Steve Novick

Steve Novick was a Democratic candidate in the 2008 congressional elections for the Senate in Oregon. He was seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). Steve Novick lost to Jeff Merkley in the primary which took place on May 20, 2008.

Iraq War
Novick spoke against the Iraq War in 2003, calling it "an oil grab and public-relations gimmick, sold on false pretenses, which is now producing $4 billion a month's worth of chaos." He now calls for full withdrawal of American military bases and personnel from Iraq within six months, coupled with diplomatic re-engagement of regional and international powers.

Taxes
Novick advocates progressive taxation and calls for a reformation of the Internal Revenue Code to abolish the distinction between ordinary income (earned from labor) and capital gains income (earned from the exploitation of wealth).

Health care
Novick favors single-payer health care, but has proposed a more moderate interim approach to "(1) provide health insurance to all citizens; (2) stop insurance companies from discriminating against anyone who might actually get sick...and (3) ensure that all employers pay something toward health care."

Labor
Novick is pro-union. He argues that all employees have the right to organize into labor unions, and calls for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Civil Rights
Novick supports reproductive rights, anti-discrimination laws, restored habeas corpus, and same-sex marriage.

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Global Warming
In September of 2007, Novick announced his support for S. 309, the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007, which will cut carbon emissions an estimated 20% by 2020 and over 80% by 2050.

Net Neutrality
Novick advocates full net neutrality.

Biography, Senate Candidacy and Political Positions
Novick was born with significant physical disabilities which include a missing left hand and missing fibula bones in his legs. As a result he uses a hook prosthesis and stands approximately 4'9" tall. His unusual physicality has prompted him to use the slogan "The Fighter with the Hard Left Hook." His levity about his physical stature has drawn both positive and negative reviews from the press.

In 1981, after low funding caused Novick's junior high school to close, he enrolled at the University of Oregon. After graduating at age 18, he attended Harvard Law School, earning a Juris Doctor at age 21.

Career
Novick is an attorney and former US Department of Justice litigator. He began his law career arguing on behalf of the EPA, culminating in the Love Canal case, on which he served as lead counsel. Returning to Oregon, Steve worked as policy director for Tom Bruggere's 1996 Senate bid. He then served as chief of staff to the Democrats in the Oregon State Senate from 1997 to 1999.

Subsequently, he was Executive Director of the Center for Constructive Citizen Action, which spearheaded the fight against Bill Sizemore's Measure 91, which would have cut the State budget for schools, health care and public safety by more than 20%.

In 2002, Steve was policy director for Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski in his successful campaign. From 2004 to 2006, he worked for Citizens for Oregon's Future, an organization dedicated to providing taxpayers useful, reliable information on tax and budget issues. In 2005, Steve developed a "balance the state budget" classroom exercise for high school students, which was used by social studies teachers in Creswell, Springfield, Salem and Portland.

Beginning in 1999, Steve turned his attention to the Oregon Lottery's payments to retailers, which he contended were illegally high. He and other education advocates brought a successful lawsuit challenging the Lottery's payments.

Senate Candidacy
Novick announced his candidacy for the Senate on April 18, 2007, after publishing a lengthy critique of Gordon Smith's record in the Portland newspaper Willamette Week.

On July 1, 2007, Novick announced that he had raised $190,000 in contributions during the first ten weeks of his campaign and was adding two paid campaign staff members.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:Oregon and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Oregon’s Senate Race
 * Steve Novick for U.S Senate, official campaign site.