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Frank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg (b. January 23, 1924 - June 3, 2013) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate from the state of New Jersey. Lautenberg passed away on June 3, 2013, while serving what he had already announced would be his final term in the Senate.[1] Governor Chris Christie appointed Jeff Chiesa as a temporary replacement and a special election was held on October 16, 2013.[2]
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Lautenberg was a "far-left Democratic leader."[3]
Lautenberg had been struggling with health issues in early 2013 before his final battle with viral pneumonia. Lautenberg had made the decision on February 14, 2013, that he would not seek re-election in 2014 and would retire. When asked about the reasons for his retirement he said, "I am not announcing the end of anything. I am announcing the beginning of a two-year mission to pass new gun safety laws, protect children from toxic chemicals and create more opportunities for working families in New Jersey."[4]
Biography
Lautenberg was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended Nutley High School and served in the United States Army Signal Corps in World War II. Financed by the GI Bill, he attended and graduated from Columbia Business School in 1949 with a degree in economics.[5] At the time of his death, he was the last remaining World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Senate.[2]
Career
He was the first salesman at successful Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) and eventually became its chairman and CEO.
Committee assignments
U.S. Senate
2013-2014
Lautenberg served on the following Senate committees until his death :[6]
- Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Department of Homeland
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Members
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
- Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
- Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
- Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health
- Subcommittee on Oversight
2011-2012
Lautenberg served on the following committees:[7]
- Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security (Vice Chairman)
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
- Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
- Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security (Chairman)
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
Issues
Fiscal Cliff
Lautenberg did not cast a vote regarding the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.[8]
Elections
2014
On February 14, 2013, Lautenberg announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014 and would retire. When asked about the reasons for his retirement he said, "I am not announcing the end of anything. I am announcing the beginning of a two-year mission to pass new gun safety laws, protect children from toxic chemicals and create more opportunities for working families in New Jersey."[9] On June 3, 2013, just months after this announcement, Lautenberg passed away from viral pneumonia.[1]
Full history
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2008 On November 4, 2008, Lautenberg was re-elected to the United States Senate for a fourth non-consecutive term. He defeated Dick Zimmer (R), Jason Scheurer (Libertarian), J.M. Carter (God We Trust), Daryl Mikell Brooks (Poor People’s Campaign), Sara Lobman (Socialist Workers) and Jeffrey Boss (Boss for Senate).[10]
2002 On November 5, 2002, Frank Lautenberg won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Douglas Forrester (R), Ted Glick (G), Elizabeth Macron (L), Norman Wahner (T) and Gregory Pason (T) in the general election.[11]
1994 On November 8, 1994, Frank Lautenberg won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Garabed Haytaian (R), Ben Grindlinger (L), Richard Pezzullo (T), Michael Kelly (T), Arlene Gold (T), Andrea Lippi (T), Joanne Kuniansky (T) and George Patrick Predham (T) in the general election.[12]
1988 On November 8, 1988, Frank Lautenberg won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Peter Dawkins (R), Joseph Job (I), Jerry Zeldin (L) and Thomas Fiske (T) in the general election.[13]
1982 On November 2, 1982, Frank Lautenberg won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Milicent Fenwick (R), Robert Bastien (T), Henry Koch (L), Julius Levin (T), Rose Zeidwerg Monyek (T), Claire Moriarty (T) and Martin Wendelken (I) in the general election.[14]
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Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Analysis
Lifetime voting record
According to the website GovTrack, Lautenberg missed 322 of 9,563 roll call votes from February 1983 to April 2013. This amounts to 3.4%, which was worse than the median of 1.7 percent among current senators as of April 2013.[15]
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Lautenberg paid his congressional staff a total of $3,053,743 in 2011. He ranked 9th on the list of the highest paid Democratic senatorial staff salaries and ranked 11th overall of the highest paid senatorial staff salaries in 2011. Overall, New Jersey ranks 7th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[16]
Net worth
2011
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Lautenberg's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $57,699,193 to $117,415,025. That averages to $87,557,109, which is higher than the average net worth of Democratic senators in 2011 of $20,795,450. His average calculated net worth[17] increased by 2.32% from 2010.[18]
2010
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Lautenberg's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $55,073,211 and $116,071,021. That averages to $85,572,116, which is higher than the average net worth of Republican senators in 2010 of $19,383,524.[19]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
2012
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Lautenberg ranked 6th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. Senate.[20]
2011
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Lautenberg ranked 14th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. Senate.[21]
Political positions
Voting with party
November 2011
Frank Lautenberg voted with the Democratic Party 93.5 percent of the time, which ranked 27th among the 51 Senate Democratic members as of November 2011.[22]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
From his first marriage to Lois Lautenberg, which ended in divorce, Lautenberg had four children: Ellen, Nan, Lisa, and Joshua. In 2001, he married his companion of nearly 16 years, Bonnie S. Englebardt.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Frank + Lautenberg + New Jersey + Senate
External links
- Social media:
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Fact-checking:
- Financial (federal level):
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Legislation:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Works by or about:
- Media appearances:
- Media coverage:
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huffington Post, "Frank Lautenberg Dead: New Jersey Senator Dies At 89," June 3, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Washington Post, "Sen. Frank Lautenberg dead at 89," accessed June 3, 2013
- ↑ GovTrack, "Frank Lautenberg," accessed March 3, 2012
- ↑ NJ.com, "Frank Lautenberg will not seek re-election next year," February 14, 2013
- ↑ Frank R. Lautenberg, United States Senator for New Jersey, "Senator Lautenberg's Biography"
- ↑ Congressional Quarterly, "Senate Committee List," accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ Frank R. Lautenberg, United States Senator for New Jersey, "Senator Lautenberg's Committees"
- ↑ U.S. Senate, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ NJ.com, "Frank Lautenberg will not seek re-election next year," February 14, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1988," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1982," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ GovTrack, "Lautenberg," accessed April 11, 2013
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Frank Lautenberg"
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), 2011," accessed February 14, 2013
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Lautenberg, (D-NJ), 2010"
- ↑ National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," accessed March 6, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Torricelli |
United States Senate - New Jersey 2003–2013 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by Nicholas F. Brady |
United States Senate - New Jersey 1982–2001 |
Succeeded by Jon Corzine |
| Preceded by ' |
Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 1978–1982 |
Succeeded by ' |
