Senate Report Card: Mark Pryor D-AR

Senator Mark Pryor is the junior Democratic United States Senator from the state of Arkansas. Senator Pryor assumed office in 2003.

Senator Pryor currently serves on the Armed Services Committee, Committee on Homeland Security and Government Relations, Commerce Committee, Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and the Select Committee for Ethics.

Pryor is considered a moderate liberal. He was a member of the "Gang of 14" who negotiated between a judicial filibuster to President Bush's nominations and the proposed nuclear option that would change the rules of the Senate. He favored the Military Commissions Act. He considers himself pro life.He voted against the flag burning amendment, and opposed the repeal of the Federal Inheritance/Estate Tax. He was one of only two Democrats to vote against a resolution aimed at withdrawing most American combat troops from Iraq by 2008. Pryor voted to confirm Alberto Gonzalez as President Bush's Attorney General nominee. He has since suggested that it is time for Attorney General Gonzalez to resign amid the firing controversy of eight U.S. District Attorneys.

He is a supporter of updating and modernizing tax laws to shield small business owners and family farmers from the estate tax. He has worked toward a bipartisan solution to increase the estate tax exemption to $5 million ($10 million for married couples) and reduce the tax to a 35 percent marginal rate. For estates worth more than $30 million, the benefit of this exemption would be phased out. He opposes the full repeal of the estate tax as it is a fiscally irresponsible option at this time.

The fundamental parts of Pryor's educational approach would be to increase salaries to keep the best and brightest educators in the state. He supports providing U.S. high school students with the opportunity to further their education at institutions of higher learning, regardless of their economic background. He has worked to increase Title I funding for disadvantaged children and reduce class size for students in first through third grades. He supports revitalization of aging campuses across the state of Arkansas, and across the nation. He also believes it important to offer enhanced professional development for teachers.

Senator Pryor believes the defense of the nation starts with civilian authorities who must devise ways to utilize their capabilities in the most efficient manner. He argues that they must be able to respond to whatever may confront us in the future. This includes training for the unexpected and the unknown and ensuring that the citizens of our nation understand what to do in the midst of an emergency.

Senator Mark Pryor voted to provide restrictions to troop deployments. He also voted for a troop reduction in Iraq.

Senator Mark Pryor is up for reelection in Arkansas in 2008.