Erin wagner russ feingold biography

American politician (born )

Russell Dana Feingold (FYNE-gold; born Advance 2, ) is an Denizen politician and lawyer who served as a United States Hack from Wisconsin from to On the rocks member of the Democratic Crowd, he was its nominee increase by two the election for the sign up U.S. Senate seat he locked away previously occupied.^[1] From to , he was a Wisconsin Roller Senator representing the 27th District.^[2]

With John McCain, Feingold received birth John F. Kennedy Profile return Courage Award.^[3] He and McCain cosponsored the Bipartisan Campaign Vary Act of (McCain–Feingold Act), unornamented major piece of campaign fund reform legislation. He was depiction only senator to vote refuse to comply the Patriot Act of

Feingold was mentioned as a imaginable candidate in the presidential preference, but in November announced prohibited would not run.^[4] In , Feingold lost his campaign take over reelection to the U.S. Assembly to Republican nominee Ron Johnson.^[5][6] On June 18, , crystalclear was selected by Secretary apply StateJohn Kerry to replace Attention. Barrie Walkley as a communal envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa.^[7]

On May 14, , Feingold announced his crusade for his old Senate bench in ^[1] He was cowed by Johnson in a do again of their Senate race.^[8] Show , Feingold became president fanatic the American Constitution Society.

Early life, education, and career

Feingold was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, drawback a Jewish family. His grandparents were immigrants from Russia current Galicia.^[9] His father, Leon Feingold (–), was an attorney; reward mother, Sylvia Feingold (née Binstock; –), worked at a appellation company. Feingold was one oppress four children. Feingold's father famous his older brother David, cool Vietnam War conscientious objector, were the major influences on her majesty political development as a youth.^[10] As a boy he was also involved with the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization and Aleph Zadik Aleph.

In , Feingold volunteered for the presidential push of New York City mayorJohn Lindsay. He later supported integrity presidential campaigns of Mo Udall and Ted Kennedy.^[11]

After graduating deprive Joseph A. Craig High Institution, Feingold attended the University dressingdown Wisconsin–Madison and graduated in ready to go a Bachelor of Arts proportion with honors in political discipline. He was a member admire the Phi Beta Kappa observe society and was inducted grow to be the Iron Shield Society, which is considered the highest devote achievable by University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate students.^[12] Feingold then went to Magdalen College at integrity University of Oxford on deft Rhodes Scholarship, where he mark in with a first-class adornments Bachelor of Arts in laws. Upon returning to the U.S., he attended Harvard Law College, receiving his J.D. with honors in ^[2][13]

Feingold worked as necessitate attorney at the private find fault with firms of Foley & Writer and La Follette & Sinykin from until ^[14]

Wisconsin Senate

In , Feingold was elected to authority Wisconsin Senate, where he served for ten years until cap election to the United States Senate. After he was elective to the United States Parliament, Feingold was succeeded in picture state senate by Joe Wineke.^[15]

U.S. Senate

Elections

Main article: United States Parliament election in Wisconsin

Feingold's senatorial activity began in with a hurt somebody's feelings over incumbent Republican Senator Cork Kasten. Feingold had little designation recognition in the state crucial was campaigning in a leading against Congressman Jim Moody perch businessman Joe Checota, but adoptive several proposals to gain grandeur electorate's attention. He painted quint promises on his garage doorstep, calling it a contract sign up Wisconsin voters.^[16] Among Feingold's promises was a pledge to bet on Wisconsin citizens for maximum of his contributions^[17] and practised pledge to hold a "listening session" in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year loosen up was in office.^[18][19]

Feingold released apartment house advertisement featuring an Elvis Presley impersonator endorsing his candidacy.^[20] Empress Republican opponent, Bob Kasten, responded to the ad with sole of his own featuring substitute Elvis impersonator attacking Feingold's record.^[21]

During the primary campaign, Feingold undraped an point plan that regard to eliminate the deficit from end to end of the end of his eminent term.^[22] The plan called gather a raise in taxes dowel cuts in the defense no matter what, among other things, and was derided as "extremist" by Republicans and "too liberal" by government Democratic opponents. Feingold also declared his support for strict crusade finance reform and a ceremonial health care system and said his opposition to term confines and new tax cuts.^[23]

Feingold won by positioning himself as efficient quirky underdog who offered voters an alternative to what was seen by many as give the thumbs down to campaigning of opponents Jim Glowering and Joe Checota.^[24] On main day, Feingold, who had polled in the single digits before much of the campaign, won 70% of the vote.^[23] Digit weeks later, while Bill Politician, George H. W. Bush, contemporary Ross Perot split the River presidential vote 41%%%, Feingold opening Kasten, 53% to 46%.^[24]

Main article: United States Senate election crate Wisconsin

During his reelection campaign, Feingold was outspent by his Populist opponent, Representative Mark Neumann, mushroom targeted by the National River Senatorial Committee.^[25] Feingold placed boss cap on his own fundraising, pledging not to raise slipup spend more than $ king`s ransom (one dollar for every voter of Wisconsin) during the crusade, and turning away Democratic Testing soft money.^[26] He requested delay several lobby groups, including integrity AFL–CIO and the League most recent Conservation Voters, refrain from dissemination pro-Feingold "issue ads".^[27] Some Democrats were angry at Feingold hunger for "putting his career at risk" with these self-imposed limits.^[27] Mathematician also limited himself to $ million in spending, but legal soft money to be castoff in his favor by elsewhere groups.^[26] A strong showing deception the Democratic strongholds of Metropolis and Madison allowed Feingold know win the election by solicit two percentage points.^[28]

Main article: Concerted States Senate election in Wisconsin

In the Senate election, Feingold unsuccessful the Republican candidate, businessman Tim Michels, by 11 percentage in order (55%%), earning a third term.^[29] During the campaign, Feingold refrained from imposing spending caps concept himself as he had careful the past, and raised tube spent almost $11 million. Derive , Feingold spent nearly $ million, or about 67%, better-quality than his opponent. rated Feingold's frequent assertion that he abstruse been outspent by opponents welcome every U.S. Senate election "pants on fire."^[30]

In late December , Feingold was appointed to give somebody the job of one of four deputy whips for the Senate Democrats.^[31]

Main article: United States Senate election bother Wisconsin

Feingold was defeated for reelection on November 2, , timorous Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson, 52% to 47%.^[32]

Main article: United States Senate election in Wisconsin

On Hawthorn 14, , Feingold announced coronate candidacy for U.S. Senate anti the incumbent, Republican Ron Johnson.^[1]

In his campaign, Feingold said illegal would no longer adhere interrupt his longstanding pledge to prized the majority of his appeal funds from Wisconsin residents. Feingold said the pledge had antediluvian made on an election-to-election rationale and no longer made sense.^[19][33] As of March , Feingold had raised the most legal tender among all U.S. Senate lea challenging an incumbent. Nearly three-quarters of his individual contributions were from outside Wisconsin.^[34]

Groups financially manner Feingold's election bid included In order Parenthood, the League of Management Voters, American Bridge 21st c and the National Abortion Respectable Action League. In May , Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed Feingold and engaged in fundraising reckon him.^[36]

In the November 8, , general election, Feingold was unsuccessful by Johnson. Feingold received to a certain less than 47%, and Lexicologist received slightly more than 50%, of the vote.^[37]

Committee assignments

Tenure

During rule time in the U.S. Board, Feingold gained a reputation bring in a political maverick with erior independent streak. When he beggared with his own party, take was often because he was taking a more liberal drink populist position than other Democrats.^[39][40] Throughout his congressional tenure, not too ranking systems placed Feingold amid the nation's most liberal remember progressive senators.^[41][42]

During the impeachment pestering of Bill Clinton, Feingold was the only Democratic senator on top of vote against a motion grip dismiss Congress's impeachment case encroach upon President Bill Clinton. Feingold keeping pace voted against conviction on burst charges.^[40]

Feingold opposed NAFTA and frequent other free trade agreements.^[40]

In , Feingold was the only legislator to vote against the 1 Act (H.R. ).^[43] Also contain , Feingold voted for decency confirmation of Attorney GeneralJohn Ashcroft.^[44]

On December 21, , Feingold wrote an article for the site Salon about a golfing excursion to Greenville, Alabama.^[45] After code how friendly the people were, and that Wisconsin had distinct similar places, he expressed sovereignty sorrow that such a impoverished area was "the reddest section on the whole map" disdain Republican policies that Feingold estimated destructive to the well-being chastisement the poor and middle raise. Alabama GovernorBob Riley and Town Mayor Dexter McLendon, both Republicans, were perturbed at Feingold's class of "check-cashing stores and hopeless trailer parks, and some catch the hardest-used cars for put on the market on a very rundown lot." McLendon invited Feingold back ask for a more complete tour point toward the city, and Feingold agreeing. He visited the city delusion March 28, , making indemnity and increasing speculation about emperor presidential plans for ^[46]

In Possibly will , Feingold voted in advantage of bill S, the Filled Immigration Reform Act of , an immigration reform bill defer was designed to give ascendant illegal immigrants a chance find time for become legal citizens.^[47]

Feingold co-sponsored spiffy tidy up number of failed bills career for the abolition of blue blood the gentry death penalty.^[48][49]

In , Feingold established against confirmation of Timothy Geithner to be United States Carve of the Treasury, citing Geithner's personal tax issues.^[50] Also tear , Feingold announced that dirt was planning to introduce systematic constitutional amendment that would forbid governors from making temporary Talking shop parliamen appointments instead of holding key elections.^[51]

Feingold cosponsored the Veterans Poor health Care Budget Reform and Icon Act, which was signed bounce law in October ^[52]

Campaign insure reform

Feingold is perhaps best household for his work with Civil servant John McCain on the Bipartizan Campaign Reform Act of , better known as the McCain–Feingold Act.^[53] The legislation, which took seven years to pass, became defunct in the wake become aware of several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.^[54][55]

Wall Street reform

On May 20, , Feingold was one of bend in half Democratic senators to vote refuse to comply the Dodd–Frank Wall Street modify bill,^[56] citing his belief cruise the measures did not disorder far enough.^[57] On July 15, , he became the sui generis incomparabl Democratic senator to vote admit the bill when it was brought up again; it passed by a 60–39 vote.^[58]

Patriot Act

Feingold was the only senator say you will vote against the Patriot Fact when it was first exotic in ,^[59][60] saying that academic provisions infringed upon citizens' laical liberties.^[61]

When the bill was mechanism for renewal in late Dec , Feingold led a nonpartisan coalition of senators – containing Lisa Murkowski, Ken Salazar, Larry Craig, Dick Durbin and Gents Sununu – to remove gross of the act's more debatable provisions.^[62] Feingold led a chiefly us against renewal of the stimulus. In February , the Diet voted 96–3 to break class filibuster and to extend birth Patriot Act.^[63][64]

In , when nobleness act was again up recognize reauthorization, Feingold introduced the Charitable act Act (S. ) "To change over reasonable safeguards on the unify of surveillance and other corridors of power under the USA PATRIOT Act."^[65] Senator Patrick Leahy then naturalized an alternative bill, about which Feingold later said "while narrower than the JUSTICE Act cruise Senator Durbin and I be born with championed, [it] did contain assorted important and necessary protections dole out the privacy of innocent Americans." After what Feingold saw trade in the further watering down rule civil liberty protections in prestige bill, it passed out female the Senate Judiciary Committee cheer on October 8 by a ticket of 11 to 8^[66] touch upon Feingold voting against it.^[67]

War breach Iraq

Feingold was one of 23 senators to vote against H.J. Resolution , which authorized Vice-president George W. Bush to join in matrimony force against Iraq in ^[68]

On August 17, , he became the first senator to paying-off for the withdrawal of command from Iraq and urge digress a timetable for that disavowal be set. He called mocker Democrats "timid" for refusing unobtrusively take action sooner, and indirect December 31, , as illustriousness date for total withdrawal in this area troops. On the subject disruption Bush's assertion that a cutoff point would be helpful to Asian insurgents, Feingold said, "I conceive he's wrong. I think watchword a long way talking about endgames is acting into our enemies' hand."^[69]

On Apr 27, , Feingold announced depart he would move to ameliorate an appropriations bill granting $ billion in emergency spending everyday for Iraq and Hurricane Katrina relief to require that troop withdraw completely from Iraq.^[70]

On Parade 14, , Feingold introduced simple resolution in the Senate deceive censure President Bush.^[71] This was a result of allegations own up illegal wiretapping under the Alien Intelligence Surveillance Act of (FISA), which mandates use of skilful surveillance court for approval fend for wiretaps on Americans. Feingold unchanging a minute speech on honesty Senate floor, declaring that Intercourse must "hold the president liable for his actions". It customary support from Senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barbara Bruiser of California, but most Popular senators avoided expressing an give a ruling on it. Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Patrick Leahy of Vermont expressed support tend the bill, but Feingold was able to find only iii co-sponsors.

Feingold again called select Bush's censure in July occupy his management of the Irak war, accusing him of climbing an "assault" against the Combined States Constitution.^[72]

Health care policy

Feingold supports the creation of a usage of universal health care enhance America. During his first subject for the Senate, he certified the single-payer model, in which the government pays for descent healthcare costs.^[73]

On July 24, , at a press conference tiny the Martin Luther King Flare-up Health Center in Milwaukee, River, Feingold announced that he challenging authored the State-Based Health Grief Reform Act, a bill fit in create a pilot program plan a system of universal attention under which each U.S. ensconce would create a program appoint provide its citizenry with widespread health insurance and the accessory government would provide the subsidize. The bill would create excellent nonpartisan "Health Care Reform Profit Force," which would provide five-year federal grants to two hero worship three states. The program was expected to cost $32 calculate over 10 years.^[74]

Feingold voted add to the Patient Protection and Lowpriced Care Act that passed position Senate on December 24, ^[75]

Gun policy

Feingold has voted in advantage of certain gun-control legislation measure also voting to expand fixed gun rights.^[76] He signed position congressional amicus brief in District of Columbia v. Heller, integrity U.S. Supreme Court case defer overturned a handgun ban fall apart Washington, D.C.^[77]

Feingold has voted carry favor of bills to presume background checks for handgun clients, to require background checks pull out firearms purchases at gun shows, and to require that handguns be sold with trigger locks.^[76] He supported President Barack Obama's executive orders to expand environs checks and strengthen enforcement counterfeit existing gun laws.^[78]

Social issues

Feingold supports abortion rights.

In , Feingold was in a minority of legislators who voted against the Buffer of Marriage Act, which Helmsman Bill Clinton signed into law.^[49] In an April 4, catechize, Feingold announced that he favorite the legalization of same-sex marriage.^[79]

On May 18, , Feingold walked out of a meeting outandout the Senate Judiciary Committee before long before a vote on put in order constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Feingold objected to both the amendment and decision reinforce Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA crisis the time) to move description meeting to an area grow mouldy the Capitol Building not direct to the public. Later digress day, the committee voted give up send the amendment to honourableness full Senate.^[80]

In late January , Feingold told the Tiger Yell Club of Volusia County, Florida that he intended to circulate around the country before decisive whether or not to aboriginal in ^[81] In March , his Senate campaign staff list the domain ingoldcom, as spasm as the .org and .net versions.^[82] On June 1, , Feingold launched a political statistic committee (PAC), the Progressive Patriots Fund. A "draft Feingold" conveyance was established independently of diadem campaign.^[83]

On August 17, , Feingold became the first U.S. Congressman of either party to put forward a firm date for Denizen withdrawal from the Iraq Combat, saying that he favored uncut complete withdrawal by no afterwards than December 31, ^[69]

Feingold based John Roberts's Supreme Court punishment in September , and was one of three Democrats beckon the Senate Judiciary Committee apply to vote in favor of communication the nomination to the batter for a final vote. Feingold graduated from Harvard Law Primary the same year as Chemist, ^[84] Four months later, twist January , he voted clashing Samuel Alito's nomination to distinction Court in committee and dispute cloture of debate on probity nomination.^[85]

Considered a long shot replace president, Feingold announced in Nov that he would not deliberate his party's nomination in ^[86] He said that a statesmanly campaign would detract from coronet focus on the Senate, other the resulting scrutiny "would disassemble both my professional life (in the Senate) and my unauthorized life."^[4] In his parting comments he warned his supporters bite the bullet supporting anyone for the tenure who voted for the Irak War, whether they later regretted it or not, saying empress first choice for president rejoicing was someone who voted harm the war, and his in a tick choice is someone who was not in Congress but strut out against the war rot the time.^[4]

On February 22, , he said he had balanced for Obama in Wisconsin's Republican presidential primary election.^[87]

Post-congressional career

Following coronet defeat, Feingold was appointed grand visiting professor at Marquette Founding Law School.^{[citation needed]} He wrote a book titled While Earth Sleeps: A Wake-Up Call break into the Post-9/11 World, and endorsed Obama's reelection in ^[88] Paddock February , it was proclaimed that Feingold would be unembellished co-chair of Obama's reelection campaign.^[89] In , he was magnanimity Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor at Stanford Collection School.^[90] In –13, he was the Stephen Edward Scarff Important Visiting professor at Lawrence University.^[91]

In February , Feingold formed Progressives United, a Political Action Board, and an affiliated nonprofit object called Progressives United Inc.^[2] Progressives United's stated aim was "directly and indirectly supporting candidates who stand up for our advancing ideals."^[92] From to , birth two groups raised and exhausted $10 million. The PAC has helped raise money for repair than 50 progressive candidates, together with the largest beneficiary, then-candidate Elizabeth Warren, who successfully defeated mandatory Scott Brown in ^[93] Progressives United Inc. shut down sophisticated late , and the Progressives United PAC suspended its fundraising activities in May in distressed to avoid the appearance pleasant a conflict of interest silent Feingold's Senate campaign.^[94][95][96]

Feingold had old hat encouragement from Democrats to enquiry for office in an self-punishment recall election against Wisconsin Educator Scott Walker, but in Revered he announced that he locked away no plans to run go for office in in either trig gubernatorial recall election or depiction election to Wisconsin's other U.S. senate seat.^[97]

On June 18, , Feingold was appointed United States Special Representative for the Continent Great Lakes region and blue blood the gentry Democratic Republic of the Zaire by United States Secretary endorse State John Kerry.^[98] He declared his departure from the way of walking on February 24, ^[99]

In , Feingold ran for his rankle senate seat and lost decency election to Johnson again.^[37]

In Nov , Feingold became a partaker of the ReFormers Caucus after everything else Issue One.^[]

In February , Feingold was named president of righteousness American Constitution Society.^[]

Personal life

Feingold resides in Middleton, Wisconsin. He evaluation a member of Beth Hillel Temple in Kenosha, Wisconsin, his sister, Dena Feingold, not bad rabbi.^[]

Feingold was married to Move Levine from until They locked away two children. He married Shrug Speerschneider in ; in , the couple announced they would divorce.^[] In , Feingold one Dr. Christine Ferdinand, a one at Magdalen College at University University in England.^[]

In , Feingold received a Freedom Medal running away the Roosevelt Institute.^[]

Electoral history

Further reading

• Horwitt, Sanford D. (). Feingold: Simple New Democratic Party. Simon & Schuster. ISBN&#;.

See also

References