Senate Report Card: Carl Levin D-MI

Carl Levin is the senior Democratic Senator from the state of Michigan. Senator Carl Levin is serving his fifth term in the Senate and will be running for his sixth term in 2008. He is widely viewed as a respected leader of the Democratic Party. He is the longest serving senator in the history of Michigan.

Senator Levin is the chairman of the Armed Service Committee, of particular importance at a time when the United States is bogged down in an unpopular Iraq War. He also serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Intelligence and Small Business Committees.

A supporter of the Department of Education, Levin has offered various legislation to improve the education system. He notably introduced a piece of legislation that would reduce class sizes. He hesitantly sponsored the No Child Left Behind Act put forth by the Bush administration. Since sponsoring it he has made repeated calls to examine the effectiveness and effects of the act. He was highly critical of the cuts to the final act, mainly those that cut funding for children with disabilities.

Coming from the state of Michigan and the automobile manufacturing heart of the country, Levin opposed raising mandatory automobile efficiency standards. He has worked with members of Congress for years to develop a comprehensive energy bill. He fought to ban drilling in the Great Lakes.

Senator Levin is working to stop garbage from Canada being deposited in Michigan. He created legislation that would create programs to develop research and construction of fuel-cell vehicles for improved environmental standards.

Senator Carl Levin voted against sending troops to Iraq, and since the beginning of the war, has called on the Bush administration to provide a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. He has directed the Armed Services Committee to examine objectivity and credibility of intelligence prior to the war, that was used as a tool to convince Congress and the public at large to support the Iraq invasion. He is highly concerned with further escalation of military operations in Iraq and involvement in any other invasions or military action in other countries.

Under his leadership, the United States shut down various military installations and cut down on military infrastructure in favor of concentrating bases in the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act, which closed various bases around the country.

He has worked to improve communication between first responders after the September 11th attacks. He has fought for intelligence accountability. Levin helped to bring improved security to high risk flights with the use of air marshals.

Levin has worked with colleagues to support a Patient's Bill of Rights. He is in favor of stem cell research. He is more in favor of combating drug addiction over punishments to drug addicts. Although personally opposed to abortions, he is in favor of a woman's right to choose.

Carl Levin is expected to retain his seat in the Senate upon elections in 2008.