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Candidate Bio
Martin Sabo
Political affiliation:
Democratic Party
Born:
February 28, 1938
Crosby, N.D.
Personal:
Married to Sylvia Sabo. Two children. Resides in Minneapolis. Lutheran.
Occupation:
Congressman from the 5th District.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in history and a minor in political science from Augsburg College in 1959
Major political experience:
Served in the Minnesota House, 1960-78, including one term as minority leader and five years as speaker. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1978 and was re-elected to 11 consecutive terms.
Audio and Debates
Links and Resources
House Web site:
Document www.house.gov/sabo/
Campaign 2002: Martin Sabo
Document Coverage of Sabo's re-election bid
Campaign contributors:
Document Political Money Line
Candidate Pages
District Pages

Martin Sabo

SNAPSHOT
Martin Sabo is known for his ability to bring life to policy decisions through the budget and appropriations process. He rose in the ranks of Congress to chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee when former chairman Leon Panetta was appointed director of the Office of Management and Budget by President Clinton. But Sabo lost his chairmanship shortly afterward when the Republicans took over the House in the 1994 elections.

His down-to-earth demeanor often masks a brilliant knowledge of legislative and congressional affairs. He helped to bring home a $750,000 grant to beef-up the Minneapolis-area police force and about $1 million in federal funds for a state program to enable senior citizens to receive nursing care in their homes instead of going to expensive nursing homes.

Elected to the state House at the age of 22, he served as speaker there for five years before he was elected to the U.S. House to succeed liberal Rep. Donald Fraser, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.

In 1998, Sabo worked to force corporations to close the gap in pay between their top executives and rank-and-file workers. He sponsored legislation that would tie the corporate tax deduction for executive salaries to the pay of a company's rank-and-file workers.

Sabo, the son of Norwegian immigrants, also helped push through funding for a light rail system for the Minneapolis area in 1998. He also used his position as the ranking Democrat on a House Appropriations subcommittee to get an agreement that Congress would fully fund the $334 million federal share of the Twin Cities' light rail project over the next few years. The agreement was the culmination of years of effort to secure federal money for light rail.

Sabo has supported a woman's right to an abortion and opposed the death penalty. He also serves on the House Standards of Official Conduct Committee.

Martin Sabo was first elected to the U.S. House in 1978, defeating Republican Michael Till with 62 percent of the vote. He was re-elected to seven consecutive terms by wide margins, defeating Republican Raymond C. Gilbertson in 1990 with 73 percent of the vote and in 1992, he defeated Republican Stephen Moriarty with 69 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1994 with 62 percent, defeating Republican Dorothy LeGrand. In 1996, he was re-elected with 64 percent of the vote against Republican Jack Uldrich. In 1998, Sabo defeated Republican Frank Taylor with 67 percent of the vote and again in 2000 with 69 percent. Taylor was a longtime teacher in Minneapolis public schools and the Republican Party's endorsed candidate. In 2002, he defeated Republican Daniel Mathias by a 67-to-26-percent margin.

In 2004, Sabo easily won re-election over Republican Daniel Mathias and Green Party candidate Jay Pond. Sabo received 70% of the votes that were cast; one of the largest margins in his political career. See 5th District election results.

Wetterling's popularity no guarantee she can win in the 6th District
Missing childrens' advocate Patty Wetterling popularity gives her a big boost in the 6th Congressional District, but she'll need more than name recognition to win and unseat Republican incumbent Mark Kennedy.
McCollum carving out niche on African AIDS crisis
Rep. Betty McCollum has traveled twice to Africa in the past year, government records show, working on AIDS issues and elevating her stature in Congress in the process. The trips by McCollum, a St. Paul Democrat, were the most high-profile privately funded travel of any Minnesota House member, travel records reviewed by The Associated Press found.
Republican congressman responds to Kerry visit
Democrats are not the only ones interested in John Kerry's visit to Minnesota. Republicans in the state are also watching the presumptive Democratic candidate for president closely as they try to help president Bush win the state's 10 electoral votes. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy, who represents the 6th Congressional District. Kennedy has been a strong supporter of President Bush.
Kennedy has company in the 6th District
Patty Wetterling, an advocate for missing and exploited children, is a DFL candidate in Minnesota 6th District. Wetterling's campaign says she filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and will start raising money right away. Wetterling is one of several candidates who will be seeking the Democratic nomination to run in the 6th District. Whoever wins the nomination will face Republican incumbent Mark Kennedy.
Wetterling mulling run for Congress
Patty Wetterling is thinking about running for Congress this fall to oust Republican Mark Kennedy. Wetterling is nationally known for the way she responded to the 1989 abduction of her son Jacob who's still missing. She helped create the Jacob Wetterling Foundation to push child safety issues at the state capitol, and in Washington, D.C. The DFL party has been recruiting her for the past couple of weeks to run in the Sixth Congressional District which stretches from the suburbs of the Twin Cities, up to St. Cloud. If she does decide to run, she will have to secure the DFL endorsement before a possible matchup against Kennedy. At least one other DFLer, Ted Thompson, has already announced his intention to get the DFL endorsement. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Patty Wetterling.
Rep. John Kline discusses the violence in Iraq
Another U.S. Marine has been killed in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. Meantime, Shiite Muslim militias now have at least partial control over three southern Iraqi cities. What should the U.S.-led coalition do to end the violence?
Congressman Kline still supports Iraq war
One year ago, the United States started the war that eventually ousted Saddam Hussein from Iraq. In the time since the bombs first fell, politicians, activists, and citizens have debated the decision to go to war and its consequences. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Republican Congressman John Kline.
Minnesota suing North Dakota over hunting laws
Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch and Rep. Collin Peterson are suing the state of North Dakota over hunting restrictions. A North Dakota law passed last year restricts the first week of the waterfowl hunting season to North Dakota residents only. Hatch says the law discriminates against Minnesotans and other nonresidents.
Sturrock to challenge Peterson in 7th District
Southwest Minnesota State University professor David Sturrock said Tuesday that he'll run against 7th District Congressman Collin Peterson.
Minnesota congressional reaction to the State of the Union
Both Democrats and Republicans are reacting to the president's State of the Union address. In a nationally televised speech, Bush outlined his domestic priorities for the country and called on Americans to stand behind him in the war on terror. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with two members of Minnesota's congressional delegation -- Republican John Kline and Democrat Betty McCollum.
John Thune challenges Daschle for U.S. Senate
Some political analysts say South Dakota's race for the United State Senate just became the closest watched race in the nation. Former Republican congressman John Thune announced his intentions to challenge Democratic leader Tom Daschle. Thune ran against Senator Tim Johnson in 2002 and lost by just over 500 votes.
Does Mark Kennedy have higher goals?
Some of the biggest political speculation in Minnesota has nothing to do with the 2004 election. Instead, it's looking ahead to 2006 when DFL incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton is up for re-election. One of the names most often mentioned as a Republican who might challenge Dayton is 6th District Congressman Mark Kennedy, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000.
Kennedy on toll roads and current events
Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn. talks about his proposal to ease traffic congestion with toll roads, and other issues facing Congress. He also takes listener questions.
Rep. McCollum back from Iraq
Congresswoman Betty McCollum recently returned from a three-day fact-finding trip to Iraq, amidst a wave of violence in Baghdad. McCollum says there is an opportunity for democracy, stability and economic prosperity for Iraq. She says military leaders report some successes, but she says they tell her sometimes it feels like two steps forward and one step back. We talk with her about her trip.
The prescription drug wars
Elected leaders from every level of government and seven states, including Minnesota, gathered Tuesday to add fuel to what they believe is a growing national crusade to make lower-cost Canadian drugs available to American citizens. We hear President Bush's announcement about medicare and prescription drugs, and then discuss the state's plan to make it easier for people to get prescription drugs from Canada.

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