Michael Bennet-Colorado (D)

DW-NOMINATE Score: -0.241

ADA Score: 90%

Party Unity Score: 97.297

According to AskThem, a “free and open-source platform for questions-and-answers with public figures” (similar to the White House’s “We The People” petition platform), Bennet supported Population Connection’s interests 100%, the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 100%, the interests of Americans for Democratic Action 95%, and the interests of the Military Officers Association of America 100% among others. 

            Michael Bennet’s support of the Military Officers Association is beneficial because Colorado has seven military bases. Population Connection is an organization that “works to ensure that every woman around the world who wants to delay or end childbearing has access to the health services and contraceptive supplies she needs in order to do so.” Part of its approach is also to help the Earth’s environment by working to eliminate overpopulation. The fact that Bennet supports this makes sense, as he is a liberal Democrat, as seen in his ADA score. It also falls in line with his state, as parts of Colorado are pretty liberal. The rest of the afore mentioned interests groups are safe to support as Bennet can get votes that way and there is a small chance that the issues will be hugely controversial.

           

According to GovTrack, Bennet is among the lowest 50% among Senate Democrats for both writing bipartisan bills and joining bipartisan bills. Only 32% of Bennet’s 34 bills had both a Democratic and Republican cosponsor. And of the 195 bills that Bennet cosponsored, a non-Democrat introduced only 21%. Bennet is a strong Democrat who has a tendency to only gather cosponsors on one side of the aisle. 

            According to Gallup, a large polling site, Colorado is pretty evenly split between conservative, liberal, and moderate. Bennet stays with his party in the Senate and so is seen as a conservative Democrat by the bills he sponsors. However, the interest groups he strongly supports can be liberal. Bennet is willing to move with his voters and keep up a good façade.   

Michael Bennet’s Committees and Subcommittees

Finance-Chair; Orrin Hatch (R, UT)

Ranking Member; Ron Wyden (D, OR)

Subcommittees:

ü  Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure

ü  International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness

ü  Taxation and IRS Oversight

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)-Chair; Lamar Alexander (R, TN)

Ranking Member; Patty Murray (D, WA)

            Subcommittees:

ü  Children and Families

ü  Employment and Workplace Safety

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry-Chair; Pat Roberts (R, KS)

Ranking Member; Debbie Stabenow (D, MI)

            Subcommittees:

ü  Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources

ü  Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation

ü  Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agriculture

Senator Michael Bennet

Finance: The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over tax writing, Medicare, Social Security, health care, and international trade.

Being on this committee will get members a lot of donations from banks, insurance companies, etc. and will be attractive to voters, as they have the power when it comes to things voters care about (taxes, Medicare, Social Security, etc.) With health care being a prominent issue for voters now, position-taking a certain way for MCs could gain them a lot of votes.

Bennet and the Finance Committee: Sponsored Bill S. 344-“A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to equalize the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas.” This bill will equalize the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas. I’m not quite sure what this bill means, but it equalizes a tax so I’m assuming it’s good and constituents will like it.

This is a good committee for Bennet to be on. It is influential and he can easily credit claim or position take. He will have a say in where the money goes, so constituents will want to keep him in office.

HELP: This committee deals with proposals to change the healthcare system, minimum wage, education, working conditions and compensation, and welfare and labor laws. (OpenSecrets.org-National Press Club Winner) Everything that falls under the jurisdiction of the HELP committee is again very important for voters. It affects their everyday life so they will pay attention to it and reward their representatives if they represent them well.

Bennet and the HELP Committee: Sponsored Bill S. 605-“A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to invest in innovation for education.” This bill was introduced in February of 2015 and calls for more educational grants and more money to support innovation in schools. Bennet used to be the superintendent of Denver Public Schools, so he clearly has experience in this. Any bill that gives people more money will be popular with constituents. Education is always an issue and could always call for reform. This bill will be popular with students and teachers.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Jurisdiction of this committee includes: agricultural economics and research, animal industry and diseases, crop insurance and soil conservation, farm credit and farm security, food stamp programs, rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds, school nutrition programs.

Bennet and the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee: Since Colorado has a lot of agriculture and national parks, this committee is important for Coloradan constituents. However, the last time Bennet proposed a bill was in May of 2013 with Bill S. 859-Animal and Public Health Protection Act. This bill proposed to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and would give the Secretary of Agriculture power to enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with laboratories for animal and public health and safety. (Government website Congress.gov). The fact that Bennet hasn’t sponsored a bill this congress relating to a committee that he is on that is so important and influential in his state is not good. He has sponsored many other bills, but in different areas and committees. Colorado is a state with a large of agriculture and ranching. Bennet needs to step it up, or he might be in danger with his constituents. (Bennet has also not co-sponsored any bills in this committee).

Blog #3

Michael Bennet started his congressional career by being appointed to the Senate seat in January of 2009 to finish the term ending on January 3^rd, 2011. He was then elected to the Senate in 2010 for the term ending on January 3^rd, 2017.

According to The Denver Post, the primary race in 2010 between Bennet and Andrew Romanoff was “fierce,” with Bennet raising more than $8 million and having an endorsement from Barack Obama and Romanoff being endorsed by former President Bill Clinton. Bennet won easily in the primary and led early with returns of 54% to 46%.

            Bennet then went up against Republican Ken Buck in the general election, which became the most expensive race in the country. Outside spenders contributed more than $32 million plus more than $15 million coming from Buck and Bennet combined. During the election, Bennet also received visits from former President Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama, either contributing money or drawing support. Bennet pulled past Buck and into the lead late, only winning by 0.4% (47.5 percent to 47.1 percent). (http://www.denverpost.com/election2012/ci_16502977)

            In 2010, Bennet did an interview with Colorado Public Radio and went on record to say that he would like to boost the economy by “[getting] small business access to credit again.” He also stood for energy independence and a “break [from] our reliance on oil from the Persian Gulf” to instead invest money back into the economy and the local energy sector, which would be “particularly good for Colorado.” 

I was unable to find any information as to the primary elections or the projected outlooks. This could mean that Bennet is expected to win or it could simply mean that no other candidates have come forward at this time. Darryl Glenn (R) has been noted to be entering the race early, but as the distance closes on the general election, more people are sure to enter the race and run against Bennet.

It was recently announced that Darryl Glenn will be running in opposition to Michael Bennet in 2016. Glen has a military background and extensive experience in public service. He is a small business owner (co-owner of Glenn Law Firm P.C.), an active member in the New Life Church, and a wide array of other qualifications. Bennet is expected to win in 2016 by ColoradoPols, which also predicts Hilary Clinton to get 80% of the votes in Colorado.

In the 2012 Presidential Election, Colorado’s popular vote came out as 51% Obama and 46% Romney. According to 270 to Win, Colorado is “a battleground state due to the independent nature of the electorate.” Colorado has a voting history of mostly red but has voted Democrat in the last two presidential elections. Because Colorado is such a divided state, the election could go to anyone. With there no longer being an incumbent presidential candidate to support either senatorial candidate, the seat is very open. Bennet won by a very slim margin in the last election even with the endorsement of the President in office. The 2016 election is a toss-up, but I believe that, being the incumbent, Bennet will retain his seat in the Senate.  

As of December 31^st, 2014, Bennet has raised $15,760,874 and spent $14,401,316. Oaktree Capital Management is Bennet’s top contributor contributing a total of $103,650. Other major contributors are Brownstein, Hyatt et al, Blackstone Group, Hogan Lovells, and Comcast Corp. However, Bennet still appears to be behind the average senator.  There is no information yet as to Darryl Glenn’s (Bennet’s opposition) campaign finance status, as he recently joined the race.

 http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00030608

Major Issues:

Gender Equality

Simplifying the FAFSA

PATH Act

These are all bills or issues that Bennet has shown support of. These will most likely be a few of the issues that Bennet uses on his platform, as they are all also very prominent in the media currently and are sure to be ongoing issues. Because Bennet speaks of them, so must the other candidates.  

Traveled to: Aspen, across the state of Colorado

Why: Michael Bennet was previously the Superintendent of Denver Schools, so it should be no surprise that he is passionate about students and education. In 2011, Bennet attended a College Fair in Aspen and mingled with potential college students in an effort to convince them to attend universities so they could “’go farther’ than the generations before them”.

            Keeping with the education theme, Bennet, along with Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee, has proposed The FAST Act. This will make it easier and faster for students to predict the amount of financial aid they will receive and hopefully encourage them to apply and attend a form of higher education. Early in 2014, Bennet visited colleges (such as Pueblo Community College, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, University of Colorado-Denver, Colorado State University, etc.) and met with students across the state to discuss their current financial difficulties.

www.bennet.senate.gov

How this helps with re-election: In encouraging young people to attend college and attempting to improve the way to get financial aid, Bennet is accruing favor among the parents of these students as well as the students themselves. He is also making a name for himself among the young adults who are of voting age or will be of voting age very soon. Bennet has become an ally and supporter of college bound students and their parents in Colorado.

Will Travel to: Aurora, Colorado (2015)

Why: Bennet, along with Senator Cory Gardner, has requested that the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee go to Denver to “examine the ongoing management and financial issues that have delayed the construction of the new VA hospital in Aurora.”

How this could help with re-election: Michael Bennet has shown public support of veterans in Colorado and also publicly expressed his disgust with the mismanagement of the building of the hospital and the inefficiency that comes with that. Through this act, Bennet will hopefully gain the support of all military members and family members, veterans, and supporters of the military.

Colorado Capital Conference: June 3-5, 2015

This is a conference designed to allow citizens (particularly college students) of Colorado to “learn more about our [Colorado’s] form of government.” It is an opportunity for the residents of Colorado to speak with the people who represent them in Washington, D.C. It is also designed to teach Coloradans how the United States Government functions and “to give participants an enhanced understanding of the federal legislative process, as well as how to positively effect public policy.”  

How this helps with re-election: Michael is putting his name out to the citizens of Colorado. He is showing that he cares about them and that they are well-educated about Washington, therefore gaining favor with them and hopefully winning their vote. 

Sponsored Bills:

S. 2996 PATH Act-Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health Act.

S. 2977 MEDTECH Act-Medical Electronic Data Technology Enhancement for Consumers’ Health Act

S. 841 Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act of 2014

S. 2754 Lobbying and Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2014-“A bill to provide limits on bundling, to reform the lobbyist registration process, and for other purposes.”

www.bennet.senate.gov  

Co-Sponsored Bills:

S. 535 A Bill to promote energy efficiency

S. 476 A bill to recruit, support, and prepare principals to improve student academic achievement at eligible schools.

S. 522 A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.

www.bennet.senate.gov 

Recent Press Releases:

Bennet Requests Field Hearing on Aurora VA Hospital

Bennet Praises Decision to Designate Browns Canyon a National Monument 

Bennet Looks Forward to Bipartisan Process to Fix No Child Left Behind  

Email Newsletter 

Things Michael Bennet can do for you!

Colorado Coffee-Have coffee with the Senator the next time you’re in Washington, D.C.

Buy a Flag-Buy a flag flown over the U.S. Capital building for only $9.

Tour Requests-schedule a tour through Michael Bennet to the U.S. Capitol, The White House, or the FBI building.