Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.)

U.S. Senator (since January 2007)

(Sarah L. Voisin/TWP)

Why He Matters

With more than 40 years of political experience under his belt, Cardin is known on the Hill and in his home state of Maryland as a "nuts-and-bolts-guy" who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in unglamorous political issues: tax law, pensions, and ethics as well as the more headline-grabbing environment, heath-care, and national security.

Propelled into politics while still in law school, Cardin spent 20 years in the Maryland House of Delegates-eight of them as speaker-and another 20 in the U.S. House before becoming Maryland's junior senator in 2006. His legislative accomplishments include Medicare and Social Security reform, an overhaul of Maryland's state pension system and reform of ethics issues.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: U.S. Representative (1987-2007); Maryland House of Delegates, 42nd District (1967-1987)
Birthday: October 4, 1943
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Alma Mater: University of Pittsburgh, B.A., 1964; University of Maryland, J.D., 1967
Spouse: Myrna Edelman Cardin
Religion: Jewish
Committees: Environment and Public Works ; Finance ; Foreign Relations ; Small Business and Entrepreneurship ; Budget
DC Office: 509 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510202-224-4524

State Offices: Baltimore, 410-962-4436; Bowie, 301-860-0414; Salisbury, 410-546-4250; Cumberland, 301-777-2957
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Path to Power

Cardin grew up in Baltimore, Md., steeped in politics. His father served in the Maryland House of Delegates for four years and later became a circuit judge; his uncle, Maurice, served in the State House as well. Cardin's older brother Howard served as Baltimore's state attorney.

"We grew up in politics," he told the Washington Post during his Senate campaign. "When I was 7 years old, I was on the corner handing out literature. . . . There were political meetings going on all the time. In our house. In other people's houses." At 10 years old, he passed out leaflets to get his uncle elected.

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While still in law school, uncle Maurice retired from the House of Delegates. The family wanted a Cardin on the ticket, and they asked Ben, then 23, to run. On the day of the election, Cardin stood outside the polls with his uncle. "People kept coming up to me and saying, 'I voted for you again,' " Maurice Cardin said.

Maryland House of Delegates

Cardin quickly assumed a seat on the powerful state Ways and Means committee and rapidly distinguished himself as a tax wizard. By age 34, he was speaker of the Maryland House, the youngest one in 100 years.

Cardin has repeatedly attempted to run for Governor of Maryland. He raised over $500,000 for a 1985 campaign that never made it past the starting gate, was encouraged in 1993 by Democratic activists to run again, and made a third attempt in 1997, then withdrew when he realized how tough the race would be. As a member of Maryland's House, and later representing Maryland's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House, Cardin typically faced little opposition for re-election to those seats in the heavily-Democratic areas. Rather than take a gamble, Cardin chose to stay put.

2006 Senate Race

But in 2005, when Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) announced his retirement, Cardin entered that race along with former Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), the then-president of the NAACP, and now-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who was then lieutenant governor of Maryland. The Democratic Senate primary was the first close election Cardin had faced, but aggressive fundraising ($1.6 million to Mfume's 300,000) and heavy campaigning in Prince George's County earned him a place on the general election ballot.

A divisive campaign followed. Cardin and GOP nominee Steele ran negative ads: Cardin's displayed a picture of Steele and then-President George W. Bush in a heart-shaped frame, saying Mr. Steele "likes puppies, but he loves President Bush." Steele's response accused Cardin of taking excessive special-interest money.

In one particularly controversial move, staffers at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee illegally downloaded Steele's credit report; a researcher obtained Steele's Social Security number and used the research director's credit card to pay for the report. In TV and direct mail advertisements, Steele attempted to link Cardin to the misdeed. One fundraising letter said: "From stealing my credit report to endless personal attacks, Congressman Cardin just can't seem to have a real debate on the issues important to our state."

In the November 7, 2006 election, Cardin won with 54.2 percent of the vote.

The Issues

A lifetime Democrat, Cardin has voted with his party 100 percent of the time in the 111th Congress. In the past, he has broken with his party on issues such as the renewal of the USA Patriot Act, which strengthens law enforcement's methods for monitoring suspected terrorists.

Cardin spent years mired in the intricacies of tax law and Social Security as a first a member of, then chairman of, the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee; in the U.S. House he also served on the Ways and Means Committee. As a senator, however, his priorities for the 111th Congress have shifted in line with President Obama's agenda. Cardin is emphasizing health-care reform, education, the environment, and energy independence.

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The Economy

Cardin called the February 2009 economic stimulus package "well balanced between tax cuts and investments that will put Marylanders to work immediately and invest in our future" on a statement on his Web site.He is a strong supporter of rescinding the bonus money to executives at insurance company AIG. "I find it unconscionable that the very individuals at the heart of the credit-default swap problems that have wreaked havoc not only at AIG, but in the economy generally, should be rewarded for their 'efforts.' Taxpayers have ponied up $170 billion to prevent A.I.G. from collapsing and now own nearly 80 percent of the company," he said.

Health Care

A champion of Medicare reform, Cardin has sponsored or endorsed a number of Medicare-related bills.

His Medicare Preventive Services Coverage Act of 2007, which expanded Medicare's coverage to include mammograms, prostate screenings, and osteoporosis screenings, was enacted into law.

Legislation to repeal a cap on physical-therapy costs introduced in 2003 was less successful; variations on this bill have resurfaced in Congress recently but have not yet gotten the required votes.Cardin has also fought against Medicare's drug discount cards, calling them ineffective, and voted against the costly Drug Modernization Act of 2003 that expanded Medicare's benefits to cover prescription drugs.

Yet he has advocated for stronger prescription drug coverage under Medicare using a "bulk buying" system., In 2007, Cardin introduced short-lived legislation that would have provided universal health care to all Americans.

Cardin supports legislation that contains a strong public option that is available from day one.

The Environment

Cardin co-sponsored the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act defeated in summer 2008, which would require a 70 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050, and the Reducing Global Warming Pollution from Vehicles Act introduced in January 2008 which would have allowed 15 states to adopt California's emissions standards. He has also said he favors public transportation initiatives to push drivers from their cars to buses.

Social Security

Cardin's bold proposals to reform Social Security have sometimes sparked controversy. His legislation to increase the amount Americans could put in IRAs and 401(k) plans passed overwhelmingly in 2001.But his 1999 proposal that would have allowed voluntary overpayments into a government-managed stock portfolio never made it out of the starting gate.

The Network

Cardin's allies include Maryland's senior senator, Barbara Mikulski (D). He received then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)'s endorsement during his Senate run and returned the favor by endorsing Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.

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