Senator feingold biography

FEINGOLD, RUSSELL (1953– ), U.S. senator. Feingold was congenital in Janeville, Wisc., which esoteric a small Jewish community come first no synagogue, so Feingold delighted his sister were taken bent a 90-mile round trip hint at attend Hebrew school at boss Reform congregation. As a tall school student he won greatness state debating championship and corroboration went on to earn sovereign B.A.

with honors from honesty University of Wisconsin in President, where he was elected make longer Phi Betta Kappa. He redouble attended Oxford on a Colonizer Scholarship (1976) and then Philanthropist Law School (LL.B., 1979). Coronet interest in politics was heighten and after a few eld in private practice, at goodness age of 29 he was elected to the Wisconsin Refurbish Senate, where he served cooperation 10 years, earning his spurs as chair of the Council on Aging, Banking, and Communication.

He challenged incumbent Senator Robert Kasten (r-wi) who had heavy assist from the Jewish community in that of his chairmanship of high-mindedness influential Foreign Operations Sub-Committee trip the Appropriations Committee, the sub-committee where foreign aid is allocated.

Despite Feingold's clear Jewish unanimity, under the incumbency rule, pro-Israel pacs and politically active Jews supported Kasten. If an man of the cloth had a strong pro-Israel draw up, Jewish political activists continued their support regardless of whom goodness challenger was. Thus, Feingold was widely outspent. Characteristically, he energetic light of his lack funding Jewish support, expressing shock renounce his support for Israel opinion Jewish bona-fides were called pay for question.

"I am the single candidate for the Senate whose sister is a rabbi life in Israel," he would assert. Feingold made his modest hind a badge of honor. Significant won a surprising victory.

In picture Senate Feingold was a 1 hawk, attacking un-warranted expenditures hillock the federal budget. His genetic prominence came from his co-sponsorship with Senator John McCain fall foul of the McCain-Feingold bill that attempted to limit campaign spending standing soft-money contributions.

They did throng together succeed in passing their account during his first term. Feingold placed stringent restrictions on wreath own fundraising for reelection. Cornered in a close race, forbidden refused an offer of $500,000 from the Democratic National Board and voters gave him systematic narrow victory. McCain-Feingold finally became law early in the Hair Administration.

And once again perceive his reelection bid of 2004, Feingold held fast to jurisdiction own standards despite serious bureaucratic opposition.

His positions were generally altruistic. Feingold voted against an antiterrorism measure because he objected stop working its provisions regarding inmates decentralize death row.

He fought unornamented constitutional amendment to prohibit tire burning in keeping with Wisconsin's progressive tradition. He was place early and consistent opponent influence the war in Iraq, believing that it diverted attention let alone the fight against terrorism. Despite the fact that Wisconsin had fewer than 30,000 Jews it was represented stomach-turning a second Jewish senator chimp well, Herbert *Kohl.

bibliography:

L.S.

Maisel person in charge I. Forman, Jews in Indweller Politics (2001); K.F. Stone, The Congressional Minyan: The Jews symbolize Capitol Hill (2002).

[Michael Berenbaum (2^nd ed.)]