Timeline of Sen. Barbara Boxer's career.
Created by nrsc on Jun 2, 2010
Last updated: 06/08/10 at 06:57 PM
Tags: barbara boxer california united states senate democrats
The Los Angeles Times Would Not Endorse Boxer’s 2010 Primary Bid Saying, “We’re No Fans Of Barbara Boxer.” “On the Democratic side, we find that we’re no fans of Barbara Boxer.: (Editorial, “In Both Parties, The Races For Governor And Senate Have Been Undermined By Politics And Money,” Los Angeles Times, 5/7/10) LA Times Editorial: “[Boxer] Displays Less Intellectual Firepower Or Leadership Than She Could.” (Editorial, “In Both Parties, The Races For Governor And Senate Have Been Undermined By Politics And Money,” Los Angeles Times, 5/7/10) LA Times Editorial: Boxer’s Opponent “Asks Pertinent Questions About Boxer’s ‘Lockstep Liberalism.’” “We appreciate the challenge brought by Robert ‘Mickey’ Kaus, even though he’s not a realistic contender, because he asks pertinent questions about Boxer’s ‘lockstep liberalism’ on labor, immigration and other matters.” (Editorial, “In Both Parties, The Races For Governor And Senate Have Been Undermined By Politics And Money,” Los Angeles Times, 5/7/10)
Boxer voted for the health care reconciliation bill. (H.R. 4872, Vote #105, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted to raise the debt ceiling by nearly $2 trillion. (H. J. Res. 45, Vote #14, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer Praised The Stimulus Saying “These Stimulus Dollars Are Putting People To Work. There Is No Question About That . . .” “With unemployment topping 12 percent in California, Boxer said it’s doubtful many of the workers working on the SR 905 project would have jobs at all if it weren’t for the federal stimulus program. ‘Maybe these folks would be working someplace else, but I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘These stimulus dollars are putting people to work. There is no question about that and that’s why I’m here today.’” (John Marelius, “Boxer Touts Stimulus Jobs On SR 905,” San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/ 11/10)
Boxer voted for the Senate health care bill. (H.R. 3590, Vote #396, Boxer Voted Yea) Boxer: “This legislation will make health care more affordable for small businesses and families, end insurance industry abuses, strengthen Medicare, help our seniors afford prescription drugs, and expand coverage to 31 million Americans – all while reducing the deficit.” (Sen. Barbara Boxer, “Boxer Statement On Senate Passage Of Health Care Reform Bill,” Press Release, 12/24/09
During Debate Over The Abortion Provision In The Senate Health Care Bill Boxer Said, If Healthcare Reform Covers Viagra, It Should Cover Abortion Services. “If healthcare reform covers Viagra, it should cover abortion services, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said yesterday. Boxer suggested there was a double standard underlying proposals to restrict abortion coverage. Under those amendments, women would have to buy separate policies, known as ‘riders,’ if they wanted insurance for abortions.” (Eric Zimmermann, “Boxer: Cover Viagra? Then Cover Abortion,” The Hill, 12/08/09)
Boxer voted to kill a bill seeking to prohibit the use of funds to construct or modify a facility in the United States or its territories to permanently or temporarily hold any individual held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (H.R. 3082, Vote #347, Boxer Voted Yea)
(S. 1733, Introduced 9/30/09) “Boxer (D-Calif.) Introduced Legislation This Week With Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) Aimed At Limiting U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Nationwide. It would force any facility emitting at least 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year to obtain pollution permits. The bill does not indicate how these pollution allowances would be allocated, but Boxer said on C-SPAN’s ‘Newsmakers’ program that Democrats are prepared to give away allowances to make carbon-intensive commodities such as electricity more affordable.” (Juliet Eilperin, “Climate Bill Would Ease Energy Costs, Senator Says,” The Washington Post, 10/2/09) The Senate “Cap-And-Trade” Bill “More Stringent” Than House Democrats’ Version. “The Senate climate change bill to be introduced Wednesday will seek to set even more stringent regulations on emissions than is called for in legislation passed by the House. The draft cap-and-trade bill to be introduced tomorrow by Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) will call for a 20 percent reduction in emissions by 2020, compared to the 17 percent reduction mandated by the bill which passed the House in late June.” (Michael O’Brien, “Senate Climate Bill Aims For More Aggressive Targets Than House,” The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, Posted 9/29/09) “The Proposal Calls For Cutting U.S. Greenhouse-Gas Emissions 20% From 2005 Levels By 2020, according to a copy of a draft, as well as people close to the matter. The House bill, which passed in June, calls for cutting emissions 17% over the same period.” (Ian Talley and Stephen Power, “Senators To Unveil Draft Climate Bill,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/30/09) “That [Boxer’s] Bill Contains 397 New Regulations.” (Ryan Young, Op-Ed, “Cap-And-Trade Will Depress Home Prices,” Politico, 9/23/09)
Boxer Said People Who Didn’t Support The Stimulus Are Frustrated That It’s Working. “It’s my sense that there’s a frustration by the people who voted ‘no’ on the economic recovery act, the stimulus bill, there’s a frustration that it’s working. They predicted gloom and doom, Mrs. Boxer said.” (Stephen Dinan, “Millions Go To Signs Flagging Stimulus Projects,” The Washington Times, 9/17/09)
Boxer Mocked Protestors At Health Care Rallies For Being Nicely Dressed. BOXER: “And, by the way, I saw some of the clips of people storming these town hall meetings. The last time I saw well-dressed people doing this was when Al Gore asked me to go down to Florida when they were recounting the ballots, and I was confronted with the same type of people. They were there screaming and yelling, ‘Go back to California. Get out of here,’ and all the rest of it, until I finally looked at them and I said, “You know what? Your hero, Ronald Reagan, is from California. You should show a little respect.” And then they quieted down.” (MSNBC’s “Hardball,” 8/4/09)
Boxer Was Criticized For Being Disrespectful To The CEO Of The National Black Chamber Of Commerce. “Sen. Boxer likes to rule her hearings with a, uh, firm hand. . . . Well, this time Harry Alford, the CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, was about to testify against some climate change legislation when Boxer had him wait and took the occasion to introduce for the committee record a whole bunch of printed statements in support of the legislation, contradicting Alford’s upcoming testimony, from groups not at the hearing. Alford took offense to that (see video below) as disrespectful, dismissive and condescending to his appearance, and there ensued another verbal boxing match.” (“Black Chamber Of Commerce Exec Alford Angered By Barbara Boxer,” Los Angeles Times Top Of The Ticket Blog, Posted 7/20/09) Alford Said He Believed Boxer Intentionally Introduced Race Into The Proceedings. “Did Alford think Boxer intended to introduce racism to the hearing? ‘Actually, Bill, I think it’s her persona. I don’t think she can help herself. When she gets caught up in a – like that up against the wall, race comes up. You know, she’s – the brainchild of Anita Hill attacking Clarence Thomas was Barbara Boxer. You go back – you mentioned 2004 and all of that garbage against Ken Blackwell, secretary of state of Ohio, saying he rigged the election, that was Barbara Boxer.’” (“Black Chamber Of Commerce Exec Alford Angered By Barbara Boxer,” Los Angeles Times Top Of The Ticket Blog, Posted 7/20/09)
Boxer Corrected A Witness For Addressing Her As “Ma’am” Instead Of “Senator.” “On Tuesday, after getting into a minor dust up with Army Corps of Engineers division leader Brigadier General Michael Walsh over Hurricane Katrina cleanup, Barbara Boxer corrected him over her something minor, requesting the following: ‘Could you say “senator” instead of “ma’am?” It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title. I’d appreciate it.’” (“Quote du Jour: Call Her ‘Senator’,” SFIst, 6/18/09)
Boxer voted for Obama’s multi-trillion dollar budget proposal. (S. Con. Res. 13, Vote #154, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted against freezing non-defense discretionary spending at fiscal 2009 levels for two years. (S. Con. Res. 13, Vote #120, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted for a pork-filled omnibus bill. (H.R. 1105, Vote #96, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted for the $787 billion “stimulus” bill. (H.R. 1, Vote #64, Boxer Voted Yea) Boxer Said The “Stimulus” Legislation Offered “Help And Hope.” “Senator Boxer said, ‘In the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the Congress has acted today to save or create jobs in California and across the nation. With so many Californians anxious about the economy, this legislation offers help and hope. This bill will put Californians to work now building the highways, bridges, transit and rail systems, and renewable energy sources of the 21st century.’” (Senator Barbara Boxer, “Boxer Praises Passage Of Economic Recovery Legislation,” Press Release, 2/13/09)
Boxer voted against preventing the release of the second half of TARP. (S. J. Res. 5, Vote #5, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted for TARP. (H. R. 1424, Vote #213, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (H.R. 3221, Vote #186, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted for cloture on a Boxer cap-and-trade bill. (S. 3036, Vote #145, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted against providing $70 billion in unrestricted funds for the Pentagon to conduct the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (H.R. 2764, Vote #439, Boxer Voted Nay)
During A March 2007 EPW Committee Hearing, Boxer Chastised Sen. Inhofe Saying, “You’re Not Making The Rules Anymore . . . Elections Have Consequences.” “In March 2007, not long after assuming the Environment post, Boxer hosted a hearing for former Vice President Al Gore to allow him to discuss his well-known views on how global warming must be confronted. When the committee’s ranking Republican, global warming skeptic James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, asked Gore to respond to his questions in writing, Boxer ordered Inhofe to allow the Nobel Prize winner to speak. ‘You’re not making the rules anymore. You used to when you had this,’ she told the former GOP committee chairman, holding up the gavel. ‘Elections have consequences.’” (CQ Member Profile, www.cq.com, Accessed 6/1/10)
Boxer voted against authorizing military tribunals to try detainees designated as unlawful enemy combatants in the war on terror. (S. 3930, Vote #259, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted to express the sense of Congress that the president should begin phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq starting in 2006. (S. 2766, Vote #182, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted to block consideration of a bill seeking to permanently repeal the estate tax. (H.R. 8, Vote #164, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against a bill that would extend $70 billion in tax cuts over a five-year period. (H.R. 4297, Vote #118, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against confirming Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. (Alito Nomination, Vote #2, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer supported legislation to grant detainees and enemy combatants the right to petition for habeas corpus in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, provided a review tribunal had been conducted. (S. 1042, Vote #324, Boxer Voted Yea)
“[Boxer] Co-authored a novel ‘A Time to Run,’ with author Mary-Rose Hayes. It tells the story of a female senator whose former lover attempts to sabotage her career.”
Boxer voted against confirming John Roberts as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Roberts Nomination, Vote #245, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted to filibuster the nomination of John Bolton. (Bolton Nomination, Vote #129, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer Had An Angry Confrontation During The Confirmation Hearings For Secretary Of State Nominee Condoleezza Rice. “Rice bristled at the comment by Sen. Barbara Boxer of California. ‘I have to say that I have never, ever, lost respect for the truth in the service of anything,’ she said. . . . Boxer was particularly aggressive, pointing out what she said were inconsistencies in Rice’s statements about the imminent threat of nuclear weapons in Iraq.” (“Secretary Of State Nominee Defends Iraq Policy Before Senate Panel, CNN, 1/19/05) ‘“Senator, We Can Have This Discussion In Any Way That You Would Like,’ Rice Replied. ‘But I Really Hope That You Will Refrain From Impugning My Integrity.’” (“Secretary Of State Nominee Defends Iraq Policy Before Senate Panel, CNN, 1/19/05)
Boxer Filed An Objection To The Certification Of Ohio’s 2004 Election Results. “Alleging widespread ‘irregularities’ on Election Day, a group of Democrats in Congress objected Thursday to the counting of Ohio’s 20 electoral votes, delaying the official certification of the 2004 presidential election results. The move was not designed to overturn the re-election of President Bush, said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and California Sen. Barbara Boxer, who filed the objection.” (“Democrats Challenge Ohio Electoral Votes,” CNN, 1/6/05) “It Is Only The Second Such Challenge Since The Current Rules For Counting Electoral Votes Were Established In 1877.” (“Democrats Challenge Ohio Electoral Votes,” CNN, 1/6/05)
Boxer voted against banning “partial-birth” abortion. (S. 3, Vote #402, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer Voted Against The $87 Billion For Iraq And Afghanistan. (S. 1689, Vote #400, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against $350 billion in tax cuts. (S. Con. Res. 23, Vote #108, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted to filibuster the nomination of Miguel Estrada. (Estrada Nomination, Vote #40, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against the use of force in Iraq. (H. J. Res. 114, Vote #237, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted against indefinitely extending the estate tax repeal. (H.R. 8, Vote #151, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion through fiscal 2011. (H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against a resolution calling for cutting taxes by $150 billion over five years and setting non-defense discretionary spending at $289.5 billion. (H. Con. Res. 290, Vote #85, 4/13/00, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against reducing federal taxes by $792 billion over 10 years. (S. 1429, Vote #247, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against overriding President Clinton’s veto of a bill banning “partial birth” abortions. (H.R. 1122, Vote #277, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against banning “partial birth” abortion. (H.R. 1122, Vote #71, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against a joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to balance the budget by the year 2002 or two years after ratification by three-fourths of the states, whichever is later. (S. J. Res. 1, Vote #24, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget. (H. J. Res. 1, Vote #158, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted to block a plan to allow tax-deductible medical savings accounts. (S. 1028, Vote #72, Boxer Voted Yea)
Boxer voted against granting the president line-item veto authority. (S. 4, Vote #56, Boxer Voted Nay)
Boxer voted against limiting punitive damages in product liability cases. (H.R. 956, Vote #46, Boxer Voted Nay)
Update Sources