Dennis Kucinich

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U.S. Representative

Dennis Kucinich (D)

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OH-10

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Positions
Leadership: No leadership position
Committees: House Committee on Education and Labor, and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
(subcommittees and past assignments)

2010 candidates for OH-10
(Next election: November 2, 2010)

Unconfirmed
incumbent: 		Dennis Kucinich
Confirmed: Thomas Olschlager
Considering: None so far
Rumored: None so far
Potential: Jim Trakas
Dropped-out: None so far
(more info & editing for OH-10)
On the Web
Official website
Twitter:

YouTube Channel


Dennis John Kucinich, a Democrat, has represented the 10th Congressional District of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997.

Contents

Record and controversies

Congressional scorecards

Click through the score to see the records of other members of Congress and full descriptions of the individual votes.

Want to see someone else's scorecard added to the list? You can do it!

Organization 2007 Scorecard
Score - Agree ratio
American Conservative Union 4 - 1/25
AFSCME -
Americans for Democratic Action 70 - 14/20
U.S. Chamber of Commerce -






Iraq War

Kucinich voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.[1]

During the debate in 2002 over the resolution giving the president the right to use military force against Iraq, Kucinich proposed an amendment to recommit the Iraq resolution to committee with instructions requiring the president to submit to Congress an estimate of the impact of the war on the U.S. economy, Iraqi citizens, and international stability. Supporters felt as though the motion was necessary, for the costs of the war were likely to be high and military action should remain a last resort in dealing with Iraq. The amendment failed 101-325.

Main article: Congressional actions on the Iraq War prior to the 2003 U.S. invasion

As the FY2004 Intelligence Authorization was debated in 2003, no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq. In response, Kucinich offered an amendment (H.AMDT.194) which would have audited all telephone and electronic communications between the CIA and the office of Vice President Cheney on the subject of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Kucinich argued that this would help determine what evidence there was for the initial invasion of Iraq.

Main article: Congressional actions on the Iraq War following the 2003 U.S. invasion

On January 10, 2007, Kucinich introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res.23) expressing, “That it is the sense of Congress that the President should not order an escalation in the total number of members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Iraq.”

Main article: Congressional actions regarding President Bush’s 2007 proposed troop “surge” in Iraq

During the March 2007 debate of the Iraq supplemental spending bill, Rep. Kucinich supported an amendment by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) requiring withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2007. Kucinich stated that “the Lee Amendment makes sure the money is there to bring troops home...People are looking for leadership [to get the troops out of Iraq]. Here it is.”

Main article: U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007 (H.R.1591)
For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

12-Point exit plan

On January 8, 2007, Kucinich unveiled his comprehensive 12-Point exit plan to bring the troops home and stabilize Iraq. (Watch a video of Kucinich's press conference)

The plan includes the following steps:

  • The U.S. announces it will end the occupation, close the military bases, and withdraw.
  • The U.S. announces that it will use existing funds to bring the troops home and the necessary equipment home.
  • We will order a simultaneous return of all U.S. contractors to the United States and turn over the contracting work to the Iraqi government.
  • We'll convene a regional conference for the purpose of developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq.
  • Prepare an international security peacekeeping force to move in, replacing U.S. troops, who then return home.
  • Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation.
  • We have to once again restart the programs for reconstructions and jobs for the Iraqi people.
  • Reparations for the damage that's been done to the lives of Iraqis.
  • Assuring the political sovereignty of Iraq and making sure that their oil isn't stolen.
  • Repairing the Iraqi economy.
  • Economic sovereignty for Iraq.
  • An international truth and reconciliation process, which establishes a policy of truth and reconciliation between the people of the United States and Iraq.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Department of Peace and Nonviolence initiative

On February 6, 2007, Kucinich began an initiative to create a Department of Peace and Nonviolence. While the notion of such a department dates back to the days of the founding fathers, several attempts have failed in the past. Kucinich vowed to hold hearings on legislation. [1]

Bio

Background

Kucinich, who used to co-chair the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is a self-described "Wellstone Democrat." He has been praised as "a genuine progressive" by Ralph Nader. In 2003, Kucinich was the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award.

With a net worth of between $2,000 and $32,000, Kucinich is one of Congress's least wealthy members.

Kucinich was born October 8, 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1973, he graduated from Case Western Reserve University with both a BA, and an MA.Prior to his election to Congress, he was elected to Cleveland City Council in 1969, when he was 23. In 1972, Kucinich ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, losing to incumbent Republican William E. Minshall Jr. In 1974, after Minshall's retirement, Kucinich sought the seat again but failed to gain the Democratic nomination and ran unsuccessfully as an independent. In 1975, Kucinich became clerk of the municipal court in Cleveland and served in that position for two years.

Kucinich served as the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1978 to 1980 in a contentious term that culminated in a recall election that Kucinich barely survived. Kucinich attempted to win a second term but lost to Republican George Voinovich. He kept a low profile for several years, but in a 1983 special election he was elected to city council for Ward 12. In 1985 he ran for governor as a third party candidate but withdrew. Kucinich then went to live in New Mexico "on a quest for meaning," (his own words) and lived quietly until 1994 when he won a seat in the Ohio State Senate.

House of Representatives

In 1996, Kucinich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

His voting record is not always in line with the Democratic Party. He voted for a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning, as well as for the resolution calling for an investigation into President Bill Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, two stances not consistent with those of his party. [2]. However, he has since criticized the flag-burning amendment and voted against the impeachment of President Clinton.

He has also leaned strongly toward an anti-abortion stance, although he is quick to note that he has never supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion altogether. In 2003, however, he began describing himself as pro-choice and said he had shifted away from his earlier position on the issue. [3] Press releases have indicated that he is pro-choice but also wants to initiate a series of reforms, such as ending the "abstinence-only" policy of sex education and increasing the use of contraception in hopes of making abortion "less necessary" over time.

Kucinich voted against the USA PATRIOT Act and has been an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq.

Kucinich has spoken out against the conference system of lawmaking. "It's a defect in the system," explains Kucinich. "When a bill goes into a conference committee, it gets yanked out of the sunlight and into the shadows. The conference process is a closed one, so you can go into a conference committee and basically add anything or take out anything you want and no one really knows. It transforms the legislature into a secret cabal."[4]

He has criticized Diebold Election Systems, and posted internal company memos on his websites. [5]

Kucinich is interested in media reform and has vowed to make it a national issue. Kucinich stated, "... there is great concern about the proper role of the media in a democratic society. The American people clearly do not want the media to be in a position where they're determining which candidates ought to be considered for the presidency and which ought not to be considered for the presidency. Such practice by the media represents a tampering with the political process itself. The role of the media in this process has now become a national issue central to the question of who's running our country."[6] See also the report at FAIR

2004 presidential bid

Despite finishing low in polls and early primaries, he continued his campaign because "the future direction of the Democratic Party has not yet been determined" [7] and chose to focus on Oregon, spending 30 days there before the May primary, "because of its progressive tradition and its pioneering spirit." [8]. He even offered [9] to campaign jointly with Kerry during Kerry's visit to the state, though the offer was ignored. He won 16% of the vote in Oregon.

2006 elections

In 2006, the Republicans nominated Michael D. Dovilla to face Kucinich in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [10] Kucinich retained his seat.

2008 presidential bid

On December 11, 2006 in a speech delivered at Cleveland City Hall, Kucinich announced that he would again seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for president in 2008. (Watch Kucinich's speech at YouTube)

His 2008 platform includes:

  • Creating a single-payer system of universal health care that provides full coverage for all Americans.
  • The immediate withdrawal of all U.S. Forces from Iraq and replacing them with an international security force.
  • Guaranteed quality education for all, including free Pre-K and college for all who want it.
  • Immediate withdrawal from the WTO (World Trade Organization)and NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
  • Repealing the USA PATRIOT Act.
  • Fostering a world of international cooperation.
  • Abolishing the death penalty.
  • Environmental renewal and clean energy.
  • Preventing the privatization of social security.
  • Providing full social security benefits at age 65.
  • Creating a cabinet-level "Department of Peace"
  • Ratifying the ABM Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol.
  • Introducing reforms to bring about instant-runoff voting.
  • Protecting a woman's right-to-choose while decreasing the number of abortions performed in the U.S.
  • Ending the war on drugs.
  • Legalizing same-sex marriage.
  • Creating a balance between workers and corporations.
  • Restoring rural communities and family farms.</p>

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. For specific controversies, see this article's record and controversies section.

Top Contributors to during the 2008 Election Cycle
DonorAmount (US Dollars)
ActBlue$ 59,517
Laborers Union$ 11,500
National Education Assn$ 10,250
Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union$ 10,000
National Assn of Realtors$ 10,000
Painters & Allied Trades Union$ 10,000
UNITE HERE$ 7,000
Sheet Metal Workers Union$ 6,000
United Steelworkers$ 6,000
TM Productions$ 5,300
Source: The Center for Responsive Politics' www.OpenSecrets.org site.
Note: Contributions are not from the organizations themselves, but are rather from
the organization's PAC, employees or owners. Totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.
Links to more campaign contribution information for Dennis Kucinich
from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile: 2008 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2008 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by industry: 2008 election cycle Career totals


Committees and Affiliations

Committees

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

Affiliations

More Background Data

Wikipedia also has an article on Dennis Kucinich. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC office
  • 2445 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
    Ph: 202-225-5871 Fax: 202-225-5745
    Webform email
District offices
  • 14400 Detroit Avenue Lakewood, OH 44107
    Ph: 216-228-8850 Fax: (none entered)
  • 5983 West 54th Street Parma, OH 44129
    Ph: 440-845-2707 Fax: (none entered)
On the Web
Campaign office
  • No campaign website entered.
  • No campaign webform email entered.
  • No campaign office information entered.

Twitter

Articles and Resources

Resources

Local blogs and discussion sites

Articles about Dennis Kucinich

Articles, Interviews & Speeches by Dennis Kucinich

References

  • The Encyclopedia Of Cleveland History by Cleveland Bicentennial Commission (Cleveland, Ohio), David D. Van Tassel (Editor), and John J. Grabowski (Editor) ISBN 0253330564
  • Cleveland: A Concise History, 1796-1996 by Carol Poh Miller and Robert Anthony Wheeler ISBN 0253211476
  • Cleveland: Prodigy of the Western Reserve by George E. Condon ISBN B0006DX6QQ
  • The Battle of Cleveland: Public Interest Challenges Corporate Power by Dan Marschall
  • Seven Making History: A Mayoral Retrospective by The League of Women Voters of Cleveland
  • The Cleveland Press, December 15, 1978. Default Time Arrives As The Nation Watches by Peter Phipps.
  • The Cleveland Press, December 15, 1978. Suburbs to Cleveland: Drop Dead!
  • The Plain Dealer, August 1, 1999. Our Century: 'Boy Mayor' Leads Battle Into Default by Fred McGunagle.
  • The Plain Dealer, August 7, 1999. Our Century: Muny Survives, But Kucinich Is Out of Power by Fred McGunagle.
  • Rahul Mahajan, "Where Was He When It Mattered?: Kucinich: Maverick or Stalking Horse?", Counterpunch, December 22, 2006.

SourceWatch Resources


Semantic data


Latitude: 41°29′9.334″N
Longitude: 81°47′41.053″W Latitude: 41°24′0.814″N
Longitude: 81°43′14.502″W







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