John E. Sununu



John Edward Sununu, a Republican, is a former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, having served 2003 to 2009. He was defeated by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.

Iraq War
Sununu voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Oil record
John E. Sununu has voted in favor of big oil companies on 75% of important oil-related bills, according to Oil Change International. These bills include Iraq War funding, climate change studies, clean energy, and oil import reductions. See below for oil money in politics.

AG Gonzales
Sen. Sununu became the first Republican lawmaker to publicly state that Alberto Gonzales should be removed. He said, "The president should fire the attorney general and replace him as soon as possible with someone who can provide strong, aggressive leadership". 

Michael Mukasey nomination
Sen. John E. Sununu voted FOR the confirmation Bush appointee Michael Mukasey as Attorney General of the U.S. on Nov. 8, 2007. Six Democrats and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined most Republicans in the 53-40 vote confirming Mukasey. No Republicans voted against him. Mukasey's nomination was surrounded by controversy after he called waterboarding "repugnant" but refused to say whether it was illegal under anti-torture laws.

Background
John Sununu (born September 10, 1964) is the son of former New Hampshire governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu. Born in Boston, John E. Sununu earned a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1987 and an MBA from Harvard University in 1991. After graduating, he worked in the high-tech industry, at one time for the company of Segway inventor Dean Kamen.

Senate career
First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996, he was reelected twice before winning a United States Senate seat from New Hampshire in 2002. Sununu first defeated a Republican incumbent (Bob Smith) in the primary and then Governor (Jeanne Shaheen) in the general election. At age 38, he was at that time the youngest member of the Senate.

Positions and views
While a conservative Republican, Sununu has taken some positions contrary to the Bush administration and the Republican leadership. He voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment and has voted to require child safety locks with the transfer of handguns. He opposes restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba, and was one of only two Republicans to vote in favor of terminating funds for TV Marti, which broadcasts anti-Castro programming in Cuba. He was one of a small group of Republicans to vote in favor of banning loans to China for any nuclear projects, and in September of 2005 he voted to disapprove a new rule set in place by the Administrator of the EPA delisting coal and other energy sources from the Clean Air Act.

He also has become well known as one of the 5 Republican Senators who opposes the Patriot Act and voted against the cloture (ending) of the Democratic Filibuster against it. This caused the Republicans to have to extend the Bill a month in order to not let it end in January without being renewed.

In January 2006, at a hearing in front of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on the Broadcast Flag, he was one of the very few present to criticize the legislation. He stated:
 * "In all cases [of previous technological advancements in the US], we didn't need to step in with a significant statutory government-regulated mandate on technology that consumers use to enjoy this material,"
 * "I don't know of a case where we were discussing such a dramatic step where the federal government will legislatively mandate a specific type of technology to be incorporated in all of this material. Maybe the sky really is falling this time, but I think it is worth suggesting a little bit of skepticism, it's worth offering up a little doubt before we not just entertain this, but jump ahead to what exemptions were required."
 * "The very technologies that some seem to be afraid of are driving innovation, and driving creativity as we sit here today. In fact, we have an unprecedented wave of creativity and product development and content development... I think the history of government mandates... is that it always, always restricts innovation. Why would we think this one special time... it will actually encourage innovation?"

Money in politics
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Oil money in politics
John E. Sununu has received $104,600 in oil contributions during the 110th congress. $76,000 of those dollars were from industry PACS. In total, Sununu has accepted $239,180 from oil companies since 2000, which makes him one of the top recipients of oil money in the United States Senate. See above for oil and energy voting record.

Committees

 * Joint Economic Committee
 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
 * Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences
 * Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
 * Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism
 * Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation
 * Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety - Ranking Member
 * Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
 * Subcommittee on African Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
 * Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
 * Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Investigations
 * Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security
 * Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Joint Economic Committee
 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
 * Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance
 * Subcommittee on Securities and Investment
 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Fisheries and the Coast Guard
 * Subcommittee on National Ocean Policy Study - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Science and Space
 * Subcommittee on Technology Innovation and Competitiveness
 * Subcommittee on Trade Tourism and Economic Development
 * Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine
 * Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
 * Subcommittee on International Operations and Terrorism - Chair
 * Subcommittee on African Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs

Coalitions and caucuses

 * Republican Policy Committee

Boards and other affiliations

 * New Hampshire Business and Industry Association
 * New Hampshire High-Tech Council
 * Manchester Chamber of Commerce
 * Founding Board, Project Vote Smart
 * National Advisory Board, Arab American National Museum


 * Compare where John Sununu stands on the issues - whereIstand.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Vets for Freedom

Resources

 * John Sununu's Congressional Record and committee hearing transcripts from ReadCongress.org
 * Follow the Oil Money-Senate
 * Vote Tracker
 * Follow the Coal Money- Senate
 * Appalachian Voices

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Democracy for New Hampshire
 * Graniteprof

Articles and presentations by Sununu

 * John Sununu, "The Politics of Science: It Ain't Pretty", Presentation to the Heartland Institute's International Conference on Climate Change (2009), March 10, 2009. (Download Video)

Other articles

 * Alex Massie, "Will this trusted senator be the man to kick Bush into the long grass?" Scotland on Sunday, February 11, 2007.
 * Suzanne Malveaux, et all "GOP senator calls for Gonzales' head," CNN, March 15, 2007.
 * John Aravosis, "Ask Susan Collins, Norm Coleman and John Sununu just how well the Democratic message on Iraq is selling," AMERICAblog, April 23, 2007.
 * Andy Davis, "‘Don’t surrender’ in Iraq, vets urge Pryor in TV ad," Arkansas Democrat Gazette (NWA News (Northwest Arkansas)), August 17, 2007. re Vets for Freedom