| − | '''Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens''' (born November 18, 1923) is a former [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Alaska]]. He is a [[liberal]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] having a pro-[[abortion]] voting record. Among [[conservatives]] he is known as a "[[RINO]]" who has long favored more government spending, particularly for his own state.<ref>Stevens' lifetime ACU rating is only 64.45, far lower than [[John McCain]]'s rating of 82.16. Most [[conservatives]] rank over 90 on this rating.</ref> | + | '''Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens''' (born November 18, 1923, died August 9, 2010) is a former [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Alaska]]. He is a [[liberal]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] having a pro-[[abortion]] voting record. Among [[conservatives]] he is known as a "[[RINO]]" who has long favored more government spending, particularly for his own state.<ref>Stevens' lifetime ACU rating is only 64.45, far lower than [[John McCain]]'s rating of 82.16. Most [[conservatives]] rank over 90 on this rating.</ref> |
| | As the longest serving [[Republican]] in the Senate, Stevens served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2007. Stevens chaired the Senate [[Appropriations Committee]] from 1997 to 2005, except for the 18 months when [[Democrat]]s controlled the chamber. The chairmanship gave Stevens considerable influence over fellow Senators, who relied on him for home-state project funds. | | As the longest serving [[Republican]] in the Senate, Stevens served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2007. Stevens chaired the Senate [[Appropriations Committee]] from 1997 to 2005, except for the 18 months when [[Democrat]]s controlled the chamber. The chairmanship gave Stevens considerable influence over fellow Senators, who relied on him for home-state project funds. |
| | According to Republican Senate caucus rules, Stevens resigned from his post as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. On October 27, Stevens was found guilty on all 7 counts of corruption. On April 1, 2009, the Justice department filed a motion to drop its case against Stevens. Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] decided to abandon the case due to prosecutorial misconduct. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/01/doj-sources-say-case-dropped-ex-sen-ted-stevens/ Justice Department Files Motion to Drop Case Against Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens], Mike Levine, ''FOXNews.com'', April 01, 2009</ref> <ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102589818 Justice Dept. Seeks To Void Stevens' Conviction], Nina Totenberg, ''NPR'', April 01, 2009</ref> | | According to Republican Senate caucus rules, Stevens resigned from his post as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. On October 27, Stevens was found guilty on all 7 counts of corruption. On April 1, 2009, the Justice department filed a motion to drop its case against Stevens. Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] decided to abandon the case due to prosecutorial misconduct. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/01/doj-sources-say-case-dropped-ex-sen-ted-stevens/ Justice Department Files Motion to Drop Case Against Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens], Mike Levine, ''FOXNews.com'', April 01, 2009</ref> <ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102589818 Justice Dept. Seeks To Void Stevens' Conviction], Nina Totenberg, ''NPR'', April 01, 2009</ref> |