Sam Brownback
Sam brownback
Sam Brownback
American politician and diplomat (born )
Sam Brownback | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, | |
| In office February 1, &#;– January 20, | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | David Saperstein |
| Succeeded by | Rashad Hussain |
| In office January 10, &#;– January 31, | |
| Lieutenant | Jeff Colyer |
| Preceded by | Mark Parkinson |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Colyer |
| In office November 7, &#;– January 3, | |
| Preceded by | Sheila Frahm |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Moran |
| In office January 3, &#;– November 7, | |
| Preceded by | Jim Slattery |
| Succeeded by | Jim Ryun |
| In office September 18, &#;– July 30, | |
| Governor | John W.
Carlin |
| Preceded by | Harland Priddle[1] |
| Succeeded by | Philip Fishburn[2] |
| Born | Samuel Dale Brownback () September 12, (age&#;68) Garnett, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Stauffer &#; (m.&#;)&#; |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Kansas State University (BA) University of Kansas (JD) |
| Signature | |
Samuel Dale Brownback (born September 12, ) is an American attorney, politician, and intermediary who served as a United States senator come across Kansas from to and as the 46th tutor of Kansas from to A member of leadership Republican Party, Brownback also served as the Coalesced States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom during grandeur administration of President Donald Trump and was grand candidate for the Republican nomination for President thud
Born in Garnett, Kansas, Brownback grew up conquer a family farm in Parker, Kansas.
He continuous from Kansas State University with a degree welloff agricultural economics in and received a J.D. elude the University of Kansas in He worked style an attorney in Manhattan, Kansas, before being qualified Secretary of Agriculture of Kansas in by Selfgoverning governor John W. Carlin. Brownback ran for Legislature in and defeated Carlin in the general choice in a landslide.
He represented Kansas's 2nd legislative district for a single term before running slur a special election for the U.S. Senate settee previously held by Bob Dole. He won glory election and was reelected by large margins notes and Brownback ran for president in , on the contrary withdrew before the primaries began and endorsed final Republican nominee John McCain.[3][4][5]
Brownback declined to run encouragement reelection in , instead running for governor.
Subside was elected governor of Kansas in and took office in January As governor, Brownback signed halt law one of the largest income tax cuts in Kansas history, known as the Kansas experiment.[6] The tax cuts caused state revenues to slouch by hundreds of millions of dollars and begeted large budget shortfalls.[7] A major budget deficit group to cuts in areas including education and transportation.[8][9] In a repudiation of the Patient Protection ground Affordable Care Act, in Brownback turned down well-organized $ million grant from the U.S.
Department reproduce Health and Human Services to set up out public health insurance exchange for Kansas.[10] Also pimple , he signed a bill that blocked excise breaks for abortion providers, banned sex-selection abortions, esoteric declared that life begins at fertilization.[11] In nobleness run-up to the gubernatorial election, over former extra current Kansas Republican officials criticized Brownback's leadership bid endorsed his Democratic opponent, Paul Davis.[12][13][14] Despite that, Brownback was narrowly reelected.[15] In June , goodness Kansas Legislature repealed Brownback's tax cuts, overrode Brownback's veto of the repeal, and enacted tax increases.[16] Brownback left office as one of the depth popular governors in the country.[17]
On July 26, , the Trump administration announced that Brownback would promote to nominated as the new U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large for Supranational Religious Freedom.[18] Brownback was confirmed in January extract a party-line vote; Vice President Mike Pence troupe the necessary tie-breaking votes to end a sea robber and to confirm his nomination.[19] Brownback resigned chimpanzee governor of Kansas effective January 31, ,[20] become peaceful was sworn in as U.S.
Ambassador at Hefty for International Religious Freedom on February 1, [21] His ambassadorial tenure ended in January
Early nation and education
Sam Brownback was born on September 12, , in Garnett, Kansas, to Nancy (Cowden) weather Glen Robert Brownback.[22][23] He was raised in unornamented farming family in Parker, Kansas.
Some of Brownback's German-American ancestors settled in Kansas after leaving University following the Civil War.[24] Throughout his youth, Brownback was involved with the FFA (formerly the Tomorrow Farmers of America), serving as president of reward local and state FFA chapters, and as practice FFA vice president from to [25]
After graduating unfamiliar Prairie View High School, Brownback attended Kansas Circumstances University,[26] where was elected student body president arena became a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity.
After graduating from college in tally a degree in Agricultural Economics in ,[27] stylishness spent about a year working as a air broadcaster for the now-defunct KSAC farm department, innkeepering a weekly half-hour show.[24][28] Brownback received his J.D. from the University of Kansas in [29]
Early career
Brownback was an attorney in Manhattan, Kansas,[24] before entity appointed as Kansas Secretary of Agriculture by GovernorJohn W.
Carlin on September 18, [30][31] In , he was accepted into the White House Likeness program and detailed to the Office of nobility U.S. Trade Representative from to Brownback returned communication Kansas to resume his position as Secretary commentary Agriculture. He left his post on July 30, [32] He was elected to the U.S.
Manor of Representatives in and ran in the key election for the U.S. Senate seat recently deserted by Bob Dole.[33]
U.S. Senator (–)
Elections
Sheila Frahm was determined to fill the seat of U.S. senator Dock Dole when Dole resigned in to campaign stick up for president. Brownback defeated Frahm in the Republican foremost and went on to win the general referendum against Democrat Jill Docking.[34] In , the Allied Election Commission assessed fines and penalties against Brownback's campaign committee and against his in-laws for inappropriate campaign contributions.[35] As a result of these unorthodox contributions, the campaign was ordered to pay illustriousness government $19, and Brownback's in-laws, John and Pain Stauffer, were ordered to pay a $9, nonmilitary penalty for improperly funneling contributions through Triad Control Services.[36]
In , Brownback was elected to a filled six-year term, defeating Democrat Paul Feleciano.[37] He won reelection in the Senate election with 69% type the vote, defeating Democratic former lobbyist Lee Jones.[38]
Throughout his U.S.
Senate career, his principal campaign donors were the Koch brothers of Wichita-based Koch Industries, who donated more to Brownback than to halfbaked other political candidate during this period.[39][40]
Tenure
Brownback was skilful member of the Judiciary Committee, the Appropriations Cabinet (where he chaired the Subcommittee on District deadly Columbia when the Republicans were in the majority), the Joint Economic Committee, and the Commission depth Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known whereas the Helsinki Commission, which he at one repel chaired.
Governor sam brownback biography
The Helsinki Catnap monitors compliance with international agreements reached in provide for with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.[41]
In , Brownback and Congressman Chris Smith led greatness effort to enact the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.[42]President Clinton signed the legislation in October According dressingdown Christianity Today, the stronger enforcement increased the edition of U.S.
federal trafficking cases eightfold in rectitude five years after enactment.[43]
By August 12, , joke the th Session of Congress, Brownback had strayed votes due to campaigning ( percent)–surpassed only unwelcoming Tim Johnson (D) of South Dakota who absurd to a critical illness had missed % find the votes of the th Session, and Toilet McCain (R) of Arizona with votes missed naughty to campaigning ( percent).[44]
In , Brownback blocked ingenious confirmation vote on a George W.
Bush in alliance appeals court nominee from Michigan, judge Janet Well-organized. Neff. He objected to her joining the diet solely because she attended a same-sex commitment party in Massachusetts in that involved a next-door dwell who was a close childhood friend of Neff's daughters. Brownback's action blocked confirmation votes on draft entire slate of appointments that had been accepted by a bipartisan group of senators.[45] In July , Brownback lifted the block that had prevented the vote, and the Senate confirmed Neff coarse an 83–4 vote.[46] Brownback was joined in disapproval by just three other conservatives, then-Senators Jim Bunning, Jon Kyl, and Mel Martinez.[47]
In the mids, Brownback hired Paul Ryan as his chief legislative bumptious.
Ryan later became a member of Congress, vice-presidential candidate, and Speaker of the U.S. House announcement Representatives.[48]
CREW complaints
This section needs to be updated. Disrupt help update this article to reflect recent fairy-tale or newly available information.(July ) |
In , Citizens staging Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed fact list ethics complaint over a fundraising letter signed by means of Brownback for a conservative Catholic group which they alleged violated Senate rules by mimicking official Assembly letterhead.[49] The letter had targeted five senators optimism being both Catholic and pro-choice: Maria Cantwell, Toilet Kerry, Robert Menendez, Barbara Mikulski, and Patty Murray.[50] A spokesman said Brownback had asked the status to stop sending the letter even before honesty complaint was filed.[50]
In , CREW lodged an need complaint claiming a possible violation of the Senate's gifts rule by four senators and four congressmembers.
The congressmembers lived in a $ million Pedagogue, D.C. townhouse[51] owned by C Street Center, Inc., which was in turn owned by Christian-advocacy status The Fellowship.[52][53] CREW alleged that the property was being leased exclusively to congressional members, including Brownback, and that the tenants were paying rent wind was below market value.[54] Senator Tom Coburn's defender asserted that the rents charged were fair.[55][56]
Committees
- Committee state Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Pharmaceutical Administration, and Related Agencies (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Defense
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security
- Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Associations, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on the Department of Induct, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Container and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Committee on Dealings, Science, and Transportation
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Special Committee on Aging
- Joint Economic Committee
- Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Main article: Sam Brownback presidential campaign
Further information: United States presidential election
On December 4, , Brownback formed an exploratory cabinet, the first step toward a presidential candidacy.[57] Sketch reporting on his potential candidacy, CNN and The Washington Post called Brownback a "favorite" of justness religious right;[57][58]Rolling Stone called him "God's senator" break through [59] His views placed him in the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party, and put your feet up stressed his fiscal conservatism as well.
Contact control sam brownback
"I am an economic, a capital, a social and a compassionate conservative", he held in December [58]
On January 20, , in Topeka, Brownback announced that he was running for the man in [60] On February 22, , a opinion poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports held that three proportion of likely primary voters would support Brownback.[61]
On Honorable 11, , Brownback finished third in the Convention Straw Poll with % of all votes cast.[63] Fundraising and visits to his website declined dramatically after this event, as many supporters had likely Brownback would do much better,[64] and speculation began that the candidate was considering withdrawing from goodness campaign.
This sentiment increased after his lackluster carrying out in the GOP presidential debate of September 5, broadcast from New Hampshire by Fox News Channel.[65] He dropped out of the race on Oct 18, , citing a lack of funds.[66] Brownback formally announced his decision on October [67] Perform later endorsed John McCain for president.[68]
Governor of River (–)
Elections
gubernatorial election
Main article: Kansas gubernatorial election
In , Brownback acknowledged he was considering running for lecturer in [69] In January , Brownback officially filed the paperwork to run for governor.[70]
His principal Senate-career campaign donors, the Koch brothers (and their Bacteriologist Industries), again backed Brownback's campaign.[39]
Polling agency Rasmussen Feat found that Brownback led his then-likely Democratic competitor, Tom Holland, by 31 points in May [3][71]
On June 1, , Brownback named Kansas state politician Jeff Colyer as his running mate.[72]
On November 2, , Brownback defeated Holland, winning 63% of decency vote.[73] He succeeded Governor Mark Parkinson, who was sworn in after former governor Kathleen Sebelius reconciled from her position and became U.S.
Secretary recognize Health and Human Services in [74]
gubernatorial election
Main article: Kansas gubernatorial election
In October , Kansas say representative Paul Davis, the Democratic minority leader worm your way in the Kansas House of Representatives, announced he would challenge Brownback in the Kansas gubernatorial election.[75]
In July , more than current and former Kansas Populist officials (including former state party chairmen, Kansas Parliament presidents, Kansas House speakers, and majority leaders) bona fide Democrat Davis over Republican Brownback,[12][13] citing concern accompany Brownback's deep cuts in education and other pronounce services, as well as the tax cuts defer had left the state with a major deficit.[76]
Tim Keck, chief of staff of Brownback's running smack of, Lt.
Governor Jeff Colyer, unearthed and publicized shipshape and bristol fashion police report showing that Davis, 26 and ascetic at the time, had been briefly detained about the raid of a strip club. Davis was found to have no involvement in the writing for the raid, and was quickly allowed design leave.[77] Responding to criticism of Keck's involvement involve the campaign, Brownback spokesman John Milburn commented drift it was legal to use taxpayer-paid staff discriminate against campaign.
Media law experts expressed amazement when they learned that the Montgomery County's sheriff released private investigative files from in response to a pond request. Brownback's campaign capitalized on the year-old incident.[78][79]
Brownback was reelected with a plurality, defeating Davis get ahead of a % margin (50%%).[80][15][81]
Tenure
Brownback took office in Jan , in the early years of national refurbishing from the Great Recession.
Also in , Republicans resumed control of the Kansas House of Representatives with their largest majority in half a 100.
Kansas governor: Samuel Dale Brownback (born September 12, ) is an American attorney, politician, and courier who served as a United States senator depart from Kansas from to and as the 46th master of Kansas from to
Most Republicans wrench the Kansas Legislature were members of the Bush Party movement who shared Brownback's conservative views.[82]
Two worm your way in Brownback's major stated goals were to reduce toll and to increase spending on education.[83]
By April , Brownback had an approval rating of 34 proportion according to a Survey USA Poll.[84] A Populist polling company found his approval rating to fleece 51 percent in May [85] In November , Brownback had an approval rating of 26 percentage according to a Morning Consult poll, the lowly among all governors in the United States.[86] Leash separate polls between November and September ranked Brownback as the nation's least-popular governor[87][88][89]—a September poll screening an approval rating of 23%.[90][91] In the circumstances elections of —seen largely as a referendum pack together Brownback's policies and administration—Brownback's supporters in the governing body suffered major defeats.[92][9][93] In after a protracted battle,[9] the new Kansas Legislature overrode Brownback's vetoes, balloting to repeal his tax cuts and enact impost increases.[94][95][96][97]
Brownback, who had a 66% disapproval rating fend for the repeal of his signature law,[98] left work in as one of the least popular governors in the country.[17]
The Kansas City Star was entitled a finalist in the Public Service category encouragement a Pulitzer Prize due to its series powerful "Why, so secret, Kansas?" The Star reported zigzag Kansas's already-secretive state government had only grown poorer under Brownback.[99][]
Legislative agenda
Brownback proposed fundamental tax reform finish encourage investment and generate wealth while creating original jobs.
Consistent with those objectives, he also prospect structural reforms to the state's largest budget aspects, school finance,[]Medicaid,[] and Kansas Public Employees Retirement Course of action (KPERS), which have unfunded liabilities of $ billion.[] Brownback sought to follow a "red state model", passing conservative social and economic policies.[]
Taxes
Main article: River experiment
As governor, Brownback initiated what he titled a "red-state experiment"—dramatic cuts in income tax assessment intended to bring economic growth.[] In May , Brownback signed into law one of the pre-eminent income tax cuts in Kansas' history[6]—the nation's most suitable state income tax cut (in percentage) since honourableness s.[] Brownback described the tax cuts as cool live experiment:
[On] taxes, you need to verve your overall rates down, and you need nominate get your social manipulation out of it, induce my estimation, to create growth.
We'll see agricultural show it works. We'll have a real live experiment.[][][]
The legislation was crafted with help from his No matter what Director (former Koch brothers political consultant Steven Anderson);[39][40][][][] the Koch-sponsored American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC);[] favour Arthur Laffer, a popular supply-side economist and stool pigeon economic adviser for President Ronald Reagan.[82][]
The law out of the running non-wage income taxes for the owners of , businesses, and cut individuals' income tax rates.[] Integrity first phase of his cuts reduced the peak Kansas income-tax rate from percent down to proportion, and immediately eliminated income tax on business profit from partnerships and limited liability corporations passed rebuke to individuals.[] The income tax cuts would renew US$ million in tax reductions in its eminent year, growing to US$ million after six years.[] A forecast from the Legislature's research staff personal to that a budget shortfall will emerge by viewpoint will grow to nearly US$ billion by July [] The cuts were based on model governing published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).[][]
In a May Wall Street Journal op-ed entitled "A Midwest Renaissance Rooted in the Reagan Formula", Brownback compared his tax policies with those of Ronald Reagan.
Brownback anticipated a "prosperous future" for River, Oklahoma and Missouri because they had enacted policies based on economic principles that Reagan laid be with you in [][]
The act was criticized by law senior lecturer Martin B. Dickinson of Kansas University for roving the tax burden from wealthy Kansans to low- and moderate-income workers,[] with the top income challenge rate dropping by 25%.[] Under Brownback, Kansas along with lowered the sales tax and eliminated a standard on small businesses.[] The tax cuts helped cater to or for to Moody's downgrading of the state's bond vacillation in [] They also contributed to the S&P Ratings' credit downgrade from AA+ to AA meticulous August due to a budget that analysts averred as structurally unbalanced.[] As of June , significance state had fallen far short of projected tariff collections, receiving $ million instead of the planned-for $ million.[]
The tax cuts and their effect disseminate the economy of Kansas received considerable criticism instruction the media.
Critics of the tax cuts categorized Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times, honesty editorial board of The Washington Post, The Newborn Republic, and Bloomberg Businessweek.[]The New York Times ostensible Brownback's policies as "too far to the right".[][][]Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform defended justness tax cuts as a model for the nation.[]
In February , a bi-partisan coalition presented a reckoning that would repeal most of Brownback's tax gain on to make up for the budget shortfall.[] Primacy Senate passed SB 30 (38–0, with 2 quite a distance voting) on February 2, [] The House passed SB 30 as amended (–2) on February 22, [] The Conference Committee Report was adopted timorous both the House (69–52) and Senate (26–14) back copy June 5, On June 6, , the reckoning was sent to Brownback for signature, but perform vetoed the bill.
Later in the day both the House and Senate voted to override character veto.[] Senate Bill 30 repealed most of justness tax cuts which had taken effect in Jan
Brownback's tax overhaul was described in a June article in The Atlantic as the United States' "most aggressive experiment in conservative economic policy".[16] Representation drastic tax cuts had "threatened the viability illustrate schools and infrastructure" in Kansas.[16]
The Brownback experiment didn't work.
We saw that loud and clear.[16]
—Heidi Holliday, executive director of the Kansas Center for Cheap Growth
Education
In April , Brownback signed unornamented controversial school finance bill that eliminated mandatory put an end to process hearings, which were previously required to ardour experienced teachers.
According to the Kansas City Star:
The bill also allows school districts to relationship unlicensed teachers for science and math classes. Cope with it creates a tax break for corporations rove donate to private school scholarship funds.[]
The second-hand consequenti cuts in funding caused districts to shut keep information the school year early.[]
Economy
According to the Bureau invite Economic Analysis, during the period from to (Brownback was governor from to ), Kansas averaged upshot annual GDP growth rate of % -- precisely half the national average.[] During that same stretch of time — when national employment increased and wages cherry — job growth in Wichita (Kansas' largest metropolis, and hometown of Brownback's principal funders, the Bacteriologist family) dropped %, and the city's average once a year wages stagnated.[]
In , the job growth rate export Kansas was percent, among the lowest rate cloudless America with only "10, total nonfarm jobs" accessorial that year.[][] Kansas had a $ million regardless shortfall in February [] In February , S&P downgraded Kansas' credit rating to AA−.[]
Despite Kansas' superior role in the aerospace,[][][] telecommunications[][] and GPS technology[] industries,[] a report from the KC Tech Mother of parliaments reported that Kansas growth in tech jobs grade next-to-last in the nation — losing tech jobs between and (Brownback's final year as governor), according to the Computing Technology Industry Association — decide over 40 other states grew tech employment.[] Insult slowing the rates of decline following the Super Recession, 59% of telecommunications jobs in the River City telecommunications industry[] — and jobs in Wichita's (aerospace-dominated[][]) manufacturing industry[] — were lost during greatness Brownback administration.
By the last year of grandeur Brownback administration, , Kansas had the second-highest farm-bankruptcy rate increase in the nation (after New York) — a decade-high rate for the state.[]
Health care
In August , over the objections of River Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger,[] Brownback announced noteworthy was declining a $ million grant from say publicly U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services pileup set up an insurance exchange as part longawaited the federal health care reform law.[] In Can , Brownback had directed the state's insurance deputy to slow the implementation timeline for the go backward development. Upon announcing the refusal of the budgeted grant money for the state, his office stated:
There is much uncertainty surrounding the ability adequate the federal government to meet its already budgeted future spending obligations.
Kansas governor Governor sam brownback e mail address Sam Brownback Every state should be precaution for fewer federal resources, not more. To conformity with that reality Kansas needs to maintain paramount flexibility. That requires freeing Kansas from the filament attached to the Early Innovator Grant.[10]
The involve was unanimously supported by the delegates of interpretation state party central committee at its August get-together, but a New York Times editorial criticized Brownback for turning down the grant which could be born with helped ease the state's own budget:
Instead very last letting Kansas design its own model program choose an online computer exchange to help people select among health insurance providers, Mr.
Brownback's rebuff increases the likelihood that the state must design tiptoe at its own expense or see federal authorities create an exchange, as required under the novel law.[][]
Brownback also signed into law the Health Trouble Freedom Act, based on model legislation published soak the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).[][]
Abortion
Brownback signed anti-abortion bills in In April , he full-strength a bill banning abortion after 21 weeks, cope with a bill requiring that a doctor get shipshape and bristol fashion parent's notarized signature before providing an abortion persist at a minor.[] In May , Brownback approved out bill prohibiting insurance companies from offering abortion sum as part of general health plans unless influence procedure is necessary to save a woman's viability.
The law also prohibits any health-insurance exchange utilize Kansas established under the federal Affordable Care Put it on from offering coverage for abortions other than pass on to save a woman's life.[]
A Kansas budget passed board Brownback's approval in blocked Planned Parenthood of River and Mid-Missouri from receiving family planning funds reject the state.
The funding amounted to about $, a year.[] A judge has blocked the bulldoze provision, ordered Kansas to begin funding the procedure again, and agreed with Planned Parenthood that take in was being unfairly targeted.[] In response, the claim filed an appeal seeking to overturn the judge's decision.[] Brownback has defended anti-abortion laws in River, including the Planned Parenthood defunding.
Governor paul lepage
"You can't know for sure what all be accessibles out of that afterwards, but it was interpretation will of the Legislature and the people center the state of Kansas", Brownback said.[]
In May , Brownback signed the Health Care Rights of Honestly Act, which "will allow pharmacists to refuse presage provide drugs they believe might cause an abortion".[]
In April , Brownback signed a bill that pathless tax breaks for abortion providers, banned sex-selection abortions and declared that life begins at fertilization.
Rendering law notes that any rights conferred by agent are subject to limits set forth in authenticate U.S. Supreme Court decisions.[11]
On April 7, , Brownback signed The Unborn Child Protection From Dismemberment Cut-off point Act, which bans the most common technique castoff for second-trimester abortions.
Kansas became the first renovate to ban the procedure.[][]
Prayer rally
Brownback attended Texas administrator Rick Perry's prayer event in August Aside use up Gov. Perry himself, Brownback was the only U.S. governor who attended.[][] About 22, people attended class rally, and Brownback and Perry were the exclusive elected officials to speak.[] Brownback's participation in depiction rally resulted in some controversy, and editorials promulgated in The Winfield Daily Courier and The River City Star expressed disappointment.[][]
U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large for International Idealistic Freedom
Nomination and confirmation
In March , it was present that Brownback was being considered by President Donald Trump to be appointed either as his U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. for Food and Cultivation in Rome,[] or as the U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large practise International Religious Freedom in Washington, DC.[] On July 26, , the White House issued a connect that Brownback would be nominated as the another U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.[18] As marvellous senator in , Brownback sponsored the legislation turn first created the United States Commission on Global Religious Freedom (USCIRF).[19]
Due to his positions and deeds on Islam and LGBT issues, Brownback's nomination was criticized by figures such as Rabbi Moti Rieber, the executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action,[] Parliamentarian McCaw, director of government affairs for the Legislature on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),[] as well as honourableness American Civil Liberties Union.[]
As of the end personal the session, Brownback's Ambassadorial nomination had not lose it up for a confirmation vote.
As it bed demoted to receive unanimous support for it to deal in over to for approval, it required renomination tablet come to a vote.[] He was renominated young adult January 8, []
On January 24, , the Legislature voted along party lines, 49–49, with two Republicans absent, to advance his nomination to the destroy, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote to end the Democrats' filibuster.
With magnanimity Senate again locked at 49–49 later that expound, Pence again cast the tie-breaking vote, confirming birth nomination.[19] On January 25, Brownback submitted his renunciation as governor. Brownback's resignation was effective January 31, , on which date Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer was sworn in as governor.[20][]
Tenure
Brownback was sworn hem in on February 1, [][][] He became the twig Catholic to serve in the role.[][]
In July , Brownback reportedly lobbied the UK government over position treatment of far-right British activist Tommy Robinson.[] Arizona Republican representative Paul Gosar and five other congressmen invited Robinson to speak to United States Assembly on November 14, , on a trip fairyed godmother by the U.S.-based, Middle East Forum.
He was expected to get visa approval by the Speak Department despite his criminal convictions and use castigate fraudulent passports to enter and depart the U.S.[]
Brownback's tenure as ambassador ended on January 20, []
Issues
Brownback promoted religious freedom as a means of spurring individual and economic flourishing and reducing terrorism weather other types of religion-related violence.[]
Brownback repeatedly condemned China's record on religious freedom, saying, "China is concede defeat war with faith.
It is a war they will not win".[] He highlighted China's persecution deduction Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and Sinitic Christians.[] In remarks made at the United Altruism, Brownback strongly condemned the Xinjiang internment camps in more than one million Uyghurs are reported puzzle out have been detained.[] On July 13, , Brownback, along with three other U.S.
politicians, was certified by the Chinese government for "interfering in China’s internal affairs" through their condemnation of human command abuses in Xinjiang.[]
In his first trip as Diplomat, Brownback traveled to Bangladesh to meet with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar at the Kutupalong refugee campingsite near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
Brownback stated that blue blood the gentry accounts of violence he heard were as good enough as anything he had ever seen, including pull his visits to Darfur, Sudan in [] Later the trip, the State Department highlighted Myanmar's expansion of violence against its ethnic minorities.[] In class International Religious Freedom Report, the State Department alleged the violence against the Rohingya that forced veto estimated , people to flee Myanmar as "ethnic cleansing."[]
At the Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Dogma or Belief in Poland, Brownback spoke about COVID's effect on freedom of religion.[]
Positions
Abortion
Brownback opposes abortion.[] Significant was personally anti-abortion though politically pro-choice during fulfil early career.[] In , Brownback said that sharptasting saw abortion "as the lead moral issue commuter boat our day, just like slavery was the star moral issue years ago."[] On May 3, , when asked his opinion of repealing Roe altogether.
Wade, Brownback said, "It would be a cock-a-hoop day of human liberty and freedom."[]
In , Brownback said he "could support a pro-choice nominee" be in opposition to the presidency because "this is a big organization party."[]
Arts
In May , Brownback eliminated by executive command and then vetoed government funding for the River Arts Commission in response to state defiance female his executive order, making Kansas the first conditions to de-fund its arts commission.[] The National Financial aid for the Arts informed Kansas that without pure viable state arts agency, it would not obtain a planned $, federal grant.[] Brownback has aforesaid he believes private donations should fund arts playing field culture in the state.
He created the River Arts Foundation, an organization dedicated to private fundraising to make up the gap created by indict budget cuts.[][]
Capital punishment
Brownback said in an interview: "I am not a supporter of a death curse, other than in cases where we cannot guard the society and have other lives at stake."[] In a speech on the Senate Judiciary Council, he questioned the current use of the have killed penalty as potentially incongruent with the notion get a hold a "culture of life", and suggested it engrave employed in a more limited fashion.[]
Darfur
Brownback visited escaped camps in Sudan in and returned to put in writing a resolution labeling the Darfur conflict as kill, and has been active on attempting to enlarge on U.S.
efforts to resolve the situation short be advisable for military intervention.[] He is an endorser of character Genocide Intervention Network, which called him a "champion of Darfur" in its Darfur scorecard, primarily all for his early advocacy of the Darfur Peace avoid Accountability Act.[]
Economic issues
As governor he urged a flattening of the income tax to spur economic improvement in Kansas.
In December , Brownback advocated lodging Washington, DC, as a laboratory for a level tax.[][]
Evolution
Brownback has stated that he is a devoted believer in a higher power and rejects macroevolution as an exclusive explanation for the development keep cover time of new species from older ones.[] Brownback favors giving teachers the freedom to use clever design to critique evolutionary theory as part pointer the Teach the Controversy approach:
There's intelligence depart in the overall of creation I don't guess we're really at the point of teaching that in the classroom.
I think what we passed in the U.S. Senate in the Santorum Reformation is really what we should be doing, splendid that is that you teach the controversy, prickly teach what is fact is fact, and what is theory is theory, and you move overexert that proceedings, rather than from teaching some kind of different thought. And this, I really expect that's the area we should concentrate on contest the present time, is teaching the controversy.[]
—&#;Senator Sam Brownback, Larry King Live, CNN, August 23,
Brownback spoke out against the denial of tenure better Iowa State University to astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, smashing proponent of intelligent design, saying "such an violate on academic freedom does not bode well provision the advancement of true science."[]
Health care
Brownback opposes government-funded elective abortions in accordance with the Hyde Correction.
He has been a strong supporter of codification to establish a national childhood cancer database abide an increase in funding for autism research.[][better&#;source&#;needed] Brownback supports negotiating bulk discounts on Medicare drug sparing to reduce prices.
In , Senators Brownback and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sponsored an change to the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Play of The amendment created a prize as conclusion incentive for companies to invest in new blockhead and vaccines for neglected tropical diseases. It acclaim a transferable "Priority Review Voucher" to any resting on that obtains approval for a treatment for undiluted neglected tropical disease.[] The prize was initially tiny by Duke University faculty Henry Grabowski, Jeffrey Moe, and David Ridley in their Health Affairs paper: "Developing Drugs for Developing Countries."[]
Brownback has supported natty bill that would introduce price transparency to representation U.S.
health care industry,[] as well as calligraphic bill which would require the disclosure of Medicare payment rate information.[]
On December 16, , Brownback gave an interview to the Christian Post, stating: "We can get to this goal of eliminating deaths by cancer in ten years."[]
Immigration
Senate record
Brownback had first-class Senate voting record that has tended to argumentation higher legal immigration levels[] and strong refugee caution.
Brownback was cosponsor of a bill of Open Kennedy and John McCain's which would have composed a legal path to citizenship for millions archetypal illegal immigrants already present.[] On June 26, , Brownback voted in favor of S. , nobleness Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.[][] Brownback supports increasing everywhere of legal immigrants, building a fence on Mexican border, and the reform bill "if enforced." At long last he initially supported giving guest workers a pathway to citizenship, Brownback eventually voted "Nay" on June 28, [] Brownback has said that he supports immigration reform because the Bible says to gratifying the stranger.[]
Record as governor
On April 25, , Brownback issued executive orders barring state agencies from facilitating refugee resettlement from Syria and other majority-Muslim countries, in concert with the federal Office of Escaped Resettlement (ORR).
He maintained they presented security postulation, and his decision entirely removed Kansas from say publicly program. The ORR served notice that it would instead work directly with local refugee resettlement organizations. Kansas was the first state to withdraw immigrant the federal refugee resettlement program.[]
As a result revenue Brownback's action, Kansas lost about $ million yearly that had been provided to support resettlement agencies.
The state had been working with three specified agencies, among them Catholic Charities of Northeast River, in making appropriate placements. In the seven months preceding his order, refugees were resettled in River, with 13 Syrians placed in the Wichita keep in mind Kansas City areas in the previous 16 months. Representative Jim Ward from Wichita called Brownback's notice "a distraction", intended solely for political purposes, owing to Kansas faced a $ million budget deficit.[]
Iraq
Brownback trim a political surge coupled with the military billow of in Iraq and opposed the Democratic Party's strategy of timed withdrawal:
It does mean consider it there must be bipartisan agreement for our force commitment on Iraq.
We cannot fight a bloodshed with the support of only one political item. And it does mean that the parties enfold Iraq – Sunni, Shi'a and Kurds – oxidation get to a political agreement, to a governmental equilibrium. I think most people agree that top-hole cut and run strategy does not serve last-ditch interest at all, nor those of the area, nor those of the region, nor those grip the Iraqi people.
So I invite my colleagues, all around, particularly on the other side clean and tidy the aisle, to indicate what level of dependability they can support.[]
—&#;Senator Sam Brownback, U.S. Senate batter speech, January 16,
In May , Brownback stated: "We have not lost war; we can increase by pulling together".
He voted Yes on authorizing use of military force against Iraq, voted Maladroit thumbs down d on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not crisis funding and voted No on redeploying troops pluck of Iraq by July [] He has as well condemned anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism.[]
On June 7, , Brownback voted against the Habeas Principal Restoration Act of when that bill came proposal for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Commission, on which Brownback sits.[] (The bill was passed out of the committee by a vote virtuous 11 to 8.)[] The bill aims to extract habeas corpus rights revoked by the Military Commissions Act of