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| | ==Career== | | ==Career== |
| − | Corzine graduated from the University of Illinois (1969) and earned an MBA at the [[University of Chicago]] in 1973. Corzine worked in banking and in 1994 become Co-Chairman and CEO of the big Wall Street investment firm of [[Goldman Sachs]], alongside [[Henry Paulson]]. He retired in 1999 and entered politics. | + | Corzine grew up on the family farm in central Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois (1969); he earned an MBA at the [[University of Chicago]] in 1973. Corzine worked in banking and in 1994 become Co-Chairman and CEO of the big Wall Street investment firm of [[Goldman Sachs]], alongside [[Henry Paulson]]. In 1996-99, he earned $145 million (and paid $43 million in taxes, while giving $25 million to charity.) He retired in 1999 selling his shares for $300 million, and entered politics. |
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| | ==United States Senate== | | ==United States Senate== |
| − | In 2000, Jon Corzine was elected as the junior United States Senator from New Jersey, defeating Republican Congressman Robert Franks by 50% to 47%, after spending more money on a senatorial race then any other candidate in New Jersey history. With a net worth of over $71,000,000 he was the fourth richest member of the U.S. Senate. <ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/13/senators.finances/</ref> He was a member of the Committees on Banking, Intelligence, the Budget, and Energy and Natural Resources. Corzine sponsored 127 bills while in office, however 120 never made it out of committee and only one was successfully enacted. <ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300028</ref> In 2002, Corzine voted against authorizing [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] to go to war against [[Iraq]]. He chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2003-2005, during which Democrats lost 4 Senate seats.
| + | Corzine spent his way into office; his private foundation gave out $48 million to politically visible local groups in New Jersey. He spent $35 million in the 2000 primary. and in the fall race spent another $30 million with gambits like busing into New Jersey people from homeless shelters in the next state. He won 50%-47% thanks to big margins in the inner cities. He still had money left over, and became the fourth richest member of the U.S. Senate. <ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/13/senators.finances/</ref> He was a member of the Committees on Banking, Intelligence, the Budget, and Energy and Natural Resources. Corzine sponsored 127 bills while in office, however 120 never made it out of committee and only one was successfully enacted. <ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300028</ref> In 2002, Corzine voted against authorizing [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] to go to war against [[Iraq]]. He chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2003-2005, during which Democrats lost 4 Senate seats. |
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| | ==2005 Gubernatorial Campaign== | | ==2005 Gubernatorial Campaign== |
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| | ===Corruption and Scandals=== | | ===Corruption and Scandals=== |
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| − | Jon Corzine had a romantic relationship with Carla Katz, president of the Communications Workers of America, a major lanbor union. After living together for two years from 2002 through their breakup in 2004, Corzine paid a $6 million settlement. After Corzine was sworn in as Governor in 2006, Carla Katz maintained contact with him, despite her colleagues warning that the unusual multimillion-dollar settlement could result in a conflict of interest with union negotiations. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23carla.html?_r=1</ref> In 2007 an ethics panel ruled that labor negotiations did not violate the governor's code of conduct. In May 2008, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that at least 745 pages of e-mails between Corzine and Katz must be made public, however Corzine's lawyers appealed the decision. In March 2009 Katz was expelled from Communications Workers of America after she spent $138,000 on personal and political expenses in violation of union regulations. <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/carla_katz_will_have_radio_sho.html</ref> | + | Jon Corzine had a romantic relationship with Carla Katz, president of the Communications Workers of America, a major labor union. After living together for two years from 2002 through their breakup in 2004, Corzine paid a $6 million settlement. After Corzine was sworn in as Governor in 2006, Carla Katz maintained contact with him, despite her colleagues warning that the unusual multi-million-dollar settlement could result in a conflict of interest with union negotiations. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23carla.html?_r=1</ref> In 2007 an ethics panel ruled that labor negotiations did not violate the governor's code of conduct. In May 2008, the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that at least 745 pages of e-mails between Corzine and Katz must be made public, however Corzine's lawyers appealed the decision. In March 2009 Katz was expelled from Communications Workers of America after she spent $138,000 on personal and political expenses in violation of union regulations. <ref>http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/carla_katz_will_have_radio_sho.html</ref> |
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| | In July 2009 a major corruption probe led to the arrests of 44 New Jersey officials, in which 43 were Democrats. A member of Jon Corzine's cabinet, Commissioner of Community Affairs Joseph Doria was raided by the FBI. | | In July 2009 a major corruption probe led to the arrests of 44 New Jersey officials, in which 43 were Democrats. A member of Jon Corzine's cabinet, Commissioner of Community Affairs Joseph Doria was raided by the FBI. |