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'''Lamar Andrew Alexander''', born July 3, 1940 (age {{age|1940|7|3}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] from [[Tennessee]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]].

'''Lamar Andrew Alexander''', born July 3, 1940 (age {{age|1940|7|3}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] from [[Tennessee]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]].

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Lamar Alexander was born in Maryville, the son of a kindergarten teacher and an elementary school principal. He is a seventh generation Tennessean. Alexander graduated with a B.A. from Vanderbilt University where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1962 and from the [[New York]] University School of Law in 1965. After graduating from law school, Alexander clerked for [[United States]] Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit judge John Minor Wisdom in [[New Orleans]] from 1965 to 1966. He later worked as a staffer for Senator [[Howard Baker]] of Tennessee. Alexander is a classical and country pianist and the author of seven books.

Lamar Alexander was born in Maryville, the son of a kindergarten teacher and an elementary school principal. He is a seventh generation Tennessean. Alexander graduated with a B.A. from Vanderbilt University where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1962 and from the [[New York]] University School of Law in 1965. After graduating from law school, Alexander clerked for [[United States]] Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit judge John Minor Wisdom in [[New Orleans]] from 1965 to 1966. He later worked as a staffer for Senator [[Howard Baker]] of Tennessee. Alexander is a classical and country pianist and the author of seven books.

[[Image:000lamaralexander.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lamar Alexander with Senate Republicans, 07/16/09]]In 2002, Lamar Alexander ran for the open seat of retiring Senator [[Fred Thompson]]. Seen as a moderate Republican by Tennessee standards, his candidacy for the GOP nomination was challenged by conservatives who supported Congressman Ed Bryant. However, Alexander went on to win the Republican primary and the general election. Making him the only Tennessean ever to be popularly elected both governor and United States Senator. Alexander was easily reelected in 2008 with 67% of the vote. Senator Alexander is the third ranking Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee responsible for overseeing the Tennessee Valley Authority as well as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and is a member of the Senate Rules committee. In the 110th Congress, Alexander unsuccessfully ran for Senate Minority Whip, losing by one vote to Senator [[Trent Lott]] of [[Mississippi]].

[[Image:000lamaralexander.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lamar Alexander with Senate Republicans, 07/16/09]]In 2002, Lamar Alexander ran for the open seat of retiring Senator [[Fred Thompson]]. Seen as a moderate Republican by Tennessee standards, his candidacy for the GOP nomination was challenged by conservatives who supported Congressman Ed Bryant. However, Alexander went on to win the Republican primary and the general election. Making him the only Tennessean ever to be popularly elected both governor and United States Senator. Alexander was easily reelected in 2008 with 67% of the vote. Senator Alexander is the third ranking Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee responsible for overseeing the Tennessee Valley Authority as well as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and is a member of the Senate Rules committee. In the 110th Congress, Alexander unsuccessfully ran for Senate Minority Whip, losing by one vote to Senator [[Trent Lott]] of [[Mississippi]].

Lamar Alexander's voting record in the U.S. Senate is generally conservative. Since 2003, he has voted with his Republican colleagues 81% of the time. <ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000360/</ref> Alexander voted against the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. "A number of things have been said about the so-called stimulus package, which I feel, many of us feel, is more of a spending bill than a stimulus bill. But there is no doubt about the fact that it increases our national debt." <ref>https://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=441175&keyword=&phrase=&contain=?q=print</ref> Alexander has also expressed concerns over [[Democrat]]'s government run health care initiatives. "This is the wrong first step on health care reform because it sets the stage for higher state taxes, more federal debt, government-run health care and Medicare cuts—and still leaves many Americans uninsured." <ref>http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=468afdb8-1f82-4103-b7bc-e62af19698fb</ref> However, he broke with his party after voting to confirm [[Sonia Sotomayor]] to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].

Lamar Alexander's voting record in the U.S. Senate is generally conservative. Since 2003, he has voted with his Republican colleagues 81% of the time.<ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000360/</ref> Alexander voted against the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. "A number of things have been said about the so-called stimulus package, which I feel, many of us feel, is more of a spending bill than a stimulus bill. But there is no doubt about the fact that it increases our national debt." <ref>https://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=441175&keyword=&phrase=&contain=?q=print</ref> Alexander has also expressed concerns over [[Democrat]]'s government run health care initiatives. "This is the wrong first step on health care reform because it sets the stage for higher state taxes, more federal debt, government-run health care and Medicare cuts—and still leaves many Americans uninsured." <ref>http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=468afdb8-1f82-4103-b7bc-e62af19698fb</ref> However, he broke with his party after voting to confirm [[Sonia Sotomayor]] to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].

In October 2009 Alexander stated that he sees similarities between the [[Obama administration]] and [[Richard Nixon]], in that the White House is creating an "enemies list" that includes the [[Fox News Channel]], the health insurance industry, and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]]. <ref>http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/10/21/alexander/</ref>

In October 2009 Alexander stated that he sees similarities between the [[Obama administration]] and [[Richard Nixon]], in that the White House is creating an "enemies list" that includes the [[Fox News Channel]], the health insurance industry, and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/10/21/alexander/</ref>

==External links==

==External links==

[[Category:United States Senators]]

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[[Category:Republican Governors]]

[[Category:Republican Governors]]

[[Category: 111th United States Congress]]

[[Category:111th United States Congress]]

[[Category: 112th United States Congress]]

[[Category:112th United States Congress]]

[[Category: 113th United States Congress]]

[[Category:113th United States Congress]]

[[Category: 114th United States Congress]]

[[Category:114th United States Congress]]

[[Category:Tennessee Governors]]

[[Category:Tennessee Governors]]

[[Category:RINOs]]

[[Category:RINOs]]