Jim Oberstar

Jim Oberstar currently serves the 8th Congressional district of Minnesota

James Louis Oberstar has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1975, representing the 8th District of Minnesota. The district is based in Duluth and includes most of the northeastern part of the state. (map)

Record and controversy

Voting record

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Jim Oberstar voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Bio

Background

Oberstar was born September 10, 1934 in Chisholm, where he still lives today. He received his B.A. at the College of St. Thomas (now the University of St. Thomas) in St. Paul. He also received a Master's degree in European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, with further study at Laval University in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada and Georgetown University. He spent four years as a civilian language teacher in the United States Marine Corps, teaching English to Haitian military personnel and French to American Marine officers and noncommissioned officers.

Congressional Career

Oberstar served as chief staff assistant to 8th District Congressman John Blatnik for 12 years. When Blatnik didn't run for reelection in 1974, he endorsed Oberstar as his successor. Oberstar won handily in November and has been reelected 15 times without serious difficulty. Although the 8th is not considered safe for either party, the Democrats--in the persons of Blatnik and Oberstar--have held the seat since 1947. His lowest winning percentage was 59 percent in 1992, but since then has not earned less than 65 percent of the vote. He was elected to his 16th term in 2004, making him the longest serving member of either house of Congress in Minnesota's history.

Positions and Views

Oberstar is an internationally recognized expert on aviation and aviation safety. He has served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since his first term, and is currently its ranking Democrat. Blatnik had chaired the committee during his last two terms in Congress (when it was known as the Public Works Committee), with Oberstar served as staff administrator. Oberstar was a member of the President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism (PCAST) which was set up in September 1989 to review and report on aviation security policy in the light of the sabotage of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988. An avid cyclist, Oberstar has been a champion of creating trails for cycling and hiking to promote healthy living and more active lifestyles. In 2005 he authored and had passed the Safe Routes to Schools act, a $200 million program that helps school districts address the growing problem of childhood obesity by building biking and walking paths to schools, hiring crossing guards and promoting safety programs.

Oberstar generally has a liberal voting record, but is pro-life on abortion and opposes gun control.

2006 elections

In 2006, Republicans nominated Rod Grams to face Oberstar in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [1] Oberstar retained his seat.

Money in politics This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. Campaign contributions The following is drawn from government records of campaign contributions to Jim Oberstar. Campaign contributions are one of the most direct conduits for influencing members of Congress. How to use this information. Source: Federal Election Commission <crpcontribdata>cid=N00001806&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata> Links to more campaign contribution information for Jim Oberstar from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site. Fundraising profile: 2006 election cycle Career totals Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2006 election cycle Career totals Top contributors by industry: 2006 election cycle Career totals Revolving door The "revolving door" refers to the passage of staffers between government and industry employment. Former staff for members of Congress often use the connections and knowledge they gained as public employees to help their new employers – often lobbying firms – influence their former employers and institutions. Revolving door profile for Jim Oberstar from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website. Privately funded travel The following is drawn from Jim Oberstar's travel disclosure forms. Corporations and other organizations can pay for trips by members of Congress and their staff as long as it is related to official business (though some trips have been glorified junkets). How to use this information. 2006 privately funded travel profile for Jim Oberstar from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website. Personal finances The following is drawn from Jim Oberstar's personal financial disclosure forms. Close study of the data has often revealed conflicts of interest by members of Congress. How to use this information. Personal finance profile for Jim Oberstar from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Chair
  • Subcommittee on Aviation -Ex Officio
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation -Ex Officio
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management -Ex Officio
  • Subcommittee on Highways, Transit & Pipelines -Ex Officio
  • Subcommittee on Railroads -Ex Officio
  • Water Resources & Environment -Ex Officio

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure - Ranking Minority Member

Coalitions and Caucuses

• Bike Caucus
• Caucus for Sustainable Development
• Congressional Human Rights Caucus
• Congressional Steel Caucus
• Co-Chair, Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
• Democratic Homeland Security Task Force
• Executive Committee, Democratic Study Group
• Co-Chair, Great Lakes Task Force
• House Democratic At-Large Whip
• International Relations Committee (On Leave)
• Medical Technology Caucus
• Mississippi River Caucus
• Native American Caucus
• Renewable Energy Caucus
• Upper Mississippi Task Force

Boards and other Affiliations

• Board Member, Board of Trustees, Kennedy Center, 1995-present
• Board Member, Mineta I.I.STPS Institute, San Jose State, 1995-present.

More Background Data

• Background information on Jim Oberstar from Project Vote Smart

• Interest group scorecard ratings for Jim Oberstar from Project Vote Smart

• Voting record for Jim Oberstar from the Washington Post database

• Information on Jim Oberstar from Congress Merge

Wikipedia also has an article on Jim Oberstar. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2308
Phone: 202-225-6211
Fax: 202-225-0699
Web Email
Website

District Office- Brainerd
Brainerd City Hall
501 Laurel Street
Brainerd, MN 56401-3525
Phone: 218-828-4400
Fax: 218-828-1412

District Office- Chisholm:
Chisholm City Hall
316 Lake Street
Chisholm, MN 55719
Phone: 218-254-5761
Fax: 218-254-5132

District Office- Duluth:
Duluth Federal Building, Room 231
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 218-727-7474
TTYD Number: 218-727-7474
Fax: 218-727-8270

District Office- North Branch:
38625 14th Avenue, Suite 300B
North Branch, MN 55056
Phone: 651-277-1234
Fax: 651-277-1235

Articles and Resources

• Official website
• Campaign website
• Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

• Centrisity
• MN Publius.com