• Charles Schumer is a Democratic Senator from New York. He's currently the third-highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate, behind Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, and is considered the fourth most-powerful Senator overall. He will replace Dianne Feinstein as head of the Rules and Administration Committee in the next Congress.CBS News: Reid Reshuffles Committee Heads (December 15, 2008)

  On February 20, 2009, Schumer stated during an interview that he felt like failed "zombie" banks should be nationalized, stripped down and then resold by the federal government. He did caution that this was a move of last resort and should only take place if a bank became insolvent.Huffington Post: Schumer: Failed 'Zombie' Banks Should Be Nationalized (February 20, 2009)

• 1. Born: November 23, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York
  2. Assumed office: January 6, 1999
  3. Up for re-election in 2011
  4. Spouse: Iris Weinshall
  5. Religion: Jewish
  6. Has never lost an election
  7. Chairman: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
  8. Co-authored the controversial 1994 Assault Weapons Ban
  9. Voted against Clinton impeachment in both houses of Congress
  10. Scored a 1600 on the SAT
  11. Appeared on the TV quiz show It's Academic

• Political Background

  Schumer has never had a job outside of professional politics.

  After graduating from Harvard Law School, Schumer won a seat on the New York State Assembly, becoming its youngest elected member since Theodore Roosevelt. He entered the House in 1980, representing Queens and Brooklyn, and was re-elected eight times.

  Schumer entered the Senate in 1998, beating out former Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro in the Democratic primary. He's currently Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts and the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development.

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