Lamar Alexander

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Lamar Alexander : biography

July 3, 1940 –

Science

In 2007, a species of springtail, Cosberella lamaralexanderi, was named in his honor partially because of his support in the Senate for scientific research funding.

Health care reform

On July 15, 2009, Alexander voted against President Obama’s health care reform bill in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee., Politico.com, July 15, 2009 Alexander stated that he opposed the bill because he says it will result in higher state taxes, an increased federal debt, government-run health care, and Medicare cuts, and instead supports a different approach to reform., Nashville Scene, July 15, 2009 Alexander voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009, and he voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Bipartisanship

According to the 2009 annual vote studies by Congressional Quarterly, Alexander is one of the most bipartisan Republican members of the Senate. According to National Journal’s 2009 Vote Ratings, he was ranked as the 32nd most conservative member in the Senate.

On June 25, 2009, Lamar Alexander was one of 8 Republicans to cross the aisle and vote for confirmation of Harold Hongju Koh as Legal Adviser to the State Department., Senate.gov, June 25, 2009 Five days later, Alexander again broke ranks with conservative Senate Republicans when he announced his support for the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor., Senator Lamar Alexander, July 30, 2009

Background Checks

In April 2013, Senator Alexander was one of forty-six senators to vote against the passing of a bill which would have expanded background checks for all buyers. Alexander voted with 40 Republicans and 5 Democrats to stop the bill.http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/modeling-the-senates-vote-on-gun-control/

Committee assignments

  • Committee on Appropriations
    • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Ranking Member)
    • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
    • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
    • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
    • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Ranking Member)
    • Subcommittee on Children and Families (Ex Officio)
    • Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety (Ex Officio)
    • Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging (Ex Officio)
  • Committee on Rules and Administration
  • Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
  • Joint Committee on the Library
  • Joint Committee on Printing

Caucus memberships

  • International Conservation Caucus
  • Sportsmen’s Caucus
  • Tennessee Valley Authority Caucus (Co-Chair)

Republican leadership

In late 2006, Alexander announced that he had secured the requisite number of votes to become the Republican Party’s Minority Whip in the Senate during the 110th Congress. Even though he was seen as the preferred choice of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Bush Administration, he lost the election to former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott by one vote (25–24).

Alexander would get a second shot at entering his party’s leadership a year later when Lott announced his intent to resign from the Senate by the end of 2007. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, then Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, ran for Whip and was elected without opposition. With the Conference Chair vacant, Alexander announced that he would seek the position. He would go on to defeat Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina by a margin of 31–16.

Alexander stepped down as Conference Chairman in January 2012, citing his desire to foster consensus. He said, "I want to do more to make the Senate a more effective institution so that it can deal better with serious issues." He added, "For these same reasons, I do not plan to seek a leadership position in the next Congress", ending speculation that he would run for the position of Republican Whip after Jon Kyl retired in 2013.