From her days organizing her California neighbors to her
leadership role in Senate efforts to curb greenhouse gases, Boxer is
an impassioned defender of liberal ideas.
A darling of the left, Boxer is a fervent advocate of
environmental and women's causes, speaking out on everything from
the Iraq war to a woman's right to choose.
Her legislative record is sparse - only a handful of bills
authored by Boxer have become law. Critics say this is because she
is unwilling to compromise. But Boxer defends her record, saying
that her fierce critiques raise the level of debate. The 4'11"
senator even carries around a "Barbara box" so that she
can reach microphone level.
As chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,
Boxer is trying to shepherd a major climate bill through the Senate
with the aim of reducing the effects of climate change. The task is
daunting - ranking minority member Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has
called climate change the "greatest hoax" ever perpetrated
on the American people. Efforts to pass a cap-and-trade bill stalled
in Senate in the 111th Congress after passing in the House in June
2009.
Boxer was elected to the Senate in 1992 after ten years in the
House. She had a close reelection race in 1998, but has won handily
ever since. In 2004, she garnered 57 percent of the vote. In 2010,
Boxer defeated former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (R) in a
very competitive race.
More on: Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
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