<dl>

<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._federal_stem_cell_legislation#Senate" title="U.S. federal stem cell legislation">U.S. federal stem cell legislation#Senate</a></i></dd>

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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Employee_Free_Choice_Act">Employee Free Choice Act</span></h3>

<p>Specter was the only Republican in the Senate to support the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Employee_Free_Choice_Act" title="Employee Free Choice Act">Employee Free Choice Act</a>. The act would make it easier for workers to unionize. The bill stalled in the Senate after failing to pass a cloture vote.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></p>

<dl>

<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Employee_Free_Choice_Act" title="Employee Free Choice Act">Employee Free Choice Act</a></i></dd>

</dl>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Background">Background</span></h3>

<p>Born February 12, 1930 to a Jewish family in Russell, Kansas, Specter studied at universities before and after serving in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1953. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951 and from Yale Law School in 1956. He passed the Pennsylvania Bar examination in 1956.

He soon became a prominent lawyer in Philadelphia and became active in politics, beginning his political life as a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/United_States_Democratic_Party" title="United States Democratic Party">Democrat</a>. He worked with the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Warren_Commission&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Warren Commission (page does not exist)">Warren Commission</a> investigating the assassination of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy" class="extiw" title="w:John F. Kennedy">John F. Kennedy</a>. As a chief counsel for the commission, he authored the controversial "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/single_bullet_theory" class="extiw" title="w:single bullet theory">single bullet theory</a>."

He eventually became a Republican and scored an upset by winning a race for District Attorney in heavily Democratic Philadelphia, running on an anti-corruption platform against the Democratic machine. His slogan, deemed "brilliant" by <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/23/AR2005052301337_pf.html">Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne</a>, was "We need these guys to watch those guys." He then mounted an unsuccessful campaign for mayor in 1973.

His wife, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Specter" class="extiw" title="w:Joan Specter">Joan Specter</a>, is a former at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Senate_career">Senate career</span></h3>

<p>In 1980, Specter became the Republican candidate for Senate when Republican incumbent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Schweiker" class="extiw" title="w:Richard Schweiker">Richard Schweiker</a> announced his retirement. He had previously run for the Senate in 1976, but was defeated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._John_Heinz_III" class="extiw" title="w:H. John Heinz III">John Heinz</a> in the Republican primary.

Specter won and was reelected in 1986, 1992, 1998 and 2004. He was briefly a candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination in the 1996 election, but dropped out early in the race. He was chairman of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Select_Committee_on_Intelligence" title="Senate Select Committee on Intelligence">Senate Select Committee on Intelligence</a> from 1995, when the Republicans gained control of the Senate, until 1997, when he became chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. He chaired that committee until 2001, when the Republicans lost control of the Senate, becoming chairman again when they regained control in 2003.

A senior member of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Judiciary_Committee" title="Senate Judiciary Committee" class="mw-redirect">Senate Judiciary Committee</a>, Specter was in line for the chairmanship in 2005 under the seniority system. However, conservatives began a campaign to deny him the chairmanship after his comments on <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#Abortion_rights" title="Arlen Specter">Roe v. Wade and judicial nominees</a>. Specter then met with many conservative Republican Senators, and based on assurances he gave them, he was recommended for the Judiciary Committee's chairmanship in late 2004. He officially assumed that position when the 109th Congress convened on January 4, 2005. The Judiciary Committee is responsible for holding hearings federal judicial nominations made by the President, including <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Supreme_Court" title="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</a> nominees, for oversight of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Department_of_Justice" title="Department of Justice" class="mw-redirect">Department of Justice</a>, and for other matters.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Positions_and_views">Positions and views</span></h3>

<p>In 2004, Specter, who is often dubbed a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_In_Name_Only" class="extiw" title="w:Republican In Name Only">Republican In Name Only</a>" (RINO) by more conservative critics, faced a challenge in the Republican primary election from conservative Congressman <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pat_Toomey&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Pat Toomey (page does not exist)">Pat Toomey</a>. Toomey charged that Specter was too much of a liberal and big spender to represent the Republican Party. The match-up was closely watched nationally, being seen as a symbolic clash between the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party. With support from fellow Republican Pennsylvania Senator <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rick_Santorum" title="Rick Santorum">Rick Santorum</a> and President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George W. Bush</a> (though some say that they did purely because Specter was the incumbent and Toomey would have almost certainly lost the general election), Specter narrowly avoided a major upset with 52% of the vote. Some considered this primary battle to have damaged his re-election hopes, putting him to the right of his past moderate stances. He faced <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/United_States_Democratic_Party" title="United States Democratic Party">Democratic</a> Congressman <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joe_Hoeffel&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joe Hoeffel (page does not exist)">Joe Hoeffel</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Summers" class="extiw" title="w:Elizabeth Summers">Betsy Summers</a> of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=United_States_Libertarian_Party&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="United States Libertarian Party (page does not exist)">Libertarian Party</a>, and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=United_States_Constitution_Party&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="United States Constitution Party (page does not exist)">Constitution Party</a> candidate James Clymer in November 2004's general election. He was easily reelected, becoming the longest-serving senator in Pennsylvania history (no other Pennsylvanian has ever served five terms in the Senate).

Specter is considered a moderate Republican. He is <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Pro-choice" title="Pro-choice">pro-choice</a> on abortion and supports gay rights. However, he strongly supports the death penalty and opposes most gun control, voting against the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Brady_Bill&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Brady Bill (page does not exist)">Brady Bill</a>, background checks at gunshows, the ban on assault weapons, and trigger locks for handguns. His work has included numerous articles on the deterring effect the death penalty has on future crimes. He supports affirmative action and voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1990. He was one of only four Republicans to vote against the Private Securities Litigations Reform Act and in recent years has been less enthusiastic about lawsuit reform than many members of his party. In 1995, he was the only Republican to vote to limit tax cuts to individuals with incomes of less than one million dollars. He voted against <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/CAFTA" title="CAFTA" class="mw-redirect">CAFTA</a>. Specter also supports an increase in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._minimum_wage_legislation" title="U.S. minimum wage legislation">federal minimum wage</a>. His opposition to Supreme Court nominee <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Robert_Bork" title="Robert Bork" class="mw-redirect">Robert Bork</a> is seen as one of the final nails in Bork's coffin. However, he raised the ire of many Democrats who had supported him for years with his aggressive questioning of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Anita_Hill&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Anita Hill (page does not exist)">Anita Hill</a> during the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Clarence_Thomas" title="Clarence Thomas" class="mw-redirect">Clarence Thomas</a> hearings.</p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Health_Problems">Health Problems</span></h3>

<p>On February 16, 2005, Specter announced that he had been diagnosed with an advanced form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgkin%27s_disease" class="extiw" title="w:Hodgkin's disease">Hodgkin's disease</a>, a type of cancer. Despite the advanced form, Specter continued working during chemotherapy. He ended treatment on July 22 and having made a full recovery, chaired the hearings on <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Roberts" title="John Roberts" class="mw-redirect">John Roberts</a>' and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Samuel_Alito" title="Samuel Alito" class="mw-redirect">Samuel Alito</a>'s confirmations to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Supreme_Court" title="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</a>.

On April 16, 2008, Specter announced that he had been diagnosed with an early recurrence of Hodgkin's disease.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> According to a statement released by his office, Specter said he plans to continue working and running for re-election. <sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup>

 </p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Money_in_politics">Money in politics</span></h2>

<p>This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00001604&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata></p>

<tr>

<th colspan="3">Links to more campaign contribution information for Arlen Specter

from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org">OpenSecrets.org</a> site.</th>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Fundraising profile:</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00001604">2006 election cycle</a></td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00001604">Career totals</a></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Top contributors by organization/corporation:</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00001604">2006 election cycle</a></td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00001604">Career totals</a></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Top contributors by industry:</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00001604">2006 election cycle</a></td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00001604">Career totals</a></td>

</tr>

</tbody></table>

<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/search_result.asp?mem=Specter%2C+Arlen">Revolving door profile for Arlen Specter</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.OpenSecrets.org">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/travel.asp?CID=N00001604">2006 privately funded travel profile for Arlen Specter</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.OpenSecrets.org">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/candlook.php?CID=N00001604">Personal finance profile for Arlen Specter</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.OpenSecrets.org">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

</ul>

<p>

 </p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Committees_and_Affiliations">Committees and Affiliations</span></h2>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Committees">Committees</span></h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Appropriations" title="Senate Committee on Appropriations">Senate Committee on Appropriations</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Defense</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Homeland Security</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education</li>

<li>Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Veterans%27_Affairs" title="Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs">Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_the_Judiciary" title="Senate Committee on the Judiciary">Senate Committee on the Judiciary</a> - Ranking Member

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights</li>

<li>Subcommittee on the Constitution</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Committee_assignments_in_the_109th_Congress_.282005-2006.29">Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</span></h4>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Appropriations" title="Senate Committee on Appropriations">Senate Committee on Appropriations</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Agriculture Rural Development and Related Agencies</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Defense</li>

<li>Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations and Related Programs</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Homeland Security</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies - Chair</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Transportation Treasury the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_the_Judiciary" title="Senate Committee on the Judiciary">Senate Committee on the Judiciary</a> - Chair

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Antitrust Competition Policy and Consumer Rights</li>

<li>Subcommittee on the Constitution Civil Rights and Property Rights</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Corrections and Rehabilitations</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Veterans%27_Affairs" title="Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs">Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs</a></li>

</ul>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Coalitions_and_caucuses">Coalitions and caucuses</span></h3>

<ul>

<li>Congressional Coalition on Adoption</li>

<li>Republican Policy Committee</li>

<li>Senate Centrist Coalition</li>

<li>Senate Rural Health Caucus</li>

<li>Chair, Senate Steel Caucus</li>

<li>Senate Textile Committee</li>

<li>Senate Wednesday Group</li>

</ul>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Boards_and_other_affiliations">Boards and other affiliations</span></h3>

<ul>

<li>Member, Pennsylvania State Planning Board</li>

<li>Member, White House Conference on Youth</li>

<li>International Board of Governors, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Peres_Center_for_Peace" title="Peres Center for Peace">Peres Center for Peace</a> <sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arlen_Specter#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup></li>

</ul>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="More_background_data">More background data</span></h2>

<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=S0761103">Background information on Arlen Specter from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0761103">Interest group scorecard ratings for Arlen Specter from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s000709">Voting record for Arlen Specter from the Washington Post database</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=PASR&site=congressmerge">Information on Arlen Specter from Congress Merge</a></li>

</ul>

<p><i><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> also has an article on <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Specter">Arlen Specter</a>. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL">GFDL</a>.</i></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Contact">Contact</span></h2>

</div>