Jim Talent

Infobox Senator | name=Jim Talent
nationality=American


jr/sr=United States Senator
state=Missouri
party=Republican
term_start=November 25, 2002
term_end= January 3, 2007
preceded=Jean Carnahan
succeeded=Claire McCaskill
state2=Missouri
district2=2nd
term_start2=January 3, 1993
term_end2=January 3, 2001
preceded2=Joan Kelly Horn
succeeded2=Todd Akin
date of birth=birth date and age |1956|10|18
place of birth=Des Peres, Missouri
dead=alive
residence= Chesterfield, Missouri
occupation= attorney
spouse=Brenda Talent
religion=Presbyterian (PCA) [http://www.presbyteriannews.org/volumes/v8/4/pr34.pdf#search='Jim%20Talent%20PCA' Presbyterian News, PCA Talent sent to Senate]
alma_mater= Washington University, University of Chicago

James Matthes "Jim" Talent (born October 18, 1956) is an American politician and former Senator from Missouri. He is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office. He identifies with the conservative wing of the Republican party, being particularly outspoken on judicial appointments, abortion, flag burning, and defense issues. After serving for eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives and then working as a lobbyist, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, narrowly defeating Democrat Jean Carnahan in a special election, to complete the term of Mel Carnahan [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/elections/15869206.htm] . In November 2006, Talent lost his re-election bid to Claire McCaskill, 50% to 47%. Talent served as a senior advisor to Mitt Romney's 2008 Presidential campaign [https://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Talent_Joins_Romney] , and a fellow with the Heritage Foundation [ [http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/JamesTalent.cfm James Talent ] ] .

Personal life

Talent grew up in a middle-class family in Des Peres, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000024/ TALENT, James Matthes/ Talent, James Matthes — Biographical Information] ] . His father, Milton O. Talent, was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants and was the first in his family to go to college, graduating from Harvard Law School. [ [http://www.talentforsenate.com/about/ Jim Talent for U.S. Senate] ] Jim Talent's mother, Marie F. Matthes, was an independent court reporter who was raised on a small farm near DeSoto, Missouri. Her German ancestors had settled in Jefferson County, Missouri beginning in 1832.

Jim Talent graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1973. He earned his A.B. in political science from Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with the Arnold J. Lien Prize as the most outstanding undergraduate in political science. Jim graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Chicago Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1981. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Richard A. Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Before winning political office Talent served as an adjunct professor at the Washington University Law school. He married Brenda Lee Lyons in 1984. The Talents have three children, Katie, Chrissy, and Michael.

Talent was raised Jewish, but is currently a member of the Presbyterian Church in America [ [http://www.nndb.com/people/302/000032206// NNDB — Jim Talent] ] . He was reportedly inspired to become a Christian while listening one of James Dobson's radio broadcasts. [ [http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8776546 Lexington | Trouble in the family | Economist.com ] ]

Political career

Talent began his political career in 1984 when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He served four terms there, the last two as minority leader.

House of Representatives

In the 1992 House of Representatives election, Talent defeated Bert Walker, the cousin of then-president George H. W. Bush and won the Republican nomination for the state's 2nd Congressional District, based in St. Louis's western suburbs. He went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Joan Kelly Horn in the general election.

The district had been heavily altered after the 1990 census to preserve large Democratic majorities in the neighboring ushr|Missouri|1|1st District of Bill Clay and ushr|Missouri|3|3rd District of Dick Gephardt. Horn had appealed for a new map, even asking for a share of St. Louis, but was rebuffed by Clay and Gephardt.

Although Talent won narrowly in 1992, he never had another close race in what rapidly became a solidly Republican district. The only serious challenge he faced came in the 1996 House election, when Horn sought a rematch. Even though popular Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan was running for reelection, Talent dispatched Horn fairly easily, winning 61% of the vote [ [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=4&oid=936&arc=1 Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, November 5, 1996] ] .

As a freshman in the congress, Talent authored and introduced the Welfare Reform Act of 1994, which was the precursor to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. Talent served as chairman of the Small Business Committee from 1997 to 2001.

Talent did not seek re-election to Congress in 2000, instead running for governor. He was narrowly defeated by Democratic state treasurer Bob Holden, 49.1% to 48.2%. [ [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=14&oid=4265&arc=1 Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, November 7, 1996] ]

Work as a lobbyist

For ten months in 2001, Talent worked for Washington lobbying firm, Arent Fox [ [http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3&LOB=TALENT,%20JAMES%20M.&LOBQUAL= US Lobby Registration & Reporting Disclosure Page] ] , earning $230,000. During this time Talent was not allowed to directly lobby Congress, and he was not licensed to practice law in Washington, leading some Democratic opponents to accuse the lobbying firm of using his appointment as an illegal conduit to donate toward his upcoming Senate race. [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=allfields(talent)%20and%20allfields(arent)%20and%20allfields(%22pay%20for%20work%22)%20AND%20date(2/20/2002%20to%204/6/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2/20/2002%20to%204/6/2002)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22talent%22)%20and%20(%22arent%22)%20and%20(%22pay%20for%20work%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no Democrats Question Talent's Pay for Work] ] Arent Fox said the idea that Talent was not paid for genuine work was "absurd", but that "Talent's Republican ties did play a role in his hiring." [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=allfields(talent)%20and%20allfields(arent)%20and%20allfields(absurd)%20AND%20date(2/20/2002%20to%204/6/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2/20/2002%20to%204/6/2002)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22talent%22)%20and%20(%22arent%22)%20and%20(%22absurd%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no Law Firm Calls Anti-Talent Accusations Absurd] ]

Election to the Senate

In the November 2000 elections, Mel Carnahan, who had died in a plane crash three weeks before, remained on the ballot for election to the Senate. Carnahan received more votes than his Republican opponent, John Ashcroft, who did not legally contest being defeated by a dead candidate. Lieutenant Governor Roger Wilson, as he had promised before the election, appointed Carnahan's widow, Jean, in her husband's place.

The Seventeenth Amendment requires that appointments to the Senate last only until a special election is held. Talent, who received the Republican nomination, narrowly defeated Jean Carnahan in the November 2002 election, 50% to 49%. He was sworn in later that month to fill out the balance of Mel Carnahan's term [ [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/chronlist.pdf Chronological list of U.S. Senators] ] . [ [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=87&oid=24756&arc=1 Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, November 5, 2002] ]

Jack Abramoff contributed $2,000 to Talent's 2002 senatorial campaign [http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_ind/S2MO00353/1/A/] and Preston Gates & Ellis, a former Abramoff employer, had also contributed $1,000 to Talent's campaign. [http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/S2MO00353] Talent later returned both contributions [http://www.citizensforethics.org/filelibrary/HotlineListofReturnedDonations01.06.06.pdf] .

Talent has been criticized for not returning the money received from Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), a PAC formed by Tom DeLay. DeLay is facing charges of money laundering and violation of campaign finance laws. A spokesman for Talent has stated that Talent has not yet made a decision about whether or not to return the ARMPAC contribution, stating "Senator Talent is not ready to presume guilt or innocence and wants to give the judicial process a chance to move forward." [ [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15581098&BRD=1452&PAG=461&dept_id=155076&rfi=6 Sun-News of the Northland - News - Top Stories ] ] During his tenure, Talent served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Special Committee on Aging, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Political views

Talent is widely regarded by political analyst as a reliable conservative, receiving a life score of 93 out of 100 from the American Conservative Union. The National Right to Life Committee gave Talent a 100% rating. [http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/scorecard/?chamber=S&session=109&x=9&y=10] In 2005, Talent was tied for the third-highest rating among all senators and representatives as determined by the Republican Liberty Caucus, which promotes "liberty-minded, limited-government individuals to office." [ [http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=004155M&sort=rating Project Vote Smart ] ] [ [http://www.republicanliberty.org/candid/c_look.asp?LYear=2006&LPos=FLS&LState=ANY RLC Endorsed Candidate & Initiative Lookup ] ]

Flag Desecration Amendment

Talent is a cosponsor of the Flag Desecration Amendment, which would make it constitutional to criminalize flag burning. He argues that this does not conflict with freedom of speech by suggesting that flag burning is not speech. His office has said, "...burning the flag is not speech; it is an act with expressive overtones." [ [http://www.talentforsenate.com/blog/blogitem.aspx?id=29 Jim Talent for U.S. Senate ] ] Since the constitution clearly protects speech, this distinction is extremely important from a legal standpoint. It is necessary to have a constitutional amendment, rather than a federal law, since the United States Supreme Court has consistently classified flag burning as speech.

Energy

Talent supported the new Renewable Fuel Standard, which would add 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels to the national supply by 2012, including a measure to include tax credits for businesses offering soybean-based fuels. [http://www.mosoy.org/msf/2006/07.06.PDF] In addition to renewable fuels, Talent supported drilling in the Arctic as a step in the direction of energy independence, which he sees as critical to national security. [ [http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1164558.html Marshall Democrat-News: Story: Talent: 'We're going to be in a new world - a renewable world' ] ]

Health care

Talent supported the Medicare prescription drug benefit called Medicare Part D, the purpose of which is to reduce the amount seniors pay for their prescription drugs. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191363,00.html FOXNews.com - Bush Promotes Medicare Prescription Drug Plan in Missouri - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum ] ] Talent called for waiving a one percent penalty for senior citizens who missed the deadline to sign up for the program. [ [http://www.missourinet.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=E6B41D4F-E38C-4BAF-8E5D5FF12114BA01&dbtranslator=local.cfm Missourinet: Talent Calls for Waiver of Penalty for Seniors Enrolling in Drug Benefit ] ]

Talent voted against an amendment allowing Medicare to negotiate a bulk purchase discount for prescription drugs. [ [http://www.issues2000.org/social/Jim_Talent_Health_Care.htm Jim Talent on Health Care ] ]

Talent supported limiting awards in medical liability lawsuits. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050602-14.html] He believes that 'Medical liability relief will cut costs because physicians won’t have to practice “defensive medicine".' [http://www.naw.org/Content/ContentGroups/News2/WDPAC_Endorses_Senator_Jim_Talent_for_Re-Election.htm]

Talent supported and proposed legislation to allow trade organizations to sponsor health insurance plans, which he believes would provide uninsured workers the opportunity for more affordable health care. [http://www.stjoenews-press.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=75180&SectionID=81&SubSectionID=&S=1]

Predatory lending

Talent sponsored legislation to cap the annual percentage interest rate for payday loans to military service personnel from an average of around 39% to 36%. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15062520]

Stem cell research

After joining the Senate in 2002, Talent supported federal legislation that would ban embryonic stem cell research or federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This included cosponsoring a bill (S.658) [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:s.658: Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) ] ] sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback, which would ban all forms of human cloning including embryonic therapeutic cloning techniques that are seen as crucial to stem cell research. This law was unnecessary because President Bill Clinton outlawed human cloning in 1998.

On February 10, 2006, Talent withdrew his support for the bill, [ [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/13845435.htm "Kansas City Star"] ] citing the need to balance research and protection against human cloning. This move followed criticism by Talent's opponent in the 2006 election, Claire McCaskill, as well as pressure from Missouri business interests that oppose restrictions on stem cell research. Though this reversal was widely criticized as being politically motivated, [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11410626/site/newsweek "Stem-Cell Dilemmas: Senator Talent believes there is an 'ethically untroubling' option on embryonic research. Will it cost him re-election?"] , Eleanor Clift, "Newsweek", February 17, 2006] ] Talent told the Associated Press, "The technology is changing all the time and so I'm always considering whether there is a better way to strike the balance." [ [http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/13710191.htm "Stem cell battle emerging as key issue in Missouri Senate race"] , Sam Hananel, "AP", January 25, 2006] Talent suggested that moral concerns might be put to rest through a possible future scientific breakthrough — replicating embryonic stem cells without the use of cloned embryos.

There was a ballot-initiative in Missouri in November 2006 to amend the state constitution and allow, in line with federal law, stem cell research and treatment. [http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006ballot/ 2006 Ballot Measures] , Missouri, Secretary of State] On May 1, 2006, Talent announced his opposition to the proposed ballot-initiative. [cite news | title=A wedge issue that helps Democrats: Stem cell research is dividing Missouri's GOP | author=Kristen Hinman | date=July 17, 2006 | publisher="Salon.com"] Stem cell research and treatment is working up to be a divisive issue for many Republicans and is taking a particular prominence in Missouri. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/24/news/stem.php, "Democrats see stem cell research as political tool"] , Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "New York Times", April 25, 2006]

In July 2006, he voted against expanding federal funds for embryonic stem cell research in cases where the embryos were donated by fertility clinics or were created for purposes of fertility treatment. [http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Oct/20061022Feat004.asp] This bill passed the Senate 63-37, but was vetoed by President Bush, in a move that was said to have significant political implications for Talent. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071900524.html]

Minimum wage

Talent did take a position on the ballot-initiative in Missouri, called Proposition B, that would raise the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 per hour, or to the level of the federal minimum wage if that is higher, with subsequent adjustments for inflation. He said he believed it was a state issue, but stated he supports minimum wage increases if they are coupled with tax breaks for small businesses. [cite news | url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/E5D658A528E480B78625720C0054E53B?OpenDocument | title=Many jabs in debate but no KO | author=Matt Franck |date=October 19, 2006 | publisher="St. Louis Post-Dispatch"] Talent believed that increasing the minimum wage could reduce the number of jobs by raising the cost of doing business. [cite news | url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/09/talents_bid_for_reelection_to.html | title=Talent’s Bid for Second Term Just Like His First — a Tossup | author = Lauren Phillips | date=September 29, 2006 | publisher="CQPolitics.com"] .

Methamphetamine

Talent cosponsored the Combat Meth Act with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The legislation, which was attached to the re authorization of the USA Patriot Act, passed on March 2, 2006 and restricts the sale of products necessary to produce methamphetamines. President Bush signed the Act into law on March 9, 2006. As a result of the Act, certain cold medicines are only to be made available behind the counter and the amount of such medicines that can be purchased by one person is limited. [ [http://feinstein.senate.gov/06releases/r-patriot-meth0302.htm Press release from the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein] , March 2, 2006]

War in Iraq

Although Talent was not in Congress at the time of the 2002 vote authorizing the war in Iraq, he stated in October 2006 that he would have voted for the war knowing that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Talent did not support a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq until American troops are able to train up an Iraqi army capable of maintaining security within the country.>

Abortion

Talent supported a ban on abortions, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. [ [http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061017/NEWS0602/61017001/1007/NEWS05 News-Leader.com | Elections - U.S. Senate ] ]

2006 re-election campaign

Talent sought re-election in the 2006 Senate election. His Democratic opponent was state auditor Claire McCaskill. Talent held a significant fundraising advantage [ [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11454552/] ] , because in part of support from the Bush administration; on October 11, 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney held a fundraiser for Talent [ [http://www.showmenews.com/2005/Oct/20051022News024.asp Cheney talks at Talent fundraiser ] ] .

Talent accepted $5,000 from the lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Talent subsequently refunded $3,000 in August 2005, and the remaining $2,000 in early 2006. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10723902/ Lawmakers return Abramoff donations - Politics - MSNBC.com ] ]

Jim Talent received a number of endorsements for his re-election including from:
*Missouri Farm Bureau [ [http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/c261de75-c0a8-2f11-0163-66f433d41528/ff93c3ca-c0a8-2f11-01c0-35ae87ae9913] ]
*St. Louis Police Officers' Association [ [http://www.stltoday.com/blogs/news-politicalfix/2006/09/st-louis-police-group-endorses-talent/print/] ]
*Missouri Pork Association [ [http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1162463.html Marshall Democrat-News: Story: Talent receives endorsement of Missouri Pork Association ] ]
*National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors [ [http://www.naw.org/Content/ContentGroups/News2/WDPAC_Endorses_Senator_Jim_Talent_for_Re-Election.htm] ]
*Missouri Corn Growers Association [ [http://www.mocorn.org/news/2006/NewsRelease-071606Talent.htm] >]
*Veterans of Foreign Wars [ [http://www.talentforsenate.com/news/Read.aspx?ID=138 Jim Talent for U.S. Senate ] ] .

In 2006, the Washington DC newspaper "Roll Call" reported that DC lobbying interests had pledged to raise $1 million for Talent's re-election. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/15096600.htm] ] Talent stated that he does not give favors in exchange for donations, and that he “wouldn’t take five dollars from someone who expects something for it."

McCaskill and Talent debated each other on "Meet the Press" on October 8, 2006. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/politics/15221409.htm] McCaskill defeated Talent on November 7, 2006 with a 3% margin of victory.

Having lost his bid for reelection, Talent was considered a possible candidate for Governor of Missouri in 2008 after incumbent Matt Blunt decided not to seek reelection. [ [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/FCA083049BDE7797862573D8007A9DC0?OpenDocument STLtoday - Gov. Blunt says he won't run again ] ]

Electoral history

*2006 election for U.S. Senate
**Jim Talent (R), 47%
**Claire McCaskill (D), 50%
**Frank Gilmour (L), 2%

*2002 election for U.S. Senate
**Jim Talent (R), 50%
**Jean Carnahan (D), 49%

*2000 election for Missouri Governor
**Bob Holden (D), 49.1%
**Jim Talent (R), 48.2%

*1996 election for U.S. House of Representatives
**Jim Talent (R), 61%
**Joan Kelly Horn (D), 37%

*1992 election for U.S. House of Representatives
**Jim Talent (R), 50.4%
**Joan Kelly Horn (D), 47.6%
**Jim Higgins (Libertarian), .2%
*1992 Race for U.S. House of Representatives (Republican Primary)
**Jim Talent (R), 58%
**Bert Walker (R), 32%

References

External links

*CongBio|T000024
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/t000024/ Voting record maintained by the Washington Post]
* [http://clerk.house.gov/members/electionInfo/elections.html House Clerk Office Election info]
* [http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Jim-Talent Jim Talent shares his thoughts on Mitt Romney]