John Berlinger Breaux (last name pronounced BRO) is a former United States senator from Louisiana who served from 1987 until 2005. He was also a member of the U.S. House from 1972 to 1987. He was considered one of the more conservative national legislators from the Democratic Party. Breaux was a member of the New Democrat Coalition.
Early life and career
Breaux was born in Crowley, Louisiana, on March 1, 1944. He graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now called the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in Lafayette in 1964 and from Louisiana State University Law School in Baton Rouge in 1967. After graduation, he practiced law, and then served as an assistant to U.S. Representative Edwin Edwards.
Breaux in Congress
Breaux was elected as a Democrat to the 92nd United States Congress in a special election on September 30, 1972, to fill the vacancy caused by Edwards' resignation. At the age of 28, he was then the youngest member of the United States House of Representatives. Breaux was re-elected to the seven succeeding Congresses and served until January 3, 1987. He was not a candidate for re-election to the House of Representatives in 1986, but was instead elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1986. In the 1986 jungle primary, Breaux finished second (447,328 or 37.3 percent) to Sixth District Republican Congressman W. Henson Moore, III, of Baton Rouge (529,433 or 44.2 percent). State Senator Samuel B. Nunez polled another 73,504 votes (6.7 percent). In the general election, Breaux turned the tables on Moore: 723,586 (52.8 percent) to 646,311 (47.2 percent), a margin of 77,275 ballots. Thereafter, Moore took a sub-Cabinet position with the administration of George Herbert Walker Bush, and Breaux took the Senate seat that he would hold for eighteen years. Breaux was not seriously opposed in the 1992 and 1998 elections.
Breaux was seen as a centrist in a Senate divided along partisan lines, and was frequently sought out by Republican leaders to corral a few Democratic votes when they needed them; conversely he also often served as the Democratic emissary in attempts to gather a few moderate Republicans to win votes on their proposals. He was pro-life and a supporter of Second Amendment rights, though he gradually moderated his position on gun control. He was more conservative on taxes than most in his party and challenged many environmental protections.
In 1993, Breaux was elected by Senate Democrats as Deputy Majority Whip, a position he held until his retirement. He also held a number of key Senate committee positions. A senior member of the Finance Committee, Senator Breaux served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy. From his position on the Finance Committee, he helped build the coalition that passed welfare reform and health insurance reform bills in 1996. He also pushed for a reduction in the capital gains tax and for tax relief for college education expenses. In 1998, Breaux was selected by the White House and House and Senate leaders to chair the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare. Also in 1998, Senator Breaux co-chaired the National Commission on Retirement Policy, which produced legislation to help reform Social Security.
Breaux was a founder of the Centrist Coalition of Senate Democrats and Republicans, and served as Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council.
He announced that he would not run for re-election in 2004. He was succeeded in the Senate by Republican David Vitter of suburban New Orleans. Though Breaux was considered a popular politician in Louisiana, he was unable to dictate his successor in the Senate. He endorsed the losing Democratic candidate, Chris John, retiring congressman from the same Seventh District that Breaux had once represented. In the 2003 Louisiana gubernatorial campaign, after flirting briefly with the possibility of running himself, Breaux campaigned hard for the successful Democratic candidate, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Lafayette.
Since the Senate
In February 2005, Breaux took a position as Distinguished Professor in the {Douglas} Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Since 2005, Breaux has been a lobbyist for Washington, DC, firm Patton Boggs, specializing in issues of health care and energy law.
Since leaving office, Breaux has spearheaded his own national campaign, “Ceasefire on Health Care: Finding Common Ground for the Uninsured.” Breaux coined the campaign name as a play on the CNN TV program Crossfire, which he points out has been canceled. Breaux has hosted multiple events with prominent members of both parties to establish a dialogue that will lead to real healthcare reform. Breaux developed the campaign alongside American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies.
Beginning in February 2007, there was much speculation among Louisiana political commentators as to whether Breaux would announce his candidacy in the 2007 Louisiana governors' race. Breaux, arguably the most popular Democratic politician in Louisiana, was considering entering the race, if Blanco would be willing to step aside for Breaux.[1][2][3]
[4] On March 20, 2007, Blanco announced that she will not run for re-election as governor. On March 29, 2007, John Breaux made his first Louisiana public appearance since speculation began concerning his potential candidacy. Breaux said that he intended to run, and would announce his candidacy as soon as Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti, a Democrat, gave a formal legal opinion on whether Breaux was eligible to run. It was alleged that he would not meet the residency requirements to run for Governor as he is registered to vote, and has listed his primary address in Maryland since 2005. At issue was the clause in the Louisiana constitution that states that a candidate for governor must be a 'citizen' of the State of Louisiana; what constitutes a citizen is not defined.[5]
On April 13, 2007, Breaux released a statement that he would not be running for governor. Attorney-General Foti had declined to issue an opinion on Breaux's eligibility, stating it was an issue for the courts to decide. Breaux stated that he did not want the issue of eligibility to overshadow his campaign, as a court challenge would not occur until September.[6]
External links
References
Template:USRepSuccession boxTemplate:Succession box two to one
| United States senators in the 100th Congress
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AL: Heflin, Shelby
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: DeConcini, McCain
AR: Bumpers, Pryor
CA: Cranston, Wilson
CO: Armstrong, Wirth
CT: Weicker, Dodd
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Chiles, Graham
GA: Nunn, Fowler
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HI: Inouye, Matsunaga
ID: McClure, Symms
IL: Dixon, Simon
IN: Lugar, Quayle
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Dole, Kassebaum
KY: Ford, McConnell
LA: Johnston, Breaux
ME: Cohen, Mitchell
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Riegle, Levin
MN: Durenberger, Boschwitz
MS: Stennis, Cochran
MO: Danforth, Bond
MT: Melcher, Baucus
NE: Exon, Karnes*
NV: Hecht, Reid
NH: Humphrey, Rudman
NJ: Bradley, Lautenberg
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, D'Amato
NC: Helms, Sanford
ND: Burdick, Conrad
OH: Metzenbaum, Glenn
OK: Boren, Nickles
OR: Hatfield, Packwood
PA: Heinz, Specter
RI: Pell, Chafee
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Pressler, Daschle
TN: Sasser, Gore
TX: Bentsen, Gramm
UT: Garn, Hatch
VT: Stafford, Leahy
VA: Warner, Trible
WA: Evans, Adams
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI:Proxmire, Kasten
WY: Wallop, Simpson
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Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) David Karnes was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Edward Zorinsky.
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| United States senators in the 101st Congress
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AL: Heflin, Shelby
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: DeConcini, McCain
AR: Bumpers, Pryor
CA: Cranston, Wilson
CO: Armstrong, Wirth
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Graham, Mack
GA: Nunn, Fowler
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HI: Inouye, Matsunaga
ID: McClure, Symms
IL: Dixon, Simon
IN: Lugar, Coats
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Dole, Kassebaum
KY: Ford, McConnell
LA: Johnston, Breaux
ME: Cohen, Mitchell
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Riegle, Levin
MN: Durenberger, Boschwitz
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Danforth, Bond
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Exon, Kerrey
NV: Reid, Bryan
NH: Rudman, Smith*
NJ: Bradley, Lautenberg
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, D'Amato
NC: Helms, Sanford
ND: Burdick, Conrad
OH: Metzenbaum, Glenn
OK: Boren, Nickles
OR: Hatfield, Packwood
PA: Heinz, Specter
RI: Pell, Chafee
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Pressler, Daschle
TN: Sasser, Gore
TX: Bentsen, Gramm
UT: Garn, Hatch
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Robb
WA: Adams, Gorton
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kasten, Kohl
WY: Wallop, Simpson
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Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) Robert Smith was appointed upon the resignation of Gordon Humphrey
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| United States senators in the 102nd Congress
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AL: Heflin, Shelby
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: DeConcini, McCain
AR: Bumpers, Pryor
CA: Cranston, Seymour*
CO: Wirth, Brown
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Graham, Mack
GA: Nunn, Fowler
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Symms, Craig
IL: Dixon, Simon
IN: Lugar, Coats
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Dole, Kassebaum
KY: Ford, McConnell
LA: Johnston, Breaux
ME: Cohen, Mitchell
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Riegle, Levin
MN: Durenberger, Wellstone
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Danforth, Bond
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Exon, Kerrey
NV: Reid, Bryan
NH: Rudman, Smith
NJ: Bradley, Lautenberg
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, D'Amato
NC: Helms, Sanford
ND: Conrad, Burdick**
OH: Metzenbaum, Glenn
OK: Boren, Nickles
OR: Hatfield, Packwood
PA: Specter, Wofford***
RI: Pell, Chafee
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Pressler, Daschle
TN: Sasser, Gore
TX: Bentsen, Gramm
UT: Garn, Hatch
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Robb
WA: Adams, Gorton
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kasten, Kohl
WY: Wallop, Simpson
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| Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) John Seymour was appointed after the resignation of Pete Wilson who stepped down to become Governor of California.
(**) Jocelyn Burdick was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband Quentin Burdick.
(***) Harris Wofford was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator John Heinz.
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| United States senators in the 103rd Congress
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AL: Heflin, Shelby
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: DeConcini, McCain
AR: Bumpers, Pryor
CA: Feinstein, Boxer
CO: Brown, Campbell
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Graham, Mack
GA: Nunn, Coverdell
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Craig, Kempthorne
IL: Simon, Moseley Braun
IN: Lugar, Coats
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Dole, Kassebaum
KY: Ford, McConnell
LA: Johnston, Breaux
ME: Cohen, Mitchell
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Riegle, Levin
MN: Durenberger, Wellstone
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Danforth, Bond
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Exon, Kerrey
NV: Reid, Bryan
NH: Smith, Gregg
NJ: Bradley, Lautenberg
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, D'Amato
NC: Helms, Faircloth
ND: Conrad, Dorgan
OH: Metzenbaum, Glenn
OK: Boren, Nickles
OR: Hatfield, Packwood
PA: Specter, Wofford
RI: Pell, Chafee
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Pressler, Daschle
TN: Sasser, Mathews
TX: Gramm, Hutchison*
UT: Hatch, Bennett
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Robb
WA: Gorton, Murray
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kohl, Feingold
WY: Wallop, Simpson
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| Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) Kay Bailey Hutchison was elected to fill the vacant seat left by Lloyd Bentsen
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| United States senators in the 104th Congress
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AL: Heflin, Shelby
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: McCain, Kyl
AR: Bumpers, Hutchinson
CA: Feinstein, Boxer
CO: Brown, Campbell
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Graham, Mack
GA: Nunn, Coverdell
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Craig, Kempthorne
IL: Simon, Moseley Braun
IN: Lugar, Coats
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Kassebaum, Frahm*
KY: Ford, McConnell
LA: Johnston, Breaux
ME: Cohen , Snowe
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Levin, Abraham
MN: Wellstone, Grams
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Bond, Ashcroft
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Exon, Kerrey
NV: Reid, Bryan
NH: Smith, Gregg
NJ: Bradley, Lautenberg
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, D'Amato
NC: Helms, Faircloth
ND: Conrad, Dorgan
OH: Glenn, DeWine
OK: Nickles, Inhofe
OR: Hatfield, Wyden**
PA: Specter, Santorum
RI: Pell, Chafee
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Pressler, Daschle
TN: Thompson, Frist
TX: Gramm, Hutchison
UT: Hatch, Bennett
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Robb
WA: Gorton, Murray
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kohl, Feingold
WY: Simpson, Thomas
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| Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) Sheila Frahm was appointed following the resignation of Bob Dole.
(**) Ron Wyden was elected following the resignation of Bob Packwood.
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| United States senators in the 105th Congress
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AL: Shelby, Sessions
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: McCain, Kyl
AR: Bumpers, Hutchinson
CA: Feinstein, Boxer
CO: Campbell, Allard
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Graham, Mack
GA: Coverdell, Cleland
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Craig, Kempthorne
IL: Moseley Braun, Durbin
IN: Lugar, Coats
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Brownback, Roberts
KY: Ford, McConnell
LA: Breaux, Landrieu
ME: Snowe, Collins
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Levin, Abraham
MN: Wellstone, Grams
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Bond, Ashcroft
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Kerrey, Hagel
NV: Reid, Bryan
NH: Smith, Gregg
NJ: Lautenberg, Torricelli
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, D'Amato
NC: Helms, Faircloth
ND: Conrad, Dorgan
OH: Glenn, DeWine
OK: Nickles, Inhofe
OR: Wyden, Smith
PA: Specter, Santorum
RI: Chafee, Reed
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Daschle, Johnson
TN: Thompson, Frist
TX: Gramm, Hutchison
UT: Hatch, Bennett
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Robb
WA: Gorton, Murray
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kohl, Feingold
WY: Thomas, Enzi
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| Republican | Democrat | Independent
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| United States senators in the 106th Congress
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AL: Shelby, Sessions
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: McCain, Kyl
AR: Hutchinson, Lincoln
CA: Feinstein, Boxer
CO: Campbell, Allard
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Roth, Biden
FL: Graham, Mack
GA: Cleland, Miller*
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Craig, Crapo
IL: Durbin, Fitzgerald
IN: Lugar, Bayh
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Brownback, Roberts
KY: McConnell, Bunning
LA: Breaux, Landrieu
ME: Snowe, Collins
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Levin, Abraham
MN: Wellstone, Grams
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Bond, Ashcroft
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Kerrey, Hagel
NV: Reid, Bryan
NH: Smith, Gregg
NJ: Lautenberg, Torricelli
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Moynihan, Schumer
NC: Helms, Edwards
ND: Conrad, Dorgan
OH: DeWine, Voinovich
OK: Nickles, Inhofe
OR: Wyden, Smith
PA: Specter, Santorum
RI: Reed, Chafee**
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Daschle, Johnson
TN: Thompson, Frist
TX: Gramm, Hutchison
UT: Hatch, Bennett
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Robb
WA: Gorton, Murray
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kohl, Feingold
WY: Thomas, Enzi
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| Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) Zell Miller was appointed to the Senate following the death of Paul Coverdell
(**) Lincoln Chafee was appointed to the Senate following the death of his father John Chafee
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| United States senators in the 107th Congress
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AL: Shelby, Sessions
AK: Stevens, Murkowski*
AZ: McCain, Kyl
AR: Hutchinson, Lincoln
CA: Feinstein, Boxer
CO: Campbell, Allard
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Biden, Carper
FL: Graham, Nelson
GA: Cleland, Miller
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Craig, Crapo
IL: Durbin, Fitzgerald
IN: Lugar, Bayh
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Brownback, Roberts
KY: McConnell, Bunning
LA: Breaux, Landrieu
ME: Snowe, Collins
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Levin, Stabenow
MN: Dayton, Barkley**
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Bond, Talent***
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Hagel, Nelson
NV: Reid, Ensign
NH: Gregg, Sununu
NJ: Torricelli, Corzine
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Schumer, Clinton
NC: Helms, Edwards
ND: Conrad, Dorgan
OH: DeWine, Voinovich
OK: Nickles, Inhofe
OR: Wyden, Smith
PA: Specter, Santorum
RI: Reed, Chafee
SC: Thurmond, Hollings
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SD: Daschle, Johnson
TN: Thompson, Frist
TX: Gramm, Hutchison
UT: Hatch, Bennett
VT: Leahy, Jeffords****
VA: Warner, Allen
WA: Murray, Cantwell
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kohl, Feingold
WY: Thomas, Enzi
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| Republican | Democrat | Independent
(*) Frank Murkowski resigned to become Governor of Alaska.
(**) Dean Barkley was appointed following the death of Paul Wellstone.
(***) James Talent was elected in a special election over previous Senator, Jean Carnahan.
(****) James Jeffords changed from Republican to Independent .
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| United States senators in the 108th Congress
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AL: Shelby, Sessions
AK: Stevens, Murkowski
AZ: McCain, Kyl
AR: Lincoln, Pryor
CA: Feinstein, Boxer
CO: Campbell, Allard
CT: Dodd, Lieberman
DE: Biden, Carper
FL: Graham, Nelson
GA: Miller , Chambliss
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HI: Inouye, Akaka
ID: Craig, Crapo
IL: Durbin, Fitzgerald
IN: Lugar, Bayh
IA: Grassley, Harkin
KS: Brownback, Roberts
KY: McConnell, Bunning
LA: Breaux, Landrieu
ME: Snowe, Collins
MD: Sarbanes, Mikulski
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MA: Kennedy, Kerry
MI: Levin, Stabenow
MN: Dayton, Coleman
MS: Cochran, Lott
MO: Bond, Talent
MT: Baucus, Burns
NE: Hagel, Nelson
NV: Reid, Ensign
NH: Gregg, Sununu
NJ: Corzine, Lautenberg
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NM: Domenici, Bingaman
NY: Schumer, Clinton
NC: Edwards, Dole
ND: Conrad, Dorgan
OH: DeWine, Voinovich
OK: Nickles, Inhofe
OR: Wyden, Smith
PA: Specter, Santorum
RI: Reed, Chafee
SC: Hollings, Graham
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SD: Daschle, Johnson
TN: Frist, Alexander
TX: Hutchison, Cornyn
UT: Hatch, Bennett
VT: Leahy, Jeffords
VA: Warner, Allen
WA: Murray, Cantwell
WV: Byrd, Rockefeller
WI: Kohl, Feingold
WY: Thomas, Enzi
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| Republican | Democratic | Independent
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