Saxby Chambliss

Chambliss with Zell Miller in 2004

Upon urging from Karl Rove and the Bush administration who viewed the Democratic party of Georgia as vulnerable, Chambliss ran for the Senate in 2002, facing freshman Democratic incumbent Max Cleland.

Fellow Republicans criticized him after he ran an ad against Cleland, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, in which he argued he was weak on defense and homeland security.[12] Chambliss received criticism from Democrats and Republicans for this ad, pointing out that he, who hadn't served in the Vietnam War due to receiving military deferments, had attacked a Vietnam War veteran who lost three limbs during his service for not being tough enough on issues of war and homeland security.[13] Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said of one ad, "It's worse than disgraceful, it's reprehensible."[14] McCain, along with Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, made significant complaints to the Republican National Committee until the ads were taken down.[15] Chambliss supporters disagreed with the criticism, saying the advertisement did not question Cleland's patriotism, but rather his judgment.[16][17]

Chambliss won the election, receiving 53 percent of the votes to Cleland's 46 percent.

On November 4, 2008, Chambliss received 50% of the vote, while Democratic challenger Jim Martin received 47% and Libertarian Allen Buckley received 3% of the vote.[18]

Since no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote, a runoff election between Chambliss and Martin was held on December 2, 2008.

Chambliss defeated Martin 57% to 43% in the runoff election.[19][20]

During the run-off period, Chambliss received a subpoena regarding the investigation of a lawsuit against Imperial Sugar that claims that Imperial "wrongfully" failed to remove hazards that caused the disaster of a Savannah-based sugar refinery that exploded on February 7, 2008. Chambliss was accused of "harassing"[21] a former sugar company executive. In a statement, Chambliss said he has referred the matter to Senate lawyers. Chambliss has stated: "I continue to sympathize with the families who were devastated by this tragedy and I will continue to work to protect the interests of those families." Savannah attorney Mark Tate, "an active backer of Democratic candidates," insisted that "there is nothing political" about the timing of the subpoena. When Tate subpoenaed Chambliss to testify in the case, Chambliss claimed "legislative immunity."[22][23][24]

[25]

Vice Chairman Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Senate Armed Services Committee

• Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
• Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
• Subcommittee on Personnel

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

• Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation
• Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

Senate Special Committee on Aging

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Sportsmen Foundation
• Juvenile Diabetes Caucus
• National Guard Caucus
• Rural Health Caucus
• Senate Caucus on Military Depots, Arsenals and Ammunition Plants
• Co-Chair, Senate Reserve Caucus
• Steering Committee

Chambliss's voting record was typically that of voting in line with conservative issues.[26][27] He is the primary sponsor in the United States Senate of the tax-reform proposal The Fair Tax Act (S. 1025), attracting more cosponsors than any other fundamental tax reform bill introduced. Chambliss was one of the co-sponsors of the controversial bill, (PIPA).[28]

Although Chambliss has a conservative voting record, he participated in bi-partisan legislation—such as the 2007 Farm Bill, the bi-partisan immigration reform (led by John McCain and Ted Kennedy) in 2007[29] and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.[29] He is also the Republican leader of the Gang of 10, a bipartisan group which has worked to create a compromise surrounding the energy policy of the United States.

On March 6, 2013, Chambliss was one of 12 Senators invited to a private dinner hosted, and personally paid for, by President Obama at The Jefferson Hotel.[30] That same night, Chambliss participated in Rand Paul's filibuster over the government's use of lethal drone strikes—forcing the Senate to delay the expected confirmation of John O. Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.[31]

In April 2013, Chambliss was one of forty-six senators to vote against a bill which would have expanded background checks for all firearms buyers. Chambliss voted with 40 Republicans and 5 Democrats to stop the passage of the bill.[32]

Chambliss received bipartisan criticism in 2013 after discussing the "hormone level created by nature" as a possible cause of sexual assault in the military.[33]

In January 2014 Chambliss signed an amicus brief in support of Senator Ron Johnson's legal challenge against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Affordable Care Act ruling.[34]

On abortion issues, the ratings given Chambliss as of 2007 by National Right to Life Committee and NARAL Pro-Choice America identify him as having an anti-abortion voting record. The National Right to Life Committee gave him a 100% rating, while NARAL Pro-Choice America gave him a 0% rating.[35][36]

On 2nd Amendment issues, in 2008, the NRA gave Chambliss an "A+" rating and the NRA also endorsed him.[37][38]

On agricultural issues, the American Farm Bureau gave Chambliss its "Friend of the Farm Bureau" award throughout his service in the U.S. Senate.[39]

On economic issues including voting on the national budget, national spending, and taxes, in 2007, the National Tax Limitation Committee gave Chambliss a 90% rating,[40] and the group Americans for Tax Reform gave him a 100% rating.[41]

On civil liberties and civil rights issues, in 2007, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) gave him a 17% rating,[42] and the NAACP gave him a 27% rating.[43] The Human Rights Campaign gave him a 0% rating for 2005–2006[44] and a 20% rating for 2007–2008.[45]

On education issues, in 2008, the Center for Education Reform, gave Chambliss a score of 9 out of 9, and called him a "real reformer",[46] while the National Education Association gave him an "F" in 2007.[47]

On organized labor issues, in 2007 the AFL-CIO gave Chambliss an 11% rating,[48] and the International Foodservice Distributors Association gave him an 85% rating.[49]

On environmental issues, in 2003 the League of Conservation Voters gave Chambliss a 0% rating.[50]