Joe Courtney (D-CT)

Public Figure

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Joseph (Joe) Courtney, born April 6, 1953 in Hartford, Connecticut, is a Democrat and a Congressman of the United States House of Representatives for .Courtney grew up in suburban Harftord and became a 1975 graduate of Tufts University. He earned a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1978 and worked as a public defender for 3 years after leaving school. Courtney is a partner in the law firm Courtney, Boyan & Foran. He also serves as Town Attorney in Vernon, Connecticut, the town in which he currently resides. Courtney is a former State Representative from Vernon, representing Connecticut's 56th district from 1987 to 1994. Here he served as chairman of the Public Health and Human Service Committee and oversaw the Blue Ribbon Commission on Universal Health Insurance. In 1994, he was honored by Connecticut Magazine for his bipartisan efforts in the state house. In 1998, Courtney made an unsuccessful bid for Lieutenant Governor. He ran for Congress against incumbent Rob Simmons in 2002 and lost 54%-46%. He ran again and unseated Simmons in 2006 in a race that political strategists projected would be very close.Courtney was declared the winner on Election Day 2006 by the slim margin of 83 votes out of over 242,000 cast. Under Connecticut law the race qualified for an automatic re-canvas because he won by less than one half percent. An up and down recount that found several errors including one that gave Courtney an extra 100 votes was finished 14 November. The final results gave Courtney 83 votes over Simmons.Jennifer Medina, "Democrat Wins House Seat After Recount in Connecticut," ''New York Times'', November 16, 2006.Courtney lives with his wife, a nurse practitioner, and two children in Vernon. On May 21, 2008, he announced his support for Barack Obama for president. While in Congress, Courtney has consistently supported and sponsored healthcare reform, as in line with is career in the Connecticut House. He has also supported alternative energy and environmental programs and has opposed the Patriot Act. He was the only Representative from Connecticut to vote against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.Despite promising in 2008 to support universal health care, Joe Courtney has not introduced or supported legislation to guarantee that every US citizen has access to quality health care. As of February 2009, he has not supported or co-sponsored HR 676, The United States National Health Insurance Act.*Education and Labor Committee **Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness**Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions*Armed Services Committee**Readiness Subcommittee**Seapower and Expeditionary Forces SubcommitteeCourtney's 2008 Republican challenger was the former commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London, Sean Sullivan. Courtney won the election by a two to one margin.*[http://courtney.house.gov/ Representative Joe Courtney] official U.S. House website*[http://www.joecourtney.com/ Joe Courtney for Congress] official campaign website*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joe_Courtney Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/070607/GAL-07Jun07-76840/index.html Freshman congressman Joe Courtney learns the ropes and tries to keep his balance on Capitol Hill] ''Washington Post Photo Gallery'', June 7, 2007

Yesterday

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The invasion of Iraq has not been successful. President Bush has fought the war in Iraq without an adequate number of troops, without a viable exit strategy, and without regard to our standing in the world

January 22

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The U.S. federal government should provide financial support to its auto industry. Joe Courtney votes in favor of H.R. 7321, the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act

December 11, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The government should provide financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure. Courtney believes that the government should provide financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure

December 10, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The federal government's financial bailout package will not help stabilize the U.S. economy. I voted no because I do not believe this proposal will sufficiently address our economic crisis

July 21, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The U.S. should set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. Courtney voted for a timetable in Iraq.

July 20, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The federal government should subsidize the creation of new stem cell lines. Courtney co-sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

July 19, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The District of Columbia should have a seat in Congress. Courtney voted for the D.C. House Voting Rights Act

May 22, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved Barack Obama should win the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. "I made a decision to pledge my support to Sen. Barack Obama"

March 31, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The EPA does not effectively protect the environment. Courtney co-sponsored bill to overturn EPA ruling

February 6, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The Military Commissions Act of 2006 is unconstitutional. Co-sponsored "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007"

January 2, 2008

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The U.S. government should increase the national gas mileage standard. Courtney co-sponsored Fuel Economy Reform Act

November 28, 2007

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved There should be a permanent moratorium on state and local taxes on Internet access. Co-sponsor of House bill to make the moratorium permanent

September 10, 2007

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved Congress should pass the Internet Radio Equality Act. Co-sponsor

August 15, 2007

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved Laws allowing journalists to protect confidential sources should apply to bloggers. Co-sponsored bill

May 18, 2007

an opinion of Joe Courtney (D-CT) was approved The U.S. military should not maintain its "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Courtney is a co-sponsor

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