Harry Reid

Harry Reid

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Harry Reid is a Democratic member of the United States Senate, representing Nevada. He is the Speaker of the House.

Reid married his high school sweetheart, Landra Gould in 1959. They have one daughter, Lana Reid, and four sons: Rory, Leif, Josh, and Key. Landra and Harry now have 16 grandchildren.

Career

Businessmen in Henderson, Nevada helped him go on to college at Utah State University. He got his law degree from George Washington University. During this time, he worked nights as a U.S. Capitol police officer.

Reid returned to Henderson and served as the City Attorney then on the Nevada State Assembly in 1968, at age 28. In Carson City, as an assemblyman, Reid introduced the first air pollution legislation in Nevada’s history. At the age of 30, Reid became the youngest Lieutenant Governor in Nevada history in in 1970.

In 1977 he was appointed Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, where for five years he made headlines with his legendary and unrelenting fight to clean up Nevada's gaming industry.

Reid later won his first of two terms in the United States House of Representatives in 1982.

He was first elected to the Senate in 1986, and re-elected in 1992, 1998 and 2004. He has served as the chairman or senior Democratic member on several important committees and subcommittees.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Harry Reid in his successful Senate run as candidate for Nevada.

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada was founded in 1994 and is comprised of more than two dozen groups that are dedicated to working for social, economic, and environmental justice. The member groups include anti-poverty activists, people of color, children’s advocates, disabled persons, environmentalists, lesbians and gay men, and labor unions. PLAN currently supports Harry Reid.

ProgressNow Nevada

ProgressNow Nevada was formed in 2003. They are a non-profit advocacy network for progressive change in Nevada and they support progressive government. Recently, they set up a page entitled Progressives for Reid and a Facebook page: Progressives for Harry Reid to show their support for the beleaguered Senator. Primary issues concentrated on are Nevada's Clean Energy Future, Sustainable Water Usage and Affordable and Accessable Health Care.

Harvey Whittemore and Coyote Springs

The Los Angeles Times penned a series of investigative reports laying out the case that Harry Reid introduced legislation and put pressure on regulatory agencies to advance the business interests of Harvey Whittemore, a close friend and business associate.

• Neubauer, Chuck (August 29, 2006). "Advocates Sue Over Nevada Land Exchange; Groups charge in federal court that the Bureau of Land Management violated the law in its swap with Coyote Springs developer Harvey Whittemore.". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California).
• Neubauer, Chuck; Richard T. Cooper (August 20, 2006). "Desert Connections". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California). http://articles.latimes.com/2006/aug/20/business/fi-nevada20.
• Neubauer, Chuck; Richard T. Cooper (June 23, 2003). "In Nevada, the Name to Know is Reid; Members of one lawmaker's family represent nearly every major industry in their home state. And their clients rely on his goodwill. Series: Second of two parts.". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California).
• Neubauer, Chuck (June 25, 2004). "Senator's Bill Would Help Friend's Development Plan; Harry Reid of Nevada seeks to lift an easement. Two sons work at the landowner's law firm.". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California).

Whittemore is a Nevada attorney/lobbyist who gave large contributions to Reid's campaigns and leadership fund. His personal attorney is Harry Reid's son, Leif Reid. Whittemore developed a $30 billion gold course named Coyote Springs. This project was protested by environmental groups because it would supposedly have detrimental effects on several endangered species.

Slavery Slur

On Dec. 7, 2009, during debate over Senator Ben Nelson's abortion amendment to the Health Care Bill, Senate Majority Leader Henry Reid stated,

"Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all Republicans have come up with is this, 'Slow down, stop everything, let's start over. You think you've heard these same excuses before? You're right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, 'Slow down, it's too early. Let's wait. Things aren't bad enough."

External links

• Democrats' Senate website
• Reid's website with the Senate
• ProgressNow Nevada