People in the news

John Adler

Former U.S. Representative (January 2009 to January 2011)

(House office)

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: New Jersey state Senate (1992-2008); Attorney, private practice (2000-2008); Cherry Hill Town Council (1988-1989)
Birthday: August 23, 1959
Hometown: Haddonfield, N.J.
Alma Mater: Harvard University, B.A. 1981; Harvard Law School, J.D. 1984
Spouse: Shelley

Religion: Jewish
Committees: Financial Services; Veterans Affairs
DC Office: 1223 Longworth House Office Building, 202-225-4765
State/District Office: Toms River, 732-608-7235; Marlton, 856-985-2777
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Path to Power

Born in 1959 in Philadelphia, Adler was raised in nearby Haddonfield, N.J., where his father ran a dry cleaning business. Adler's father died of heart trouble while Adler was in junior high, leaving the family struggling to survive.

Social Security benefits kept Adler and his mother afloat. He eventually earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University.

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The Issues

Adler refers to himself as a "Main Street Democrat," a distinction he uses to separate himself from more conservative Blue Dogs as well as liberals.Through April 2010, Adler had voted with his party 91 percent of the time in the 111th Congress.

In his waning years as a state senator, Adler opposed then-Gov. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) on many issues. Adler dissented from the governor's 2008 plan to raise road tolls to cover the state's deficit. The previous year, Adler asked the state attorney general to investigate whether Corzine had paid his ex-girlfriend's brother-in-law to step down from a government position.

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After winning his House seat in 2008, Adler said he hoped to see an immediate withdrawal of some troops from Iraq who could be sent to Afghanistan, but wasn't supportive of setting a firm date.

Adler's first bill called for giving a $500 tax rebate to seniors and veterans. Adler took credit for a provision in the February 2009 economic stimulus measure that distributed $250 to seniors and veterans.

In January 2006, Adler's "Smoke Free Air Act" was enacted while he was a state legislator; it banned smoking in New Jersey's bars and restaurants.

Health-Care Reform

Adler voted against both versions of the health-care reform bill, becoming the only New Jersey Democratic dissenter.

After opposing the November 2009 House version of the bill, which Adler said was too expensive, he said he supported ending tax exemptions for the most prominent plans, offering incentives for people to lose weight or lower blood pressure and paying doctors for outcomes not number of procedures. Still, Adler did voice approval for provisions included in the House bill, including the public option.

Adler opposed the version of the bill enacted in March 2010, despite pleas from President Obama. Adler said his district was "overwhelmingly against the bill," saying he was holding out for a bill with cost controls.

Taxes

In 2007, Adler was one of four state Senate Democrats who opposed a successful bill giving New Jersey homeowners $2.3 billion in property tax relief. Adler opposed the measure on grounds that the money to pay for the credit might not exist in the future.

After being elected to the House, Adler said he disagreed with Obama's proposal to roll back the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for those earning $250,000 or more. "It's simply successful middle class, so I don't embrace the president-elect's income threshold for some of his tax ideas," Adler said.

Veterans' and Military Issues

Adler, who represents a district home to several military installations such as McGuire Air Force Base and Fort Dix, has advocated for equal pay for base employees, where cost-of-living adjustments are based on living in New York City or Philadelphia.

The Network

Adler was one of 34 House Democrats to oppose the March 2010 vote on health-care reform. Other members of that group include: Reps. Jason Altmire (Pa.), Michael Arcuri (N.Y.), Mike McMahon (N.Y.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.).

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