Carolyn McCarthy

Infobox_Congressman
name =Carolyn McCarthy


date of birth= birth date and age|1944|01|05
place of birth= Brooklyn, New York City, New York
occupation= nurse
residence= Mineola, New York
alma_mater= Glen Cove Nursing School
state = New York
district = 4th
term_start=January 3, 1997
preceded = Dan Frisa
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
religion = Roman Catholic
spouse = widowed

Carolyn McCarthy (born January 5, 1944) is an American politician and has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 4th congressional district, since 1997. The district is located in central Long Island in west-central Nassau County and includes Mineola, the Five Towns, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Garden City, Hempstead, Uniondale, East Meadow, Roosevelt, Franklin Square, Valley Stream, and Elmont. [cite web
url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=NY&district=4
title= New York's 4th Congressional District Map
publisher= GovTrack.us
accessdate=2008-01-31] She is best known as a vigorous advocate of gun control.

Early life, career, and family

McCarthy was born Carolyn Cook in Brooklyn, raised in Mineola, her father was a boilermaker and her mother worked at Woolworth's.cite web
date= 1996-11-07
last= Barry
first= Dan
authorlink= Dan Barry (reporter)
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E4DB1E38F934A35752C1A960958260&scp=72&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= L.I. Widow's Story: Next Stop, Washington
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05] In her youth, she was an athlete and wanted to become a physical education teacher but found reading challenging which later was diagnosed as dyslexia. After caring for her boyfriend injured from a car accident, McCarthy decide to work as a Licensed Practical Nurse. [cite web
url= http://www.hwwilson.com/_emergency/bday.htm
title= McCarthy, Carolyn
publisher= The H. W. Wilson Company
accessdate=2008-02-05] She lived with her family in Mineola, a suburban area about twenty miles outside New York City on Long Island. On December 7, 1993, her husband, Dennis, was killed and her son, Kevin, was severely injured on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train at the Merillon Avenue station, when a mass murderer, Colin Ferguson, opened fire on random unarmed passengers. [cite web
date=December 15, 1993
author= Marks, Peter
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5DD1F3AF936A25751C1A965958260
title= Train Shooting Victim Speaks For First Time Since Injury
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2007-10-24] Ferguson killed six and wounded 19 others. [cite web
date=December 7, 1994
author= Kleinfield, N. R.
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E0DD1539F934A35751C1A962958260
title= A Year Later, the Demons Remain; Fear Still Haunts L.I.R.R. Shooting Survivors
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2007-10-19] McCarthy responded to the crime by launching a campaign for additional gun control measures that eventually propelled her to Congress in 1996 on the Democratic ticket.

In the biographical 1998 television movie "The Long Island Incident", which portrayed these events, she was played by actress Laurie Metcalf. [cite web
date= 1998-05-02
last= Joyner
first= Will
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CEFD8133EF931A35756C0A96E958260&scp=1&sq=%22The+Long+Island+Incident%22+mccarthy&st=nyt
title= After Massacre, Fact Meets Memory
publisher= New York Times
quote= Carolyn McCarthy ... became an impressive woman-of-the-people voice for gun control
accessdate=2008-01-25]

Political career

The Fourth District and its predecessors had been in Republican hands since 1953, [Henry J. Latham 1953–58, Seymour Halpern 1959–63, John W. Wydler 1963–73, Norman F. Lent 1973–93, David A. Levy 1993–95, Daniel Frisa 1995–97] even though the surrounding Nassau County has supported Democrats for president since 1992. [cite web
url= http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/
title= United States Presidential Election Results
publisher= Dave Liep's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections
accessdate=2008-01-31] In 1996, the district's first-term Republican incumbent Dan Frisa was running for re-election while McCarthy testified against a Republican measure to repeal the federal Assault Weapons Ban in a congressional hearing, an attempt that was ultimately unsuccessful. [cite web
date= 1996-03-22
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E3DF1439F931A15750C0A960958260&scp=34&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Personal Plea on Gun Ban
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-03] [cite web
date= 1996-10-12
last= Toner
first= Robin
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E1D8113EF931A25753C1A960958260&scp=14&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22+%22death+penalty%22&st=nyt
title= Hurled by Tragedy Into Public Life, a Novice Learns to Cope
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-03]

After Frisa voted for the repeal, McCarthy, a lifelong Republican, [cite web
date= 1996-08-28
last= Dao
first= James
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E1DE1139F93BA1575BC0A960958260&scp=46&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= A Woman Comes to Politics Via Personal Trial
publisher= The New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-03] announced she would run against him in the primary. However, local Republican officials indicated disinterest. So, with the support of the local and national Democratic parties, and the endorsement of the local daily newspaper Newsday, McCarthy ran as a Democrat and defeated Frisa by seventeen points. [cite web
date= 1996-11-05
url= http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1996/hrny.htm
title= 1996 U.S. House of Representatives Results
publisher= FEC
accessdate=2008-01-31] Afterwards, Republicans intimated that they would like her to run as a Republican in 1998 but that never occurred. [cite web
date= 1996-11-07
last= Lambert
first= Bruce
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CEFD91E38F934A35752C1A960958260&scp=73&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Crossovers for McCarthy
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05]

She faced a close fight for reelection in 1998 against state assemblyman Gregory Becker, [cite web
date= 1998-11-05
last= Halbfinger
first= David M.
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E4D8163EF936A35752C1A96E958260&scp=3&sq=carolyn+mccarthy+Gregory+Becker&st=nyt
title= McCarthy Is Re-elected by a Slim Margin
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-01-31] but did not face serious opposition again until 2004. That year, she faced Hempstead mayor James Garner. The race was expected to be competitive, but McCarthy won easily, taking 63% of the vote.

Although McCarthy has always served as a Democrat, she did not change her voter registration from Republican until 2002. [cite web
date=April 29, 2003
author= Gootman, Elissa
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE1D8103DF93AA15757C0A9659C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/M/McCarthy,%20Carolyn
title= McCarthy Quietly Changes Registration
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2007-10-19]

Committee Assignments

*Committee on Education and Labor
**Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities (Chair)
**Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
*Committee on Financial Services
**Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
**Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
**Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Political actions and positions

Gun control

McCarthy is one of the most vocal advocates in the nation for gun control. In 1997, she sponsored a bill requiring trigger locks on guns.cite web
date= 1997-06-22
last= Barry
first= Dan
authorlink= Dan Barry (reporter)
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE1D6113FF931A15755C0A961958260&scp=98&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= An Icon Goes to Washington
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05] Moreover, she introduced legislation to ban the sale of guns to tourists to the United States after an incident at the Empire State Building. Because of this, she received several death threats. [cite web
date= 1997-05-07
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E5DB1E30F934A35756C0A961958260&scp=92&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Threats Are a Price For Backing Gun Control
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05] Later that same year, McCarthy opposed a Treasury bill provision that allowed importing weapons that are banned for sale in the U.S. [cite web
date= 1997-09-18
last= Gray
first= Jerry
authorlink=
coauthors=
pages=
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EED91038F93BA2575AC0A961958260&scp=103&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Gingrich Tries to Rein In Ally On Big Spending for Highways
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05] In the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre, McCarthy submitted a bill requiring firearms be child-resistant and to add obstacles to the purchase of guns by young adults [cite web
date= 1999-05-05
last= Bruni
first= Frank
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05EEDB123CF936A35756C0A96F958260&scp=146&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Senate Looks for Clues on Youth Violence
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05] along with regulating gun shows. [cite web
date= 1999-06-17
last= Mitchell
first= Alison
coauthors= Bruni, Frank
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1D9163BF934A25755C0A96F958260&scp=154&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= House Undertakes Days-Long Battle On Youth Violence
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05]

After the Assault Weapons Ban expired in September 2004, McCarthy introduced the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 to reauthorize it in February 2007. McCarthy's new version would ban 65 models of firearms, as opposed to the previous ban's 19 models. In addition, McCarthy's law would ban any semiautomatic rifle, shotgun or handgun that was "originally designed for military or law enforcement use, or a firearm based on the design of such a firearm, that is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, as determined by the Attorney General." In Slate magazine, a journalist asserted that the bill has little chance of passage and criticized it as a "fund-raising" bill. [cite web
date=April 17, 2007|author=Casteen, John T.|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2164373/|title=After Blacksburg|publisher=Slate magazine|accessdate=2007-04-21] McCarthy frames the reintroduction of the ban as law enforcement protection, though active, off-duty and retired police officers would be exempt from the gun bans.GovTrack.us. [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1022 H.R. 1022 — 110th Congress (2007): Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007] , GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation) Retrieved on Apr 21, 2007]

On Monday, April 16, 2007, after the shootings at Virginia Tech, and after President Bush's press secretary Dana Perino said, "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed," [cite web
date= 2007-04-17
last= Sullivan
first= Kevin
url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601871.html
title= Shock, Sympathy And Denunciation Of U.S. Gun Laws
publisher= Washington Post
accessdate=2008-01-31] McCarthy issued a press release calling for "legislation to prevent further acts of gun violence." [cite web
date= 2007-04-16
url= http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=155&sectiontree=155&itemid=613
title= Rep. McCarthy Statement on Virginia Tech Shootings
publisher= Carolyn McCarthy
accessdate=2008-01-31]

On the April 18, 2007 showing of MSNBC's program, "Tucker", the conservative pundit Tucker Carlson interviewed McCarthy concerning the Virginia Tech massacre and her proposed reauthorization of the Assault Weapons Ban. He asked her to explain the need to regulate barrel shrouds, one of the many provisions of the Act. [cite web|date=February 13, 2007
url= http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1022:
title= Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)
publisher= Library of Congress THOMAS database|accessdate=2007-05-13] She responded that more importantly the legislation would ban large capacity "clips" used in the Virginia Tech massacre and that the class of guns chosen were those used by gangs and police killers. After admitting that she did not know what a barrel shroud was, she ventured a guess, "I believe it is a shoulder thing that goes up."

McCarthy then went on to highlight the importance of restricting access to guns by the mentally ill.cite web|date=April 18, 2007|url= http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18200226/|title= 'Tucker' for April 18|publisher= MSNBC|accessdate=2007-05-13] Two months later, the House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007) introduced by McCarthy, with the support of the National Rifle Association. This bill improves the system of background checks required before a gun purchase. [cite web
date=June 14, 2007
author= Palank, Jacqueline and Urgina, Ian
url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/washington/14guns.html
title= House Votes to Bolster Database on Gun Buyers
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-03-29] In January 2008, President Bush signed the legislation into law. McCarthy indicated she wanted to revisit the issue of doing background checks at gun shows. [cite web
date= 2008-01-08
last= Eisenberg
first= Carol
url= http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-usgun095530870jan09,0,7931141.story
title= Bush signs long-stalled gun-control legislation
publisher= Newsday
accessdate=2008-02-05]

Iraq War

McCarthy voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002. [cite web
date= 2002-10-10
url= http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml
title= Final Vote Results For Roll Call 455
publisher= Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
accessdate=2008-01-31] In 2006, she voted in support of a Republican resolution in support of the war. [cite web
date= 2006-06-17
last= Palmer
first= J. Jioni
url= http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-ushous174785265jun17,0,4181826.story
title= Breaking ranks on Iraq
publisher= Newsday
quote=
accessdate=2008-01-31]

Death penalty

In her 1996 race, McCarthy said she was against the death penalty but stated she wouldn't support repeal because her district supported it. [cite web
date= 1996-11-06
last= Barry
first= Dan
authorlink= Dan Barry (reporter)
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E7D61E38F935A35752C1A960958260&scp=18&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22+%22death+penalty%22&st=nyt
title= Widow of Rail Shooting Victim Defeats Incumbent in Emotional Contest on L.I.
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05]

Abortion rights

McCarthy expresses a personal opposition to abortion but has consistently supported a woman's right to choose. In 1997, she voted against a ban on "partial-birth abortions" because it didn't include an exception when a women's health was at risk. [cite web
date= 1997-04-03
last= Lambert
first= Bruce
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E5DE143DF930A35757C0A961958260&scp=89&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Nassau Prosecutor Blasts Congresswoman for Abortion Vote
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05]

Age discrimination

In 2003, McCarthy introduced legislation prohibiting companies from compelling the retirement of older employees and denying them pension and benefits. [cite web
date= 2003-05-31
last= Treaster
first= Joseph B.
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03EFDF1E3EF932A15756C0A9659C8B63&scp=217&sq=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22&st=nyt
title= Legal Experts Say Allstate Lost a Battle In Agents' Suit
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2008-02-05]

Special education

McCarthy, who has dyslexia, testified in support of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and co-sponsored an act to fund early detection of dyslexia. [cite web
date= 1998-05-13
url= http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/archive/hearings/105th/fc/special51398/mccarthy.htm
title= Testimony Before the Committee on Education and The Workforce
publisher= Carolyn McCarthy
quote= I have a learning disability -- dyslexia. But I went to school at a time when children with disabilities were swept under the rug.
accessdate=2008-02-05] [cite web
url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-73
title= H.R. 73 [107th] : Early Prevention of Dyslexia in Children Act of 2001
publisher= GovTrack.us
accessdate=2008-02-05]

Children's health insurance program

In September 2007, McCarthy supported an increase of $35 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the national program to provide health care for children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance. She said, “No child in the 4th Congressional District, Long Island, or anywhere throughout our nation should ever go without medical care." [cite web
url= http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=11&parentid=1&sectiontree=11&itemid=693
title= Rep. McCarthy Votes to Provide Health Insurance for Long Island’s Children
publisher= Carolyn McCarthy
accessdate=2008-02-05] The increase passed but was later vetoed by President Bush. [cite web
date=October 6, 2007
author= Pear, Robert
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DE1130F935A35753C1A9619C8B63
title= A Battle Foreshadowing a Larger Health Care War
publisher= New York Times
accessdate=2007-10-24]

Stem cell research

McCarthy has been a supporter of stem cell research but restricted to the use of embryos that would be discarded. In 2007, she supported the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act which did just that. It passed both houses but was later vetoed by Bush. [cite web
url= http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=11&parentid=1&sectiontree=11&itemid=28
title= Rep. McCarthy Statement on Stem Cell Research Vote
publisher= Carolyn McCarthy
accessdate=2008-02-05] [cite web
url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=summary&bill=h110-3
title= H.R. 3: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007
publisher= GovTrack.us
accessdate=2008-02-05]

Ratings

McCarthy received a rating of 8% from the American Conservative Union in 2005, and holds a lifetime ACU rating of 20%. [cite web
year= 2005
url= http://www.acuratings.org/2005all.htm#NY
title= 2005 Votes
publisher= American Conservative Union
accessdate=2008-01-31] She received a "Liberal Quotient" of 90 out a possible 100 in 2005 from Americans for Democratic Action [cite web
year= 2006
month= May
pages= p. 9
url= http://www.adaction.org/ADATodayVR2005.pdf
format= PDF
title= ADA’s 2005 Congressional Voting Record
publisher= Americans for Democratic Action
accessdate=2008-01-31] . McCarthy received a "C" on the progressive Drum Major Institute's 2005 on middle-class issues. [cite web
year= 2005
url= http://www.drummajorinstitute.com/congress/drum-major-voting-summary.php?name=McCarthy&state=NY&database=house
title= Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record
publisher= Drum Major Institute
accessdate=2008-01-31] In 2003, The firearm-rights advocacy organization, the National Rifle Association, rated McCarthy with an "F", indicating a pro-gun control voting record. [cite web
year= 2003
url= http://www.issues2000.org/NY/Carolyn_McCarthy.htm
title= Carolyn McCarthy on the Issues
publisher= On The Issues
accessdate=2008-01-31]

Electoral history

Third party candidates omitted, so percentages may not add up to 100%.

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/carolynmccarthy/ U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy] , official U.S. House site
* [http://www.votemccarthy.com/ Carolyn McCarthy for Congress] , official campaign site

Persondata
NAME= McCarthy, Carolyn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= American politician, former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
DATE OF BIRTH= 5 January 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH= Brooklyn, New York City, New York
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=