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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.
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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.

McCollum's view of Iraq
Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-Minn., has returned from a trip to Iraq. During her visit, a wave of coordinated attacks took place, some targeting the Red Cross headquarters in Baghdad, killing more than 35 people. She also visited Mosul, in northern Iraq, where she and other members of her delegation with the House International Relations committee met with members of the 101st Airborne Division. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with McCollum.
Kennedy remarks on Iraq
Minnesota 6th district republican Congressman Mark Kennedy talks about his recent trip to Iraq, and the major issues facing Congress this fall.
Tolls for thee, Minnesota?
In the next couple of years, Minnesotans could be paying tolls to use certain metropolitan highway lanes. State and federal lawmakers are considering plans to charge lane fees to relieve congestion and fund new road projects. The proposal is part of a mix of highway development and financing plans announced by Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration and legislators from both parties.

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