Ed Markey

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Ed Markey

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2, 1976–
Preceded by	Torbert Macdonald
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	July 11, 1946 (age 60) Malden, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Susan Blumenthal
Religion	Roman Catholic

Edward John "Ed" Markey (born July 11, 1946) has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1976, representing the 7th District of Massachusetts. He was born in Malden, Massachusetts, was educated at Malden Catholic High School, Boston College and Boston College Law School, served in the United States Army Reserve, and was a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing Malden and Melrose before entering the U.S. House.

He is the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, and is chairman of the newly formed House Panel on Global Warming.

He is well known for his advocacy for ending torture and the practice of Extraordinary Rendition, through the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act.

He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the National Journal generally gives him a Composite Liberal score in the mid-90s.^[1] Since May 2005 he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

In 2004, he announced that he would run for John Kerry's seat in the United States Senate if Kerry were to be elected President of the United States. Although Kerry lost the election, Markey was easily reelected in 2004 over Republican Kenneth Chase and Independent Jim Hall by a margin of 74%-21%-5%.

In 2006, Markey called for the arrest of Christopher Soghoian, a security researcher at Indiana University. Markey wanted Mr. Soghoian arrested for exposing security problems related to the potential to use counterfeit boarding passes at U.S. airports. Two days later, however, Markey downgraded his outrage: "He picked a lousy way of doing it, but he should not go to jail for his bad judgment."^[2]

He is responsible for introducing legislation to change daylight saving time to begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November starting in 2007. One of his reasons for doing this according to him was that it "puts a smile on everyone's face."

He is married to Dr. Susan Blumenthal. He was one of several politicians (and only one of two on the Union side) who played cameos in the 2003 film Gods and Generals. He played an Irish Brigade officer.^[3]

In a December 23, 2006 letter to The Boston Globe, Markey addressed the controversy over former President Jimmy Carter's book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Markey expressed that while Carter "raises some legitimate concerns about Israel's current settlement policy," Israel should not be called an apartheid state. Markey noted that Israeli policy often reacts to the threats posed by neighboring countries and that the Israeli government has in the past attempted to work out peace deals by giving up land (including, ironically, the 1978 Camp David Accords that Carter helped negotiate).

[edit] Trivia

Congressman Markey received a $1,000.00 contribution from Walt Disney World president, Al Weiss, on May 20, 2004.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

[edit] External links

U.S. Congressman Ed Markey official House site
Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Federal Election Commission - Mr. Edward J Markey campaign finance reports and data
On the Issues - Ed Markey issue positions and quotes
OpenSecrets.org - Edward J. Markey campaign contributions
Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. 'Ed' Markey (MA) profile
SourceWatch Congresspedia - Ed Markey profile
Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Ed Markey voting record
Markey's Statements on the use of flammable silicone foam firestops in US nuclear power plants, via ccnr.org

Political offices
Preceded by Torbert H. Macdonald	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th congressional district November 2, 1976 – present	Incumbent