Sen Jeff Bingaman, Least Known Pro-Peace Senator

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) may the least nationally known staunch pro-peace member of the US Senate. And he surely is the least nationally known four-term senator.

But you should know more about Senator Jeff Bingaman, because we sorely need to retain his discerning leadership in the US Senate. He's up for reelection in 2006, and while pundits deem his Senate seat "safe" for Democrats, we can't take it for granted.

He was one of 23 senators who had the wisdom and courage in October 2002 to vote against the Iraq War. This week, he voted YES on the Warner amendment to force Bush Administration accountability on the Iraq War, and he also voted YES on the Levin amendment to force the Bush administration to set a time table for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Furious at Senate moves to strip enemy combatants of legal rights of recourse for illegal detentions, Senator Bingaman put forth an amendment tthis week to ensure legal due process rights to enemy combatants held in error by the US. The Bingaman amendment failed by a party-line vote of 44-54.

In 2002, Bingaman tried to block funding the the new "bunker-buster" nuclear weapon sought by the Bush Administration. And in 2003, Bingaman proposed legislation to force the Bush Administration to report all names of enemy combatants held by the US.

But his considerable efforts are not limited to the Iraq War. As the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, he's an avid supporter for energy conservation, and serves as vice-chair of the Alliance to Save Energy. He's also fought vociferously to preserve our environment.

Senator Bingaman has a strong pro-choice voting record and supports embryonic stem cell research. And Bingaman, the son of a college science professor and the recipient of numerous science education awards, is regarded by many as the "science" senator. He once said in a speech, "A policy that is not based on sound science is not wise."

So why is this progressive, pro-peace, pro-choice, pro-public education senator little known on the national political stage?

OK, I know you won't you won't believe this but here goes.............he's one senator who shuns the limelight. He's not shy, just self-effacing. Said a fellow legislator of Jeff Bingaman, "He is the last to grab a microphone and the first to offer it to a colleague."

Be sure to read my Profile of Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. And let's get behind him to make sure he wins a fifth senatorial term in 2006.
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