Senate Report Card: Herb Kohl D-WI

Senator Herb Kohl is the senior Democratic United States Senator from the state of Wisconsin. He assumed office in 1989. He is part owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA basketball team. He is one of the wealthiest members of the Senate and is known for his philanthropy.

Senator Kohl serves on the Judiciary, Appropriations Committees, as well as the Special Committee on Aging.

Senator Kohl is seen as fairly moderate. He is in favor of most lawsuit reform measures as well as for rules put forth by republicans for tightening personal bankruptcy availability. He is a strong supporter of a balanced budget, a "pay as you go" philosophy. He was one of the few Democrats to vote for President Bush's tax cuts. He is strongly pro-choice and opposes the death penalty. He passed a law forcing handguns to come with child safety locks. The amendment was attached to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

Kohl included funding increases for the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to ensure a safe domestic and imported food supply. He is in favor of more research and rapid response teams to help prevent and contain contamination of produce. He secured an increase of more than $48 million for food safety initiatives at the FDA.

Kohl secured millions in funding for Wisconsin natural resources, as well as across the country. He also brought in millions of dollars to help Wisconsin's dairy industry, as well as the agriculture and farm communities.

He voted for the Clean Energy Act and against off shore drilling in Virginia. He voted against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He voted in favor of alternative energy subsidies.

Kohl believes the president has the ability to nominate judges to the bench as he sees fit, and that the legislative body merely is there to approve or deny, he has vastly approved President Bush's judicial nominations.

He voted both for President Bush's Immigration Reform Act and the General Immigration Bill, both which failed to pass. He voted in favor of stem cell research. He voted in favor of President Bush's Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Senator Herb Kohl voted in favor of using military force in Iraq. He has voted for connecting a timetable to appropriations for the war. He voted in favor of restrictions on troop deployments to secure longer lengths of time for troops between tours of duty. He voted for a troop reduction.

Senator Herb Kohl has easily kept his seat and is expected to easily win election again in 2012.