Rick Santorum

Richard John Santorum (born May 10 1958), commonly known as Rick Santorum, is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 from a suburban Pittsburgh district and to the U.S. Senate in 1994. Santorum is a Republican who currently is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the number three job in the party leadership of the Senate. In recent years, Santorum's comments and public statements, especially on social issues such as same-sex marriage, have made him a highly controversial figure. He is running for re-election in the November 2006 elections. He announced in 2005 that he would not run for President in the 2008 election.

Legislation and issues

In 2001, Santorum tried unsuccessfully to insert language into the No Child Left Behind bill that would have required that "a full range of views" on human origins be taught in public schools. This so-called Santorum Amendment attempted to relativize the teaching of biological evolution in U.S. public school classrooms. The amendment would have required schools to discuss controversies surrounding scientific topics, and gave the theory of evolution as an example; many people interpreted this to mean that alternative, non-scientific theories like intelligent design would have to be taught in science classrooms.

Related Topics:
2001 - No Child Left Behind - Public schools - Santorum Amendment - Evolution - Intelligent design

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The Senate passed a weaker, non-binding version of the amendment, which two Ohio Congressmen have invoked to suggest that the state should include "intelligent design" in its science standards. During an interview with National Public Radio in 2005, Santorum clarified his views, saying he is "not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."

Related Topics:
Ohio - Congressmen - National Public Radio - 2005

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Santorum and John Kerry (D-MA) are the lead sponsors of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA), which would require employers to accommodate the religious observances of their employees as long as providing such accommodations would not impose an "undue hardship" upon the employer. Thus, employers would be required to afford employees flexible work shifts so that they could observe religious holy days and to permit employees to wear religiously-required garb at work. Versions of the WRFA have been introduced in 1997, 2000, and 2003 but so far have failed to be enacted.

Related Topics:
John Kerry - D - MA - Workplace Religious Freedom Act - 1997 - 2000 - 2003

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Though not a named author of the special Terri Schiavo legislation, Santorum played a key role in shepherding the bill through the Senate to a vote on March 20, 2005. Santorum has frequently stated that he does not believe a "right to privacy" exists under the Constitution, even within marriage. Santorum has been particularly critical of the Supreme Court decision in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which held that the Constitution guarantees the right of married couples to buy and use birth control.

Related Topics:
Terri Schiavo - March 20 - 2005 - Griswold v. Connecticut - Birth control

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On April 14, 2005, Santorum introduced the National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005 to "clarify the duties and responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service (NWS), and for other purposes". This legislation, if enacted, will provide for equal access by the public and private sector to the data collected by the National Weather Service. It prohibits the NWS from going into competition with private sector entities in the publication of weather data. Opponents of this bill contend that it will prevent the NWS from providing user-friendly presentation of the data it collects, thereby assisting private sector weather services in retaining their own customers. They argue that, since this data is collected at taxpayer expense, it should be made available for free to the public, and not provided solely to private corporations that will charge fees for access. Supporters of this bill deny this and say it does not change the data collection/data dissemination functions of NWS. Moreover it explicitly requires the weather service to provide "simultaneous and equal access" to its information. Critics of the NWS complain that the agency shows favoritism in its data dissemination practices.

Related Topics:
April 14 - 2005 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - National Weather Service - Private sector

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Santorum is also an active supporter of partial privatization of Social Security. Following the 2004 presidential election, Santorum has held forums across Pennsylvania to gauge public views on the subject and to impress the importance of reform. He visited Bucknell University (2005-03-23), Bucks County and Lafayette College (Northampton County) on (2005-02-25), Harrisburg (2005-02-24), Penn State University and Erie County (2005-02-23), Drexel University and Widener University (2005-02-22), and University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh (2005-02-21).

Related Topics:
Bucknell University - Bucks County - Lafayette College - Northampton County - Harrisburg - Penn State University - Erie County - Drexel University - Widener University - University of Pittsburgh - Duquesne University

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On October 11, 2002, Santorum voted for H.J.Res. 114 which authorized the use of force against Iraq. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

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