Marcy Kaptur
Age: 78
Marcia Carolyn "Marcy" Kaptur (born June 17, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 9th congressional district, who has served since 1983. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district stretches from Kaptur's hometown of Toledo to Cleveland. It includes all of Ottawa and Erie counties, and parts of Lucas, Lorain and Cuyahoga counties.
Serving her seventeenth term in the House of Representatives, Kaptur is the dean of Ohio's congressional delegation, the longest-serving woman in the House and the second longest-serving ever after Edith Rogers. In Congress, she is tied for the second longest-serving woman with Senator Barbara Boxer, behind Senator Barbara Mikulski. She ranks 8th out of 435 members in seniority and serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Early life, education, and early political career
Kaptur was born on June 17, 1946 in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Anastasia Delores (née Rogowski) and Stephen Jacob Kaptur, both Polish Americans. Her mother was an automobile union organizer and her family operated a small grocery. Kaptur started volunteering with the Ohio Democratic Party when she was 13.
Kaptur graduated from St. Ursula Academy in 1964 and became the first member in her family to attend college. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968 and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan in 1974. She did post-graduate study in urban planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.
Kaptur served on the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions from 1969 to 1975. She was director of planning for the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs (1975-1977) founded by the late Msgr. Geno Baroni. She later served as a domestic policy advisor during President Jimmy Carter's Administration.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
While pursuing a doctorate in urban planning development finance at MIT, Kaptur was recruited to run for Congress in 1982 against freshman Republican Ed Weber, who had upset 26-year incumbent Lud Ashley two years earlier. Despite being outspent by almost 3-1, she defeated Weber 58%-39%. Although the 9th had traditionally been a Democratic bastion, Kaptur's win was considered a major upset.
In 1984, Kaptur faced a strong challenge from Republican Frank Venner, longtime anchorman and weatherman at WTVG, but defeated him 55%-44%, even as Ronald Reagan carried the district. Between 1984 and 2004, she won every election with at least 74% of the vote. In 2004, she faced her first serious opponent in 20 years in Lucas County auditor Larry Kaczala. However, Kaptur dispatched him fairly easily, winning by 68%-32%.
- 2006
Kaptur won her 13th term with 74% of the vote.
- 2008
Kaptur won her 14th term with 74% of the vote.
- 2010
Shortly after achieving fame during the 2008 election, conservative figure Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher announced that he was considering challenging Kaptur in the 2010 election. However, he chose not to run. Kaptur was instead challenged by Republican Rich Iott, a Tea Party movement favorite. Kaptur won re-election to her 15th term with 59% of the vote, which was her worst re-election performance since 1984.
- 2012
Redistricting after the 2010 census extended the 9th District all the way to western Cleveland. The new map put the home of incumbent 10th District congressman Dennis Kucinich into the 9th as well, so they ran against each other in the Democratic primary. Graham Veysey, a small-business owner from Cleveland, also ran in the primary. Kaptur won the primary with 56% of the vote, while Kucinich received 40%. In the general election, she won a 16th term against Republican Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher and Libertarian Sean Stipe.
- 2014
Kaptur's 2014 opponent was longtime Republican activist and leader from the West Side of Cleveland Richard May, who beat Lakewood resident Robert C. Horrocks, Jr. in the May 6 primary. Kaptur won 68%-32%.
Tenure
Kaptur is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She was once named "Most Valuable Member" of the House by The Nation. In 1996, Kaptur was asked by Ross Perot to be his vice-presidential running mate. She eventually declined.
Patent reform
Kaptur was a dedicated opponent of the America Invents Act that passed into law and changed the U.S. Patent System. Kaptur opposed changing from a "first to invent system" to a "first to file system," claiming it hurt small businesses. Kaptur stated "Our patent system is the finest in the world... the proposed solutions are special fixes that benefit these few giants at the expense of everyone else."
World War II Memorial
Responding to Roger Durbin, a World War II veteran and constituent, Kaptur first suggested the creation of a National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
On December 10, 1987, Kaptur introduced the World War II Memorial Act to the House of Representatives. The legislation authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a World War II memorial, however, as the bill was not voted on before the end of the session it failed to be enacted into law. Kaptur introduced similar legislation in 1989 and 1991 but these bills also failed to become law.
Kaptur introduced legislation for the fourth time on January 27, 1993. This time the legislation was voted on and passed in the House on May 10, 1993. After a companion bill was passed in the United States Senate, President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law on May 25, 1993. Durbin died before the memorial was built, but Kaptur spoke at the memorial dedication ceremony, along with Durbin's granddaughter, on May 29, 2004.
Kaptur later said that she felt "a great sense of fulfillment" that the memorial was finally built. "This generation was the most unselfish America has ever seen," she said. "They never asked anybody for anything in return."
On April 12, 2011 Marcy Kaptur introduced H.R. 1489 to restore the Glass-Steagall Act. It states "To repeal certain provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and revive the separation between commercial banking and the securities business, in the manner provided in the Banking Act of 1933, the so-called "Glass-Steagall Act", and for other purposes." There were 30 co-sponsors.
Abortion
Though generally perceived to be a liberal-to-progressive Democrat, Kaptur has taken generally moderate stances on the issue of abortion. She has voted in favor of some proposals to restrict access to abortion, while opposing some others. In January 2007, she was the only member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to vote against federally funding stem-cell research. Kaptur expressed support for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, an amendment to America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, and voted in favor of it on November 9. Kaptur was one of only sixteen Democrats to vote in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act on May 4, 2011. Kaptur also voted in favor of banning partial-birth abortions in 2000 and 2003. Kaptur voted against the Child Custody Protection Act in 1999 and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act in 2005. Kaptur voted against allowing privately funded abortions at overseas military hospitals twice in 1995, as well as 1997, 1998 and 1999. In 2005, Kaptur voted in favor of lifting the ban on abortions at overseas military hospitals.
Free trade
Kaptur is a staunch opponent of free trade agreements. She helped lead opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement, permanent normal trade relations for the People's Republic of China, and fast track authority for the president.
2008 economic crisis
Marcy Kaptur expressed strong opposition to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which provided a bailout for U.S. banks. Addressing Wall Street banks, she said, "You have perpetrated the greatest financial crimes ever on this American Republic."
She also stated, "America doesn't need to bail you out. It needs to secure real assets and property. Federal regional reserve banks should have a new job to help renegotiate . American people should get equity in any companies. Major job creation to rebuild our infrastructure. Regulate, we need a modern Glass-Steagall Act. Refinancing must return a major share of profits to a new Social Security and Medicare lock box."
Kaptur's opposition to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 was highlighted in Michael Moore's 2009 documentary Capitalism: A Love Story
The environment
Marcy Kaptur backed The American Clean Energy and Security Act in the U.S. House after she was able to insert an amendment that would authorize the Secretary of Energy to create power marketing authorities in regions where none exist. One such area would be the Great Lakes region. Kaptur said the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation could serve as the vehicle for administering up to $3.5 billion in borrowing authority to stimulate economic development through creation of green energy such as solar power and wind power. Kaptur said the $3.5 billion in borrowing authority would promote "regional equity" and serve as a powerful engine for job creation in a region that has suffered from high energy costs, especially expensive electricity.
Agriculture
Marcy Kaptur helped to protect the rights of chicken farmers to speak up about mistreatment and unfair practices. She helped to remove anti-Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (anti-GIPSA) language.
Other views
She has consistently supported military spending bills.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Appropriations
- United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water (ranking member)
- Subcommittee on Defense
- Subcommittee on Financial Services
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (co-chair)
- Congressional Caucus on Poland
- Congressional Caucus on Central and Eastern Europe
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Congressional United Kingdom Caucus
Electoral history
Year | Democratic | Votes | % | Republican | Votes | % | Third Party | Party | Votes | % | Third Party | Party | Votes | % | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | Marcy Kaptur | 95,162 | 58% | Ed Weber | 64,459 | 39% | Susan Skinner | Independent | 1,785 | 1% | James Somers | Independent | 1,594 | 1% | * | ||||
1984 | Marcy Kaptur | 117,985 | 55% | Frank Venner | 93,210 | 43% | Other | 3,714 | 2% | ||||||||||
1986 | Marcy Kaptur | 105,646 | 78% | Mike Shufeldt | 30,643 | 22% | |||||||||||||
1988 | Marcy Kaptur | 157,557 | 81% | Al Hawkins | 36,183 | 19% | |||||||||||||
1990 | Marcy Kaptur | 117,681 | 78% | Jerry Lammers | 33,791 | 22% | |||||||||||||
1992 | Marcy Kaptur | 178,879 | 74% | Ken Brown | 53,011 | 22% | Edward Howard | Independent | 11,162 | 5% | |||||||||
1994 | Marcy Kaptur | 118,120 | 75% | Randy Whitman | 38,665 | 25% | |||||||||||||
1996 | Marcy Kaptur | 170,617 | 77% | Randy Whitman | 46,040 | 21% | Elizabeth Slotnick | Natural Law | 4,677 | 2% | |||||||||
1998 | Marcy Kaptur | 130,793 | 81% | Edward Emery | 30,312 | 19% | |||||||||||||
2000 | Marcy Kaptur | 168,547 | 75% | Dwight Bryan | 49,446 | 22% | Galen Fries | Libertarian | 4,239 | 2% | Dennis Slotnick | Natural Law | 3,096 | 1% | |||||
2002 | Marcy Kaptur | 132,236 | 74% | Ed Emery | 46,481 | 26% | |||||||||||||
2004 | Marcy Kaptur | 205,149 | 68% | Larry Kaczala | 95,983 | 32% | |||||||||||||
2006 | Marcy Kaptur | 153,880 | 74% | Bradley Leavitt | 55,119 | 26% | |||||||||||||
2008 | Marcy Kaptur | 222,054 | 74% | Bradley Leavitt | 76,512 | 26% | |||||||||||||
2010 | Marcy Kaptur | 121,819 | 59% | Rich Iott | 83,423 | 41% | |||||||||||||
2012 | Marcy Kaptur | 217,771 | 73% | Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher | 68,668 | 23% | Sean Stipe | Libertarian | 11,725 | 4% | |||||||||
2014 | Marcy Kaptur | 108,870 | 68% | Richard May | 51,704 | 32% |
- In 1982, Libertarian Brian Muir also received less than one percent of the vote.