ky_sen_BUNNING
JIM BUNNING
Age: 67 Born: October 23, 1931 in Southgate, Kentucky Education: Xavier University, B.A. (1953) Military: none Family: Married - Mary Catherine; 9 children; 32 grandchildren Hometown: Southgate, KY Religion: Catholic Career: US House of Representatives (1986-present); Kentucky State Senate(1979-83); Investment Broker and Sports Agent (1960-86), Major League Baseball Player (1950-71). |
· Six-term Republican Rep. Jim Bunning was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 to succeed retiring Republican Rep. M. Gene Snyder.
· In the House, Bunning has shown no remorse as the only dissenting Kentucky-delegation vote on two high profile issues: the 1994 Crime Bill, as well as legislation tightening lobbyist registration rules and limiting gifts to government officials.
· In 1983, Bunning lost his bid for KY Governor to Democrat Martha Layne Collins.
· Outside of the political arena, Bunning is best known for his stellar record in Professional Baseball. During his 16-year career, he played for 4 teams, won over 100 games, pitched 2 no-hitters, as well as a perfect game against the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
· After his 1986 election victory, he said, "even pitching perfect games in baseball does not compare with the exhilaration you get in winning a campaign and having so many people work so darn hard to accomplish one goal".
· Bunning served on the House Ethics Committee for six years, beginning in 1992. He led the charge against the House Bank Overdraft scandal. In 1997, he resigned over what he calls partisanship ranking of Democrat Jim McDermott.
· In 1993, he called President Clinton, "the most corrupt, the most amoral, the most despicable prson I have ever seen in the Presidency".
· Bunning was the principal sponsor of legislation establishing adoption tax credits and ending the ban on trans-racial adoptions.
· At last count, Bunning has thirty-two (32) grandchildren.