Michael Bennet
| Michael Bennet | ||
 | ||
| U.S. Senate, Colorado | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2009-Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 3, 2017 | ||
| Years in position | 4 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $174,000/year | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 2, 2010 | |
| Next election | November 8, 2016 | |
| Appointed | January 22, 2009 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Wesleyan University | |
| J.D. | Yale Law School | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | November 28, 1964 | |
| Place of birth | New Delhi, India | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
Contents |
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Bennet is a "moderate Democratic follower".[1]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Bennet's academic, professional and political career:[2]
- 1987: Graduated from Wesleyan University with B.A.
- 1993: Graduated from Yale Law School with J.D.
- 1995-1997: Counsel to U.S. deputy attorney general
- 1997: Special assistant U.S. attorney, Conn.
- 1997-2003: Managing director, Anschutz Investment Co.
- 2003-2005: Chief of staff to mayor of Denver
- 2005-2009: Superintendent, Denver Public Schools
- 2009-Present: U.S. Senator from Colorado
Committee assignments
U.S. Senate
2011-2012
- Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Energy, Science and Technology
- Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit
- Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
- Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
- Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
- Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition, and Family Farms
- Aging
Issues
Specific votes
Senator Bennet voted for the stimulus bill.[3] 57% of U.S. voters believe that the stimulus has either hurt the economy (36%) or had no impact (21%). 38% believe the stimulus helped the economy. [4]
Bennet also supported the health care reform bill.[5] 57% of likely voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care reform bill, including 46% who strongly favor repeal. 35% of likely voters oppose repeal. 51% of likely voters believe the health care reform bill will be bad for the country, while 36% believe it will be beneficial.[6]
Finally, Bennet voted against an amendment that would have defunded the Obama Administration's lawsuit against Arizona over its new immigration law.[7] As of July 8, 2010, 56% of U.S. voters were opposed to the Obama Administration's challenge to the Arizona immigration law.[8]
Elections
2010
On November 2, 2010, Bennet won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Ken Buck, Bob Kinsey, Maclyn Stringer, Jason Napolitano, Charley Miller, and J. Moromisato in the general election.[9]
| U.S. Senate, Colorado General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Michael Bennet Incumbent |
48.1% | 851,590 | |
| Republican | Ken Buck | 46.4% | 822,731 | |
| Green | Bob Kinsey | 2.2% | 38,768 | |
| Libertarian | Maclyn Stringer | 1.3% | 22,589 | |
| Independent Reform | Jason Napolitano | 1.1% | 19,415 | |
| Unaffiliated | Charley Miller | 0.6% | 11,330 | |
| Unaffiliated | J. Moromisato | 0.3% | 5,767 | |
| Total Votes | 1,772,190 | |||
Campaign donors
2010
Bennet won re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2010. During that re-election cycle, Bennet's campaign committee raised a total of $11,536,750 and spent $10,875,565.[10]
His top 5 contributors between 2005-2010 were:
| U.S. Senate election, Colorado, 2010 - Michael Bennet Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $11,536,750 |
| Total Spent | $10,875,565 |
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $4,953,818 |
| Total Spent by General Election Opponent | $4,791,784 |
| Top contributors to Michael Bennet's campaign committee | |
| Brownstein, Hyatt et al | $85,884 |
| Blackstone Group | $57,100 |
| Comcast Corp | $52,950 |
| Hogan Lovells | $51,750 |
| League of Conservation Voters | $45,142 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $1,363,660 |
| Securities & Investment | $1,075,024 |
| Retired | $704,870 |
| Real Estate | $539,795 |
| Misc Finance | $381,657 |
Analysis
Congressional Staff Salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Bennet paid his congressional staff a total of $2,633,822 in 2011. He ranks 21 on the list of the lowest paid Democratic Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 58th overall of the lowest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Colorado ranks 18th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[11]
Net worth
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Bennet's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $4,986,027 and $19,465,000. That averages to $3,466,263.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Senators in 2010 of $19,383,524 .[12]
Political positions
Percentage voting with party
The website Open Congress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus. According to the website, Bennet votes with the Democratic Party 93.8% of the time. This ranks 27th among the 51 Senate Democrats in 2011.[13]
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term Michael + Bennet + Colorado + Senate
- All stories may not be relevant to this official due to the nature of the search engine.
Michael Bennet News Feed
- Colorado senators call for revisiting train horn safety regulations - Denver Post
- Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet's wealth remains stable - Denver Post
- Colorado stands to gain as farm bill clears US Senate, as House eyes deeper cuts - Denver Post (blog)
- Senator Michael Bennet Responds to Latest Wildfires - KREX News Channel 5
- Man gets 7 years for making threats against Obama, Sen. Bennet - The Denver Channel
- Bennet hosts reception welcoming Salazar back - KXRM
- Sen. Michael Bennet to IRS: Why did the targeting continue? - Denver Post (blog)
- Deals for industries, immigrants tucked in Senate bill - USA TODAY
- Senate immigration bill could open more doors for foreign ski, snowboard ... - The Coloradoan
- Denver Post: Middle ground on farm bill - Journal-Advocate
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Personal
Bennet and his wife, Susan, have three children.
External links
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial:
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media appearances:
- Media coverage:
References
- ↑ Gov Track "Michael Bennet," Accessed March 3, 2012
- ↑ Biographical Director of the United States Congress "Michael F. Bennet," Accessed October 20, 2011
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003665.html
- ↑ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/economic_stimulus_package/august_2010/38_say_stimulus_plan_helped_economy_36_say_it_hurt
- ↑ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2009-396
- ↑ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2010/61_favor_repeal_of_health_care_law
- ↑ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2010-2144
- ↑ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/56_oppose_justice_department_challenge_of_arizona_law_61_favor_similar_law_in_their_state
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
- ↑ Open Secrets "Michael Bennet 2010 Election Cycle," Accessed October 22 2011
- ↑ LegiStorm "Michael Bennet"
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Bennet, (D-Col), 2010"
- ↑ Open Congress "Voting With Party," Accessed October 19, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ken Salazar |
U.S. Senate - Colorado 2009-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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