Blog #1: Patty Murray Profile

Patty Murray Biography

Patty Murray in the flesh!!

Age: 71!

Upbringing: Patty was born and raised in Bothell, Washington. She grew up with her parents and six siblings. She's also a twin! Patty's father served in WW2 and unfortunately was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, leaving it the family in hard times as her father was not able to work anymore due to this condition. Because of government programs, like the VA and federal grants and loans, her mother, herself, and siblings were all able to get a college education.

Education: Patty attended Washington State University and got a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. During her time in college, she organized a petition to allow women to wear jeans to the dining hall and worked with the local VA.

Career: After college, she taught at the Shoreline Community College preschool program and taught also the community college. She decided to get into politics once her state was about to close down a preschool program, and as a mom she found this unacceptable.

Family: Murray is married to husband Rob Murray and has two children, Sara and Randy.

Religious Affiliation: Murray identifies as Roman Catholic.

Tenure in the Senate

Murray has served on the Senate since January 3rd, 1993. Her current term will end on January 3rd, 2023. Although, Murray is seeking re-election and hopes to continue her time in the Senate.

Patty Murray 1993

Previous Elected Experience

• Served on the Shoreline school board from 1983-1989.
• She was elected to the Washington State Senate from 1989-1993 and served one term.

Fun Facts

• From 1990-1993, she served as the Democratic Whip of the Washington State Senate
• Was known as just a "mom in tennis shoes"
• Washington state's first ever female senator
• Her father ran a five and ten cent store
• She's a twin!

Committee/Subcommittee Assignments

Patty has been elected to the following committees and subcommittees. Her background in education is one reason as to why she was put on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Also, her father being a World War 2 Veteran is why she was selected to be on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

• Appropriations (Defense; Energy-Water; Homeland Security; Labor-HHS-Education - Chairperson; Military Construction-VA; Transportation-HUD)
• Budget
• Chair of Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
• Veterans' Affairs

Notable Legislation

Due to her long background in the Senate, Murray has been a sponsor and co-sponsor of many bills in the Senate. Below will be listed a few bills that she has sponsored and have been passed and signed into law. All of the following bills have had co-sponsors that are a mix of Democrats and Republicans.

• Consent and Approval to Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact (1997, 8 co-sponsors)
• Poison Center Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008 (25 co-sponsors)
• Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act  (2009, 23 co-sponsors)
• Veteran's Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 (14 co-sponsors)

ADA and Interest Group Scores

There are many interests groups listed and percentages related to her support. I have listed a few that are important to her campaign goals (Education, Women's Rights, Environment) and a few that seemed surprising (Her religion and conservative groups).

• ADA Score: In 2020, Murray received a score of 85%
• In 2019, 90%
• In 2018, 100%
• Trend is a decreasing score, possibly from the pandemic?
• NARAL Pro-Choice: In 2020, 100%
• Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund: In 2020, 100%
• ACLU: In 2020, 100%
• Conservative Review: In 2021, 4% 
• Americans for Prosperity: In 2019-2020, 25%
• American Federation of Teachers: In 2011-2012, 100%
• League of Conservation Votes: In 2020, 92%
• Catholic Advocate: In 2012, 0%
• NORML: In 2022, 75%

Positions in Leadership

• Murray is 6th Ranked Senate Democrat
• Chair of Health Education and Labor Pensions
• Chairperson of Labor, HHS, Education on the Appropriations Committee
• Democratic Whip of Washington State Senate

References

https://www.murray.senate.gov/biography/ (Primary)

https://www.congress.gov/member/patty-murray/M001111 (Primary)

https://ballotpedia.org/Patty_Murray (Secondary)

https://media.cq.com/members/522?rel=memberLink (Secondary)

https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/53358/patty-murray(Secondary)