Tom Harkin
Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin (b. November 19, 1939, in Cumming, IA) is a former Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from the state of Iowa. Harkin was first elected to the Senate in 1984.[1]
On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced that he would not seek re-election once his term expired. Upon his retirement, he had served in the U.S. Senate for 30 years.[2]
Harkin also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985.[1]
Biography
Harkin was born in 1939 in Cumming, IA. He earned his B.A. from Iowa State University in 1962 and his J.D. from Catholic University of America in 1972.
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Harkin's career:
- U.S. Navy, 1962-1967
- U.S. Naval Reserve, 1968-1974
- U.S. House of Representatives, 1975-1985
- U.S. Senate, 1985-2015
Harkin had a legal practice in Des Moines, served in United States Navy and Naval reserves, worked an attorney for Polk County, Iowa, Legal Aid Society in 1973 and was a member on the board of directors for the Iowa Consumers League.[3]
Committee assignments
U.S. Senate
2013-2014
Harkin served on the following Senate committees:[4][5]
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Subcommittee on Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management
- Appropriations Committee
- Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Department of Defense
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families Ex Officio
- Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging Ex Officio
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety Ex Officio
2011-2012
Harkin served on the following Senate committees[6]:
- Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman
- Subcommittee on Public Health
- Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training
- Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
- Appropriations Committee
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chairman
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Defense
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD, and Related Agencies
Key votes
113th Congress
The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[7] The Senate confirmed 13,949 out of 18,323 executive nominations received (76.1 percent). For more information pertaining to Harkin's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[8]
National security
John Brennan CIA nomination
Harkin voted for the confirmation of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, with a vote of 63 - 34. Most Democrats supported the nomination, while Republicans were somewhat divided with roughly one-third supporting the nomination.[9]
Economy
Farm bill
On February 4, 2014, the Democratic controlled Senate approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.[10] It passed the Senate with a vote of 68-32. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that will kick in if or when prices drop; however, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[11] Harkin joined with 46 other Democratic senators in favor of the bill.
2014 Budget
On January 16, 2014, the Democratic-controlled Senate approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[12][13] The Senate voted 72-26 for the 1,582 page bill, with 17 Republicans and 55 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.[13] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[14] It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency and left the Affordable Care Act without any drastic cuts. Harkin voted with the Democratic Party in favor of the bill.[12][13]
Government shutdown
- See also: United States budget debate, 2013
During the shutdown in October 2013, the Senate rejected, down party lines, every House-originated bill that stripped the budget of funding for the Affordable Care Act. A deal was reached late on October 16, 2013, just hours before the debt ceiling deadline. The bill to reopen the government, H.R. 2775, lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[15] The final vote on H.R. 2775 was 81-18, with all 18 votes against the bill from Republican members. Harkin voted with the Democratic Party for the bill.[16]
No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013
Harkin voted for H.R.325 -- No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill passed the Senate on January 31, 2013, with a vote of 64 - 34. The purpose of the bill was to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and withhold the pay of members of Congress until a budget could be passed. The vote largely followed party lines with Democrats overwhelmingly supporting it and many Republicans in opposition to the bill.[9]
Immigration
Mexico-U.S. border
Harkin did not vote on Senate Amendment 1197 -- Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border. The amendment was rejected by the Senate on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 39 - 54. The purpose of the amendment was to require the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status may be granted. It would also require 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be changed to permanent resident status. The vote followed party lines.[9]
Social issues
Violence Against Women (2013)
Harkin voted for S.47 -- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2013, with a vote of 78 - 22. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. All 22 dissenting votes were cast by Republicans.[9]
Previous congressional sessions
Fiscal Cliff
Harkin voted against 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. He was one of three Democrats that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.[17]
Issues
National security
American response in Syria
- See also: United States involvement in Syria
Harkin said in a statement released after a September 1, 2013, briefing of congressional leaders, “I have just attended a classified Congressional briefing on Syria that quite frankly raised more questions than it answered. I found the evidence presented by Administration officials to be circumstantial. The atrocious use of chemical weapons against civilian is an affront to human values and a violation of international law. It should be condemned by the international community as a whole. The coming debate in Congress will hopefully shine the light on outstanding questions. As will the results of the U.N. inspection team. We must wait for these results before any action is taken. What I hear from Iowans is that the Middle East has a complex history and the conflicts there will not be solved by U.S. military action alone. We should not rush into what may become a new open-ended war without broad international backing or a full understanding of the ramifications.”[18]
Healthcare
Healthcare.gov
- See also: Healthcare.gov website rollout
Harkin said of the website Healthcare.gov on November 5, 2013, “I want it fixed so the Affordable Care Act will succeed … not be torn down. There are many who have spent the past three years doing nothing but trying to tear this law down. Quite frankly, I feel they’ve kind of surrendered their right to express indignation that it’s not working flawlessly.”[19]
State of American politics
On the floor of the Senate on September 27, 2013, Harkin gave a speech describing how American politics have reached the level at which "a small group of willful men and women who have a certain ideology." Hark's comment came after the 21 hour long speech by Ted Cruz in the Senate on September 24-25, 2013.[20]
"Since they can't get their way," Harkin said, "they're going to create this confusion and discourse and hope that the public will be so mixed up in who is to blame for this, that they'll blame both sides."[20]
"It's dangerous. It's very dangerous. I believe, Mr. President, we are at one of the most dangerous points in our history right now. Every bit as dangerous as the break-up of the Union before the Civil War," Harkin added.[20]
Elections
2014
On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014.[21]
The FiscalTimes compiled a list of the seven most vulnerable Senate seats up for election in 2014. The seven included in the list were: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia. Going into the 2014 election, all seven seats were held by Democrats.[22]
Harkin's decision to retire after five terms in the Senate provides a great opportunity for Republicans.[22] Rep. Bruce Braley (D) is reportedly the likeliest Democratic nominee.[22] On the Republican side, early polling indicates that conservative Rep. Steve King leads the early primary field, but Rep. Tom Latham does better in general election matchups. While there are other Republican possibilities, it seems likely that one of these two would be the front-runner for the nomination.[22]
Full history
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2008
2002 On November 5, 2002, Tom Harkin won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Greg Ganske (R), Richard J. Moore (L), Timothy A. Harthan (Iowa Green Party) in the general election.[23]
1996 On November 5, 1996, Tom Harkin won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Jim Lightfoot (R), Fred Gratzon (Natural Law), Sue Atkinston (Nomination by Petition), Joe Sulentic (Nomination by Petition) and Shirley E. Pena (Socialist Workers) in the general election.[24]
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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.
Personal Gain Index
- See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)
- See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)
The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:
PGI: Change in net worth
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Harkin's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $12,103,118 and $23,975,003. That averages to $18,039,060.50, which is higher than the average net worth of Democratic senators in 2012 of $13,566,333. Harkin ranked as the 12th most wealthy senator in 2012.[25] Between 2004 and 2012, Harkin's calculated net worth[26] increased by an average of 58 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[27]
| Tom Harkin Yearly Net Worth | |
|---|---|
| Year | Average Net Worth |
| 2004 | $3,217,256 |
| 2012 | $18,039,060 |
| Growth from 2004 to 2012: | 461% |
| Average annual growth: | 58%[28] |
| Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.[29] | |
The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.
PGI: Donation Concentration Metric
Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Harkin was the Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Harkin received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Lawyers/Law Firms industry.
From 1989-2014, 17.33 percent of Harkin's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.[30]
| Tom Harkin Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $37,623,607 |
| Total Spent | $35,245,787 |
| Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions | |
| Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $2,171,166 |
| Health Professionals | $1,550,577 |
| Retired | $975,621 |
| Lobbyists | $923,354 |
| Securities & Investment | $898,265 |
| % total in top industry | 5.77% |
| % total in top two industries | 9.89% |
| % total in top five industries | 17.33% |
Analysis
Ideology and leadership
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Harkin was a "moderate Democratic leader," as of July 22, 2014. This was the same rating Harkin received in June 2013.[31]
Like-minded colleagues
The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.[32]
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Harkin most often voted with: |
Harkin least often voted with: |
Lifetime voting record
According to the website GovTrack, Harkin missed 386 of 9,968 roll call votes from January 1985 to July 2014. This amounts to 3.9 percent, which is worse than the median of 2.0% among currently serving senators as of August 2014.[33]
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Harkin paid his congressional staff a total of $2,814,112 in 2011. He ranked 18th on the list of the highest paid Democratic senatorial staff salaries and ranked 21st overall of the highest paid senatorial staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Iowa ranked 26th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[34]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year.
2013
Harkin ranked 26th in the liberal rankings in 2013.[35]
2012
Harkin ranked 15th in the liberal rankings in 2012.[36]
2011
Harkin ranked 5th in the liberal rankings in 2011.[37]
Voting with party
The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.
2014
Harkin voted with the Democratic Party 95.6 percent of the time, which ranked 25th among the 53 Senate Democratic members as of July 2014.[38]
2013
Harkin voted with the Democratic Party 96.1 percent of the time, which ranked 18th among the 52 Senate Democratic members as of June 2013.[39]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Harkin has been married to his wife Ruth (nee Raduenz) since 1968. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.[40]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Tom + Harkin + Iowa + Senate
See also
- Iowa
- U.S. Senate delegation from Iowa
- United States Senate
- United States Senate elections, 2014
- List of U.S. Congress incumbents not running for re-election in 2014
- U.S. Senate delegation from Iowa
- United States congressional delegations from Iowa
- United States Senate elections in Iowa, 2014
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 Bioguide, "Tom Harkin," accessed June 21, 2013
- ↑ USA Today, "Iowa Sen. Harkin will not seek re-election," accessed January 26, 2013
- ↑ Biographical Guide to Members of Congress, "Thomas Richard Harkin," accessed October 18, 2011
- ↑ Congressional Quarterly, "Senate Committee List," accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ United States Senate, "Tom Harkin Committee Assignments," accessed March 29, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Official Senate website, "Committees page," accessed October 18, 2011
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 112th Congress," accessed September 5, 2013
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 113th Congress," accessed March 4, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Project Vote Smart, "Tom Harkin Key Votes," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ Senate.gov, "H.R. 2642 (Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013)," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ NY Times, "Senate Passes Long-Stalled Farm Bill, With Clear Winners and Losers," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Politico, "Senate approves $1.1 trillion spending bill," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 U.S. Senate, "January 16 Vote," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ Roll Call, "House Passes $1.1 Trillion Omnibus," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ Senate.gov, "H.R. 2775 As Amended," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Senate, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ Des Moines Register, "Harkin urges caution on Syria military action," accessed September 2, 2013
- ↑ Des Moines Register, "Harkin: I want healthcare.gov fixed so Obamacare will succeed," accessed November 5, 2013
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 National Journal, "Senator Says Politics Have Reached Civil War Levels," accessed October 9, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "Harkin won't seek 6th senate term," accessed January 2013
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Fiscal Times, "7 Senate Seats Most at Risk—Hint: They’re All Blue," accessed February 15, 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 5, 1996," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Harkin, (D-IA), 2012," accessed February 18, 2014
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.
- ↑ This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see the Congressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Sen. Tom Harkin," accessed September 18, 2014
- ↑ GovTrack, "Tom Harkin," accessed July 22, 2014
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Rep. Tom Harkin," archived March 4, 2016
- ↑ GovTrack, "Tom Harkin," accessed July 22, 2014
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Tom Harkin," accessed 2012
- ↑ National Journal, "2013 Senate Vote Ratings," accessed July 22, 2014
- ↑ National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," accessed February 28, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: Senate," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑ Official Senate website, "Biography," accessed October 18, 2011 (dead link)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Roger Jepsen |
U.S. Senate - Iowa 1985-2015 |
Succeeded by Joni Ernst (R) |
| Preceded by ' |
U.S. House - Iowa 1975-1985 |
Succeeded by ' |
