Jim Talent

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Jim Talent
United States Senator from Missouri
In office November 25, 2002 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Jean Carnahan
Succeeded by	Claire McCaskill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Joan Kelly Horn
Succeeded by	Todd Akin
Born	October 18, 1956 (1956-10-18) (age 51) Des Peres, Missouri
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Brenda Talent
Religion	Presbyterian (PCA)[1]

James Matthes "Jim" Talent (born October 18, 1956) is an American politician and former Senator from Missouri. He is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office. He identifies with the conservative wing of the Republican party, being particularly outspoken on judicial appointments, abortion, flag burning, and defense issues. After serving for eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives and then working as a lobbyist, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, narrowly defeating Democrat Jean Carnahan in a special election, to complete the term of Mel Carnahan ^[2]. In November 2006, Talent lost his re-election bid to Claire McCaskill, 50% to 47%. Talent served as a senior advisor to Mitt Romney's 2008 Presidential campaign ^[3], and a fellow with the Heritage Foundation ^[4].

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Political career 2.1 House of Representatives 2.2 Election for governor 2.3 Work as a lobbyist 2.4 Election to the Senate 3 Political views 3.1 Flag Desecration Amendment 3.2 Energy 3.3 Health care 3.4 Predatory lending 3.5 Stem cell research 3.6 Minimum wage 3.7 Methamphetamine 3.8 War in Iraq 3.9 Abortion 4 2006 re-election campaign 5 Electoral history 6 References 7 External links 8 Political Offices Held

[edit] Personal life

Talent grew up in a middle-class family in Des Peres, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis^[5]. His father, Milton O. Talent, was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants and was the first in his family to go to college, graduating from Harvard Law School.^[6] Jim Talent's mother, Marie F. Matthes, was an independent court reporter who was raised on a small farm near DeSoto, Missouri. Her German ancestors had settled in Jefferson County, Missouri beginning in 1832. Jim Talent graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1973. He earned his A.B. in political science, from Washington University in St. Louis graduating with the Arnold J. Lien Prize as the most outstanding undergraduate in political science. Jim graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Chicago Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1981. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Richard A. Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Before winning political office Talent served as an adjunct professor at the Washington University Law school. He married Brenda Lee Lyons in 1984. The Talents have three children, Katie, Chrissy, and Michael.

Talent was raised Jewish, but is currently a member of the Presbyterian Church in America^[7]. He was reportedly inspired to become a Christian while listening one of James Dobson's radio broadcasts. ^[8]

[edit] Political career

Talent began his political career in 1984 when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He served four terms there, the last two as minority leader.

[edit] House of Representatives

In the 1992 House of Representatives election, Talent defeated Bert Walker, the cousin of then-president George H. W. Bush and won the Republican nomination for the state's 2nd Congressional District, based in St. Louis's western suburbs. He went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Joan Kelly Horn in the general election.

The district had been heavily altered after the 1990 census to preserve large Democratic majorities in the neighboring 1st District of Bill Clay and 3rd District of Dick Gephardt. Horn had appealed for a new map, even asking for a share of St. Louis, but was rebuffed by Clay and Gephardt.

Although Talent won narrowly in 1992, he never had another close race in what rapidly became a solidly Republican district. The only serious challenge he faced came in the 1996 House election, when Horn sought a rematch. Even though popular Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan was running for reelection, Talent dispatched Horn fairly easily, winning 61% of the vote^[9].

As a freshman in the congress Talent authored and introduced the Welfare Reform Act of 1994, which was the precursor to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. Talent served as chairman of the Small Business Committee from 1997 to 2001.

[edit] Election for governor

Talent did not seek re-election to Congress in 2000, instead running for governor. He was narrowly defeated by Democratic state treasurer Bob Holden, 49.1% to 48.2%.^[10]

[edit] Work as a lobbyist

For ten months in 2001, Talent worked for Washington lobbying firm, Arent Fox^[11] US Lobby Registration & Reporting Disclosure Page]</ref>, earning $230,000. During this time Talent was not allowed to directly lobby Congress, and he was not licensed to practice law in Washington, leading some Democratic opponents to accuse the lobbying firm of using his appointment as an illegal conduit to donate toward his upcoming Senate race.^[12] Arent Fox said the idea that Talent was not paid for genuine work was "absurd", but that "Talent's Republican ties did play a role in his hiring."^[13]

[edit] Election to the Senate

In the November 2000 elections, Mel Carnahan, who had died in a plane crash three weeks before, remained on the ballot for election to the Senate. Carnahan received more votes than his Republican opponent, John Ashcroft, who did not legally contest being defeated by a dead candidate. Lieutenant Governor Roger Wilson, as he had promised before the election, appointed Carnahan's widow, Jean, in her husband's place.

The Seventeenth Amendment requires that appointments to the Senate last only until a special election is held. Talent, who received the Republican nomination, narrowly defeated Jean Carnahan in the November 2002 election, 50% to 49%. He was sworn in later that month to fill out the balance of Mel Carnahan's term^[14].^[15]

Jack Abramoff contributed $2,000 to Talent's 2002 senatorial campaign [8] and Preston Gates & Ellis, a former Abramoff employer, had also contributed $1,000 to Talent's campaign. [9] Talent later returned both contributions [10].

Talent has been criticized for not returning the money received from Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), a PAC formed by Tom DeLay. DeLay is facing charges of money laundering and violation of campaign finance laws. A spokesman for Talent has stated that Talent has not yet made a decision about whether or not to return the ARMPAC contribution, stating "Senator Talent is not ready to presume guilt or innocence and wants to give the judicial process a chance to move forward." ^[16] During his tenure, Talent served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Special Committee on Aging, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

[edit] Political views

Talent is widely regarded by political analyst as a reliable conservative, receiving a life score of 93 out of 100 from the American Conservative Union. The National Right to Life Committee gave Talent a 100% rating.^[17] In 2005, Talent was tied for the third-highest rating among all senators and representatives as determined by the Republican Liberty Caucus, which promotes "liberty-minded, limited-government individuals to office." ^{[18] [19]}

[edit] Flag Desecration Amendment

Talent is a cosponsor of the Flag Desecration Amendment, which would make it constitutional to criminalize flag burning. He argues that this does not conflict with freedom of speech by suggesting that flag burning is not speech. His office has said, "...burning the flag is not speech; it is an act with expressive overtones." ^[20] Since the constitution clearly protects speech, this distinction is extremely important from a legal standpoint. It is necessary to have a constitutional amendment, rather than a federal law, since the United States Supreme Court has consistently classified flag burning as speech.

[edit] Energy

Talent supported the new Renewable Fuel Standard, which would add 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels to the national supply by 2012, including a measure to include tax credits for businesses offering soybean-based fuels. [11] In addition to renewable fuels, Talent supported drilling in the Arctic as a step in the direction of energy independence, which he sees as critical to national security. ^[21]

[edit] Health care

Talent supported the Medicare prescription drug benefit called Medicare Part D, the purpose of which is to reduce the amount seniors pay for their prescription drugs. ^[22] Talent called for waiving a one percent penalty for senior citizens who missed the deadline to sign up for the program. ^[23]

Talent voted against an amendment allowing Medicare to negotiate a bulk purchase discount for prescription drugs. ^[24]

Talent supported limiting awards in medical liability lawsuits. [12] He believes that 'Medical liability relief will cut costs because physicians won’t have to practice “defensive medicine".' [13]

Talent supported and proposed legislation to allow trade organizations to sponsor health insurance plans, which he believes would provide uninsured workers the opportunity for more affordable health care. [14]

[edit] Predatory lending

Talent sponsored legislation to cap the annual percentage interest rate for payday loans to military service personnel from an average of around 39% to 36%. [15]

[edit] Stem cell research

After joining the Senate in 2002, Talent supported federal legislation that would ban embryonic stem cell research or federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This included cosponsoring a bill (S.658) ^[25] sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback, which would ban all forms of human cloning including embryonic therapeutic cloning techniques that are seen as crucial to stem cell research. This law was unnecessary because President Bill Clinton outlawed human cloning in 1998.

On February 10, 2006, Talent withdrew his support for the bill,^[26] citing the need to balance research and protection against human cloning. This move followed criticism by Talent's opponent in the 2006 election, Claire McCaskill, as well as pressure from Missouri business interests that oppose restrictions on stem cell research. Though this reversal was widely criticized as being politically motivated,^[27] Talent told the Associated Press, "The technology is changing all the time and so I'm always considering whether there is a better way to strike the balance."^[28] Talent suggested that moral concerns might be put to rest through a possible future scientific breakthrough — replicating embryonic stem cells without the use of cloned embryos.

There was a ballot-initiative in Missouri in November 2006 to amend the state constitution and allow, in line with federal law, stem cell research and treatment.^[29] On May 1, 2006, Talent announced his opposition to the proposed ballot-initiative.^[30] Stem cell research and treatment is working up to be a divisive issue for many Republicans and is taking a particular prominence in Missouri.^[31]

In July 2006, he voted against expanding federal funds for embryonic stem cell research in cases where the embryos were donated by fertility clinics or were created for purposes of fertility treatment. [16] This bill passed the Senate 63-37, but was vetoed by President Bush, in a move that was said to have significant political implications for Talent. [17]

[edit] Minimum wage

Talent did take a position on the ballot-initiative in Missouri, called Proposition B, that would raise the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 per hour, or to the level of the federal minimum wage if that is higher, with subsequent adjustments for inflation.^[29] He said he believed it was a state issue, but stated he supports minimum wage increases if they are coupled with tax breaks for small businesses.^[32] Talent believed that increasing the minimum wage could reduce the number of jobs by raising the cost of doing business.^[33].

[edit] Methamphetamine

Talent cosponsored the Combat Meth Act with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The legislation, which was attached to the re authorization of the USA Patriot Act, passed on March 2, 2006 and restricts the sale of products necessary to produce methamphetamines. President Bush signed the Act into law on March 9, 2006. As a result of the Act, certain cold medicines are only to be made available behind the counter and the amount of such medicines that can be purchased by one person is limited.^[34]

[edit] War in Iraq

Although Talent was not in Congress at the time of the 2002 vote authorizing the war in Iraq, he stated in October 2006 that he would have voted for the war knowing that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Talent did not support a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq until American troops are able to train up an Iraqi army capable of maintaining security within the country.>

[edit] Abortion

Talent supported a ban on abortions, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. ^[35]

[edit] 2006 re-election campaign

Main article: Missouri U.S. Senate election, 2006

Talent sought re-election in the 2006 Senate election. His Democratic opponent was state auditor Claire McCaskill.

Talent held a significant fundraising advantage^[36], because in part of support from the Bush administration; on October 11, 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney held a fundraiser for Talent^[37].

Talent accepted $5,000 from the lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Talent subsequently refunded $3,000 in August 2005, and the remaining $2,000 in early 2006.^[38]

Jim Talent received a number of endorsements for his re-election including from:

• Missouri Farm Bureau ^[39]
• St. Louis Police Officers' Association ^[40]
• Missouri Pork Association ^[41]
• National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors^[42]
• Missouri Corn Growers Association ^[43]
• Veterans of Foreign Wars^[44].

In 2006, the Washington DC newspaper Roll Call reported that DC lobbying interests had pledged to raise $1 million for Talent's re-election.^[45] Talent stated that he does not give favors in exchange for donations, and that he “wouldn’t take five dollars from someone who expects something for it." ^[46]

McCaskill and Talent debated each other on Meet the Press on October 8, 2006. ^[47] McCaskill defeated Talent on November 7, 2006 with a 3% margin of victory.

Having lost his bid for reelection, Talent is considered a possible candidate for Governor of Missouri in 2008 now that incumbent Matt Blunt has decided not to seek reelection.^[48] Talent was very nearly elected Governor in 2000, losing to Bob Holden by less than 1%.

[edit] Electoral history

• 2006 election for U.S. Senate
  • Jim Talent (R), 47%
  • Claire McCaskill (D), 50%
  • Frank Gilmour (L), 2%

• 2002 election for U.S. Senate
  • Jim Talent (R), 50%
  • Jean Carnahan (D), 49%

• 2000 election for Missouri Governor
  • Bob Holden (D), 49.1%
  • Jim Talent (R), 48.2%

• 1996 election for U.S. House of Representatives
  • Jim Talent (R), 61%
  • Joan Kelly Horn (D), 37%

• 1992 election for U.S. House of Representatives
  • Jim Talent (R), 50.4%
  • Joan Kelly Horn (D), 47.6%
  • Jim Higgins (Libertarian), .2%
• 1992 Race for U.S. House of Representatives (Republican Primary)
  • Jim Talent (R), 58%
  • Bert Walker (R), 32%

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jim Talent at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
• House Clerk Office Election info
• Jim Talent shares his thoughts on Mitt Romney

[edit] Political Offices Held

Political offices
Preceded by Joan Kelly Horn	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd congressional district 1993–2001	Succeeded by Todd Akin
Preceded by Jean Carnahan	United States Senator (Class 1) from Missouri November 25, 2002 – January 4, 2007 Served alongside: Kit Bond	Succeeded by Claire McCaskill

v • d • e United States Senators from Missouri Class 1: Benton • Geyer • Polk • Henderson • Schurz • Cockrell • Warner • Reed • Patterson • Truman • Briggs • Kem • Symington • Danforth • Ashcroft • Carnahan • Talent • McCaskill Class 3: Barton • Buckner • Linn • Atchison • Green • Johnson • Wilson • Drake • Jewett • Blair • Bogy • Armstrong • Shields • Vest • Stone • Wilfley • Spencer • Williams • Hawes • Clark • Donnell • Hennings • Long • Eagleton • Bond