Gaylord Kent Conrad was born on March 12,1948 and is a former American politician who was a United States Senator from North Dakota.
28 Facts About Kent Conrad
2.
Kent Conrad is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party.
3.
On January 18,2011, Conrad announced that he was retiring from politics and would not run for reelection in 2012.
4.
Kent Conrad is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.
5.
Kent Conrad was orphaned at a young age and subsequently raised by his grandparents in Bismarck.
6.
Kent Conrad attended Roosevelt Elementary, Hughes Junior High, and Wheelus Air Base high school in Tripoli, Libya, before eventually graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy.
7.
Jessamyn Kent Conrad is the author of What You Should Know About Politics.
8.
On February 14,1987, Kent Conrad married Lucy Calautti, his 1986 Senate campaign manager, who is a lobbyist for Major League Baseball.
9.
Kent Conrad made his first entry into politics when he ran unsuccessfully for the North Dakota Auditor's office in 1976.
10.
Kent Conrad was state tax commissioner until 1986, when he ran for the Senate.
11.
Kent Conrad endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.
12.
Kent Conrad was a leading member of the "Gang of 10", a conservative group that pushed for much greater offshore drilling in sensitive environmental areas.
13.
On September 29,2009, Kent Conrad voted with Senate Finance Committee Republicans against an amendment to a health care bill that would have provided for a public option.
14.
Kent Conrad was supportive of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act.
15.
Kent Conrad voted consistently in favor of banning the partial-birth abortion medical procedure.
16.
Kent Conrad opposes public funding of abortion, but voted in favor of lifting the ban on abortions on military bases.
17.
On January 31,2006, Kent Conrad was one of four Democrats to vote in favor of confirming Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
18.
Kent Conrad was known for his deep understanding of monetary policies and budget issues.
19.
Kent Conrad identifies as a "deficit hawk", supporting a balanced federal budget, but continues to support farm subsidies.
20.
Kent Conrad voted against Republican proposals to repeal the estate and alternative minimum taxes.
21.
Kent Conrad supported lower middle-class taxes, but increased taxes for people making more than $1 million per year.
22.
Kent Conrad opposed most free-trade measures and strongly supported subsidies to family farmers.
23.
In 1991 Kent Conrad voted against approving the use of military force in Iraq.
24.
Kent Conrad was one of only 23 senators to vote against the war resolution of 2002.
25.
In June 2008 it was reported that Conrad had received mortgages on favorable terms for a second home and an apartment building due to his association with Countrywide Financial CEO Angelo R Mozilo.
26.
Kent Conrad acknowledged that he had spoken with Mozilo by phone.
27.
Kent Conrad received an opportunity to remain in the Senate when North Dakota's other senator, long-serving Dem-NPLer Quentin Burdick, died on September 8,1992.
28.
Kent Conrad went on to win the special election, and was sworn in on December 14,1992, resigning his original Senate seat the same day.