| Alan Grayson | |
 |
|
|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 8th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Ric Keller |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Born | March 13, 1958 The Bronx, New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Lolita Grayson |
| Residence | Orlando, Florida |
| Alma mater | Harvard College (A.B.) John F. Kennedy School of Government (M.P.P.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Jewish[1][2] |
| Website | www.Grayson.House.gov |
Alan Mark Grayson (born March 13, 1958) is an American attorney who is currently serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 8th congressional district. The district includes just over half of Orlando, as well as Celebration, Walt Disney World and part of Ocala. A progressive Democrat, Grayson defeated Ric Keller, a four-term incumbent Republican in the 2008 congressional election.
Contents |
Grayson was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up in the tenements. He graduated from Bronx High School of Science and worked his way through Harvard University graduating summa cum laude in three years. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He worked as an economist for two years and returned to Harvard for graduate studies. Within four years, he earned a law degree with honors from Harvard Law School, a masters in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and completed the course work and passed the general exams for a Ph.D. in government.[3][4]
Grayson was employed as a law clerk at the Colorado Supreme Court in 1983,[5] and at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals from 1984 to 1985, where he worked with such judges as Abner Mikva, Robert Bork, and two judges who later joined the U.S. Supreme Court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia.[citation needed] He was an associate at the Washington D.C. firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson for five years, where he specialized in contract law.
Grayson wrote his masters thesis on gerontology and in 1986 he helped to found the Alliance for Aging Research (AAR), and served as an officer of the organization for more than twenty years.[6] AAR is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that was founded to promote medical research to improve the human experience of aging.
In 1991 he founded the law firm Grayson, Kubli which concentrated on government contract law. He was a lecturer at the George Washington University government contracts program and a frequent speaker on the topic.[4] Grayson also was the first president of IDT Corporation, a publicly traded billion-dollar telecommunications company.[6][7] Grayson was ranked as the 12th-wealthiest member of Congress based on financial disclosure forms with a minimum net worth of $31.12 million, according to Roll Call.[8]
In the 2000s he worked as a plaintiffs' attorney specializing in whistleblower fraud cases aimed at Iraq war contractors. One contractor, Custer Battles, employed individuals who were found guilty of making fraudulent statements and submitting fraudulent invoices on two contracts in 2003 the company had with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.[9][10] On behalf of his clients, Grayson filed suit under the False Claims Act and its qui tam provisions.[9] Grayson disclosed his attorney fees and costs for the case exceeded $4 million.[10][11]
While pursuing the whistleblower cases, Grayson worked from a home office in Orlando where he lived with his wife and five children. In 2006, a Wall Street Journal reporter described Grayson as "waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq" and as a "fierce critic of the war in Iraq" whose car was "emblazoned" with bumper stickers such as "Bush lied, people died".[11]
In 2006 Grayson his first entered into electoral politics losing the 2006 Democratic primary for Florida's 8th Congressional District to Charlie Stuart, a prominent local businessman and center-right Democrat.[12] Stuart went on to lose the general election to incumbent Republican Congressman Ric Keller.[13] In late 2007, Grayson announced that he would run again for the 8th District seat, and again faced Stuart in the primary. During the primary, his campaign retained the services of Bill Hillsman.
In the August 26, 2008 Democratic primary, Grayson prevailed, receiving 48.5% of the vote. Stuart trailed with 27.5%, with three other candidates splitting the remaining 24%.[14] During the general election campaign, Grayson maintained a consistent lead over Keller, who had barely eked out renomination in the Republican primary over attorney Todd Long. On Election Day, Grayson received 172,854 votes, or 52%, to Keller's 159,490 votes, or 48%.[15] Although Keller won three out of four counties in the district, Grayson won by a margin of 55% to 45% in Orange County, home to Orlando and by far the largest county in the district.[16] Grayson was also helped by a massive voter registration drive that gave Democrats a slight edge in registered voters.
Grayson is only the second Democrat to represent this district since its formation after the 1970 census (it was the 5th District from 1973 to 1993 and has been the 8th District since 1993). The only other Democrat to represent this district, Bill Gunter, gave it up after only one term to run for the United States Senate in 1974.
Despite representing a historically Republican district, Grayson bills himself as a progressive Democrat. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which he is vice-chairman.[17].
During his first term in office, Grayson supported Ron Paul's Audit the Fed legislation.[18] Grayson gained attention for exchanges with Federal Reserve System Vice Chairman Donald Kohn and Inspector General Elizabeth A. Coleman.[19]
In March 2009, following the AIG bonus payments controversy, Grayson joined with fellow freshman Democrat Jim Himes of Connecticut to introduce the Grayson-Himes Pay for Performance Act, legislation to require that all bonuses paid by companies that had received funds under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 be "based on performance".[20] The bill was co-sponsored by eight other members of the House. On March 26, the bill was approved by the House Financial Services Committee by a vote of 38-22 and on April 1, the bill was passed by the full House of Representatives by a vote of 247-171.[21]
Grayson is a co-sponsor of the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, which would provide addition provisions to audit the Federal Reserve, including removing several key exemptions.[22]
On a September 2009 Alex Jones Show segment Grayson used the term whore when characterizing Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke's senior adviser Linda Robertson, stating in part, "I am the only member of Congress who actually worked as an economist, and this lobbyist, this K-Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics!"[23][24][25] Grayson's use of whore was widely criticized as inappropriate including by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.[26][27] Grayson's congressional spokesman, Todd Jurkowski, clarified that the comment "was on her professional career, not her personal life" and Grayson subsequently apologized.[28]
In September 2009, during the debates leading to the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act by the House in November, Grayson quipped during a speech that, "The Republican health care plan is this: 'Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.'"[29] His remarks were widely condemned by Republican politicians but, according to Grayson, were well-received by his constituents. Grayson reported that his comments resulted in over five thousand campaign contributions and that the positive emails he received outnumbered the negative ones by a four-to-one margin;[30][31][32][33] the comments also generated funds from the Democratic National Committee towards his upcoming 2010 campaign race.[33][34] Grayson raised $347,000 for his reelection campaign during the third quarter, much of it attributed to his remarks.[35][36]
He defended his comment and in a House Floor speech stated, “I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven't voted sooner to end this holocaust in America." Grayson, who is Jewish by birth, apologized to the Anti-defamation League for those offended by his generic use of "holocaust".[37][38] He also maintained that Congressional Republicans have failed to offer a feasible plan.[39][40] In October 2009 he launched www.NamesOfTheDead.com, a website to "memorialize Americans who die because they don’t have health insurance." He subsequently read stories of the dead submitted through the Names of the Dead site on the House floor.[41]
He supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Grayson also voted for the FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products, which gives the FDA power to regulate tobacco products. He voted in support of Eliminating Adjustments of Medicare Rates of Payment. He also voted against Republican substitutes for the health care amendment and insurance law amendments.[42]
Grayson voted in support of the Hate Crimes Expansion Act, which expands the definition of hate crimes and strengthens enforcement of hate crime laws. He also voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Grayson supported the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that allows victims of wage discrimination to sue for punitive damages.[43]
Grayson voted for the 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations, which authorizes $681.02 billion of appropriations for the Department of Defense.[44] He also supported the 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations, which provided $46.18 billion in appropriations for 2009-2010.[45]
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ric Keller |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 8th congressional district 2009 – present |
Incumbent |
| Alan Grayson | |
| File:Alan Grayson high | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Ric Keller |
|---|---|
| Born | March 13, 1958 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Lolita Grayson |
| Residence | Orlando, Florida |
| Alma mater | Harvard College (A.B.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Jewish[1] |
| Website | www.Grayson.House.gov |
Contents |
Grayson was born in the Bronx, New York. He graduated from Bronx High School of Science and worked his way through Harvard University as a janitor and nightwatchman,[2] graduating summa cum laude in three years. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He returned to Harvard for graduate studies. Within four years, he earned a law degree with honors from Harvard Law School, a masters in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and completed the course work and passed the general exams for a Ph.D. in government.[3][4]
Grayson was employed as a law clerk at the Colorado Supreme Court in 1983,[5] and at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals from 1984 to 1985, where he worked with such judges as Abner Mikva, Robert Bork, and two judges who later joined the U.S. Supreme Court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia.[citation needed] He was an associate at the Washington D.C. firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson for five years, where he specialized in contract law.
Grayson wrote his masters thesis on gerontology and in 1986, he helped found the Alliance for Aging Research (AAR), and served as an officer of the organization for more than twenty years.[6] AAR is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that was founded to promote medical research to improve the human experience of aging.
In 1991 he founded the law firm Grayson, Kubli which concentrated on government contract law. He was a lecturer at the George Washington University government contracts program and a frequent speaker on the topic.[4] Grayson also was the first president of IDT Corporation, a publicly traded billion-dollar telecommunications company.[6][7] Grayson was ranked as the 12th-wealthiest member of Congress based on financial disclosure forms with a minimum net worth of $31.12 million, according to Roll Call.[8]
In the 2000s, he worked as a plaintiffs' attorney specializing in whistleblower fraud cases aimed at Iraq war contractors. One contractor, Custer Battles, employed individuals who were found guilty of making fraudulent statements and submitting fraudulent invoices on two contracts in 2003 the company had with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.[9][10] On behalf of his clients, Grayson filed suit under the False Claims Act and its qui tam provisions.[9] Grayson disclosed his attorney fees and costs for the case exceeded $4 million.[10][11]
While pursuing the whistleblower cases, Grayson worked from a home office in Orlando where he lived with his wife and five children. In 2006, a Wall Street Journal reporter described Grayson as "waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq" and as a "fierce critic of the war in Iraq" whose car displayed bumper stickers such as "Bush lied, people died".[11]
Despite representing a historically Republican district, Grayson bills himself as a progressive Democrat. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which he is vice-chairman.[12]
During his first term in office, Grayson supported Ron Paul's Audit the Fed legislation.[13] Grayson gained attention for exchanges with Federal Reserve System Vice Chairman Donald Kohn and Inspector General Elizabeth A. Coleman.[14]
In March 2009, following the AIG bonus payments controversy, Grayson joined with fellow freshman Democrat Jim Himes of Connecticut to introduce the Grayson-Himes Pay for Performance Act, legislation to require that all bonuses paid by companies that had received funds under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 be "based on performance".[15] The bill was co-sponsored by eight other members of the House. On March 26, the bill was approved by the House Financial Services Committee by a vote of 38-22 and on April 1, the bill was passed by the full House of Representatives by a vote of 247-171.[16]
Grayson is a co-sponsor of the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, which would provide additional provisions to audit the Federal Reserve, including removing several key exemptions.[17]
On a September 2009 Alex Jones Show segment Grayson used the term whore when characterizing Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke's senior adviser Linda Robertson, stating in part, "I am the only member of Congress who actually worked as an economist, and this lobbyist, this K-Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics!"[18][19][20] Grayson's use of whore was widely criticized as inappropriate; including by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.[21]
Grayson supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Grayson also voted for the FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products, which gives the FDA power to regulate tobacco products. He voted in support of Eliminating Adjustments of Medicare Rates of Payment. He also voted against Republican substitutes for the health care amendment and insurance law amendments.[22]
On March 9, 2010, Grayson introduced the Public Option Act, a bill which would allow all citizens and permanent residents of the United States to buy into the public Medicare program.[23] Grayson later voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act[24] and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[25] His controversial remarks denouncing Republican opponents of the health care bill earned him national fame.
Grayson voted in support of the Hate Crimes Expansion Act, which expands the definition of hate crimes and strengthens enforcement of hate crime laws. He also voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Grayson supported the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that allows victims of wage discrimination to sue for punitive damages.[26]
Grayson voted for the House's 2009 Cap and Trade Bill, despite his initial resistance to the measure; his vote was won with the addition of a $50 million "Hurricane Study Center." Grayson noted after the passage of the Cap and Trade bill his concern for the environment and need for conservation of energy.
Grayson voted for the 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations, which authorizes $681 billion of appropriations for the Department of Defense.[27] He also supported the 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations, which provided $46.18 billion in appropriations for 2009-2010.[28]
In September 2009, during the debates leading to the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act by the House in November, Grayson quipped during a speech that, "The Republican health care plan is this: 'Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.'"[29] His remarks were widely condemned by Republican politicians but, according to Grayson, were well received by his constituents. Grayson reported that his comments resulted in over five thousand campaign contributions and that the positive emails he received outnumbered the negative ones by a four-to-one margin;[30][31][32][33] the comments also generated funds from the Democratic National Committee towards his upcoming 2010 campaign race.[33][34] Grayson raised $347,000 for his reelection campaign during the third quarter, much of it attributed to his remarks.[35][36]
He defended his comment and in a House Floor speech stated, “I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven't voted sooner to end this holocaust in America." Grayson, who is Jewish by birth, apologized to the Anti-defamation League for those offended by his generic use of "holocaust".[37][38] He also maintained that Congressional Republicans have failed to offer a feasible plan.[39][40] In October 2009 he launched www.NamesOfTheDead.com, a website to "memorialize Americans who die because they don’t have health insurance." He subsequently read stories of the dead submitted through the Names of the Dead site on the House floor.[41]
During an appearance on the progressive talk-radio “Stephanie Miller Show” on Sept. 2, 2010, Grayson referred to people attending Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally the previous weekend by saying “These are people who were wearing sheets over their heads 25 years ago.” He also said: “You only have three friends in life: God, your mama, and the Democratic Party.” [42]
Grayson is the second Democrat to represent this district since its formation after the 1970 census (it was the 5th District from 1973 to 1993 and has been the 8th District since 1993). The only other Democrat to represent this district, Bill Gunter, gave it up after only one term to run for the United States Senate in 1974.
In 2006, Grayson first entered into electoral politics, losing the 2006 Democratic primary for Florida's 8th Congressional District to Charlie Stuart, a prominent local businessman and center-right Democrat.[43] Stuart went on to lose the general election to incumbent Republican Congressman Ric Keller.[44] In late 2007, Grayson announced that he would run again for the 8th District seat, and again faced Stuart in the primary. During the primary, his campaign retained the services of Bill Hillsman.
In the August 26, 2008 Democratic primary, Grayson prevailed, receiving 48.5% of the vote. Stuart trailed with 27.5%, with three other candidates splitting the remaining 24%.[45] During the general election campaign, Grayson maintained a consistent lead over Keller, who had barely eked out renomination in the Republican primary over attorney Todd Long. On Election Day, Grayson received 172,854 votes, or 52%, to Keller's 159,490 votes, or 48%.[46] Although Keller won three out of four counties in the district, Grayson won by a margin of 55% to 45% in Orange County, home to Orlando and by far the largest county in the district.[47] Grayson was also helped by a massive voter registration drive by the Democratic Party in the 8th District that gave Democrats a slight edge in registered voters.
Grayson is running for re-election again three opponents: Republican Daniel Webster, Independent George Metcalfe, Florida Whig Party candidate Steve Gerritzen, and Peg Dunmire of the Florida TEA Party, a group not affiliated with the Tea Party movement.[48][49]
In August, Grayson warned that, should government spending drastically decrease, people may have to resort to a sort of cannibalism.[50] In September 2010, Grayson began running a commercial calling Webster a "draft-dodger."[51]
Later that month, Grayson began running a 30-second commercial calling Webster "Taliban Dan" and warning viewers that "Religious fanatics try to take away our freedom, in Afghanistan, in Iran and right here in Central Florida."[52] FactCheck reported that Grayson used edited video to make Webster appear to be saying the opposite of what he really said.[53] The Orlando Sentinel stated Grayson took Webster's comments out of context and twisted the meaning of his words.[54]
| Find more about Alan Grayson on Wikipedia's sister projects: | ||
| Quotations from Wikiquote | ||
| Images and media from Commons | |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ric Keller | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from [[Florida's 8Template:Safesubst:Template:Safesubst:Template:Safesubst: congressional district]] 2009 – present | Incumbent |
| ||||||||||||||
Alan Grayson is the current Democratic Representative for the 8th congressional district of Florida.
Contents |
"They call me nuts, they call me stupid, they call me ugly. They might be right about ugly. ...All that I've done is to say what's on other peoples' mind."[1]
   | "Case Closed" - YouTube - Case Closed TV Ad |
| | The People vs. the Profiteers - David Rose on Iraq profiteers | vanityfair.com |
| | Salon Radio: Rep. Alan Grayson on bailout transparency - Salon Radio: Rep. Alan Grayson on bailout transparency - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com |
| | Neil Cavuto and Congressman Grayson - YouTube - Neil Cavuto and Congressman Grayson |
| | "Empty" - YouTube - New Hard-Hitting Commercial! |
| | "Taxpayer Robbery" - YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. |
| | Is Anyone Minding the Store at the Federal Reserve?: Rep. Alan Grayson asks the Federal Reserve Inspector General about the trillions of dollars lent or spent by the Federal Reserve - YouTube - Alan Grayson: Is Anyone Minding the Store at the Federal Reserve? |
| | $1.2 Trillion Slush Fund: Congressman Alan Grayson Grills Fed Vice Chair Donald Kohn - YouTube - $1.2 Trillion Slush Fund: Congressman Alan Grayson Grills Fed Vice Chair Donald Kohn |
| | "Important Part" - YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. |
| | Attorney Pursues Iraq Contractor Fraud - Attorney Pursues Iraq Contractor Fraud - WSJ.com |
| | Congressman Alan Grayson - Congressman Alan Grayson, Representing the 8th District of Florida |
| | Campaign contributions - Congressional Elections: Florida District 08 Race: 2008 Cycle | OpenSecrets |
| | 30 Second TV Spot Shakes Up A Congressional Campaign In Orlando -- Meet Alan Grayson - Howie Klein: 30 Second TV Spot Shakes Up A Congressional Campaign In Orlando -- Meet Alan Grayson |
| | Alan Grayson for U.S. Congress - Home | Alan Grayson for U.S. Congress |
| | "Tax List" - YouTube - Grayson for Congress TV Ad - Tax List |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
