Martin Heinrich

From KeyWiki

Martin Heinrich is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of New Mexico.

In November 2012, Heinrich won election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican Heather Wilson in the general election.^[1]

Contents 1 Background 2 21st Century Democrats support 2.1 2012 CLW Senate victories 3 Filibuster reform 4 Planned Parenthood 5 External links 6 References

Background

A native of Fallon, Nevada, Martin Heinrich graduated from the University of Missouri in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in science and engineering, and later took graduate courses at the University of New Mexico. He served as executive director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, a New Mexico nonprofit dedicated to educating young people on natural science and the environment, and founded his own public affairs consulting firm.

Heinrich served on the Albuquerque City Council from 2003 to 2007, which included one term as city council president in 2006. As a city councilman, he sought to reduce crime, raise the minimum wage, create new jobs, and he advocated the use of wind and solar power. In February 2006, he was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to be the state’s Natural Resources Trustee. ^[2]

21st Century Democrats support

21st Century Democrats is a Political Action Committee that has stood for Progressive causes for over 20 years. Founded in 1986 by Institute for Policy Studies affiliate, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, Democratic Socialists of America affiliates, former Texas Agriculture Secretary Jim Hightower, and former Illinois Congressman Lane Evans. Its three main goals are to help elect progressive candidates, train young people about grassroots organizing, and lastly, to continue to support our elected officials after Election Day "through our comprehensive progressive network".

Carol Moseley Braun, a former US Senator from Illinois, and long time Communist Party USA affiliate, serves on the organization's Advisory Board. Long time Board chair was Democratic Socialists of America member Jim Scheibel, a former Mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The mission of 21st Century Democrats is to build a "farm team" of progressive populists who will be the future leaders of the Democratic Party.

In each election cycle, we endorse a diverse array of candidates who exemplify our values and show unusual promise to advance our progressive goals. We invest in some of the most competitive races as well as in some of the most challenging – those in which the candidates are outstanding but the traditional Democratic supporters are most reticent. We back candidates in primaries as well as general election races, and we focus the bulk of our resources on electing challengers and protecting vulnerable incumbents.^[3]

Heinrich was one of 12 key progressives endorsed by 21st Century Democrats in the 2012 election cycle.^[4]

He was one of 17 supported in 2010.

2012 CLW Senate victories

2012 CLW Senate Victories were;

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Chris Murphy (D-CT) Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).^[5]

Filibuster reform

The Communications Workers of America is to make filibuster reform a top cause and they're trying to bring the rest of the union movement along. The union reiterated that goal in post-election comments.

"The 2012 election makes the reform even more paramount," it said. "Seven Democratic senators-elect - Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Tim Kaine (Va.), Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) - have all already pledged to Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to support rules reform. And Maine's Independent candidate, former Gov. Angus King won on a platform included filibuster reform as a major campaign issue.

"The American people want their elected officials to debate and address the major issues of our time and to move past obstruction for obstruction's sake," added CWA Legislative Director Shane Larson.^[6]

Planned Parenthood

Heinrich received $2000 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.

External links

• Heinrich's website with the House of Representatives

References