RIP - Frank Lautenberg

Yesterday, Senator Frank Lautenberg died at the age of 89. He represented my home state of New Jersey, and had been a highly influential senator.

He died of complications from viral pneumonia. It had been announced that he had gotten stomach cancer in 2010, and Lautenberg had already decided not to run again this next election cycle. His health had become more and more of an issue over time, and he began to miss quite a few important votes due to health concerns.

Lautenberg had joined politics relatively late in life, following a successful business career. He was never one of the most famous politicians, yet he could be remarkably effective at times.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid once said of him: "Frank Lautenberg has been one of the most productive senators in the history of this country."

Among some of the most notable accomplishments in his career was to establish a national drinking age of 21, in the mid-eighties.

During his next tenure in Congress, he managed to establish a standard minimum recognition of drunkenness level, designed to crack down on drunk driving. Another major achievement was his pivotal role in eliminating smoking on airlines, and a 1996 law that denied gun ownership to those who had a history of domestic violence. This may seem like common sense legislation, but look at how strongly gun advocates fight against legislation that is supported by an overwhelming majority of American people. These are not small accomplishments.

He was also crucial in the Toxic Right To Know" law, that allowed people to learn of pollutants that had been released into communities, and was prominent in banning offshore dumping. His support of the Superfund cleanup efforts geared to protect American citizens from corporate irresponsibility in poisoning communities was instrumental.

Another priority with Lautenberg was the railway system, and he was crucial in doubling Amtrak's subsidies in 2008. He had also been instrumental in supporting funds for improved highway and infrastructure in general.

He was praised by all sides yesterday, including his political adversaries.

Lautenberg was one of the last of the surviving prominent politicians from the World War II era, having been a veteran who saw action in Europe. He was the last veteran from that war in the Senate.

His death now leaves Governor Christie with a huge decision on how to go about replacing him, given not only Christie's own relection bid this year to remain as governor, but his seeming ambition for a potential 2016 presidential bid.

Much of the information on this blog entry came from the following:

NPR radio reports

"Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey Senator in His 5th Term, Dies at 89" by Adam Clymer of the New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/nyregion/frank-lautenberg-new-jersey-senator.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

"Frank Lautenberg dies; was U.S. Senate's last WW II vet" By Dana Bash and Mark Preston of CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/03/politics/obit-lautenberg/index.html

"Sen. Frank Lautenberg, five-term New Jersey Democrat, dies at 89" by Emma Brown of the Washinton Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/sen-frank-lautenberg-five-term-new-jersey-democrat-dies-at-89/2013/06/03/c8b60c8e-c5da-11df-94e1-c5afa35a9e59_story.html