"Gillibrand" redirects here. For other uses see Gillibrand (disambiguation). Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator from New York Incumbent Assumed office  January 26 2009 Serving with Chuck Schumer Appointed by David Paterson Preceded by Hillary Rodham Clinton Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th district In office January 3 2007  January 26 2009 Preceded by John E. Sweeney Succeeded by Scott Murphy Born Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik December 9 1966 (1966-12-09) (age 44) Albany New York Nationality American Political party Democratic Party Spouse(s) Jonathan Gillibrand (m. 2001) Children Theodore Gillibrand (b. 2005) Henry Gillibrand (b. 2008) Residence Brunswick New York Alma mater Dartmouth College (B.A. 1988) UCLA School of Law (J.D. 1991) Occupation Attorney Politician Religion Roman Catholic Signature Website Official Senate Website Campaign Website

Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand ( /krstn dlbrnd/ keer-stn jil--brand; born December 9 1966) is the junior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to being appointed to the Senate by New York Governor David Paterson in 2009 she was elected twice to the House of Representatives representing New York's 20th congressional district.

Gillibrand was born and raised in the Albany area. She is a 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College where she majored in Asian studies. She received her Juris Doctor from UCLA Law School in 1991 and passed the bar the same year. She was an associate in the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell in Manhattan before becoming a partner at Boies Schiller & Flexner in Albany.

Gillibrand won an upset congressional election in November 2006 beating four-term incumbent John E. Sweeney 53% to 47%. Her reelection campaign in 2008 against Sandy Treadwell was significantly easier winning 62% to 38%. In December 2008 President Barack Obama nominated Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State leaving an empty seat in the New York senate delegation. After two months and many potential names considered Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to fill the seat. Gillibrand was required to run in a special election in 2010 which she easily won with 63% of the vote. Her term ends in 2013 and she is currently running for reelection in 2012.

Originally known in the House for conservative and centrist liberal views since her appointment to the Senate Gillibrand has been seen more as a progressive Democrat. In both cases her viewpoints were significantly defined by her constituency (a heavily Republican congressional district versus a largely liberal US state). In the House Gillibrand was an opponent of strict gun control against amnesty for illegal immigrants and she voted twice against the 2008 bailout of the US financial system. In the Senate she focused on support of gay rights authored legislation to crack down on illegal guns and gun traffickers scaled back her former support of gun rights and changed her views on immigration through support of the DREAM Act; she is best known for successfully championing both the repeal of Don't ask don't tell and the adoption of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Gillibrand currently resides in Brunswick with her husband Jonathan Gillibrand a venture capitalist and British national and their two sons Theodore and Henry. Contents 1 Early years and education 2 Legal career 3 House of Representatives 3.1 2006 campaign 3.2 110th Congress 3.3 2008 campaign 3.4 Committee assignments 4 Senate 4.1 Appointment 4.2 111th Congress 4.3 2010 election 4.4 2012 election 4.5 Committee assignments 5 Political views 5.1 Abortion and reproductive rights 5.2 Economic crisis measures 5.3 Government transparency 5.4 Gun control 5.5 Health care reform legislation 5.6 Illegal immigration 5.7 Labor 5.8 LGBT issues 5.9 Taxes 6 Personal life 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links Early years and education

A member of a politically active family Kirsten Rutnik was born on December 9 1966 to Douglas Rutnik and Polly Noonan Rutnik. Her father is an attorney and lobbyist and is known for his close ties to Republicans Alfonse D'Amato (former United States senator) and George Pataki (former governor) although he himself is a registered Democrat.1 Gillibrand's mother is a retired attorney; the couple opened a law firm and practiced together until they divorced when Gillibrand was 22 years old.2 Gillibrand has an older brother Doug Rutnik and a younger sister Erin Rutnik Tschantret.34 Her maternal grandmother was Dorothea "Polly" Noonan founder of the Albany Democratic Women's Club and a leader in Albany Mayor Erastus Corning's powerful political machine which lasted for more than 40 years.13Note 1

Gillibrand grew up in Albany and was known by the nickname Tina a name adopted by her brother when he couldn't pronounce "Kirsten".23 In 1984 she graduated from Emma Willard School in Troy5 and went on to Dartmouth College.3 As an Asian Studies major she became functionally fluent in Mandarin Chinese; she studied in both Beijing and Taiwan and adopted a Chinese name Lu Tian Na ().6 She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1988.7 While at Dartmouth Gillibrand was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.7 During college she interned at Senator D'Amato's Albany office.8 Following Dartmouth Gillibrand attended UCLA Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1991.9 She passed the bar the same year.2 Legal career

In 1991 Gillibrand joined the Manhattan office of Davis Polk & Wardwell as an associate.2 In 1992 she took a leave from Davis Polk to serve as a law clerk to Judge Roger Miner on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Albany.410 It was at this time she dropped the childhood nickname Tina; Judge Miner refused to call her by a nickname and Kirsten stuck.3

Gillibrand's tenure at Davis Polk is best known for her work as a defense attorney for tobacco giant Philip Morris during major litigation including both civil lawsuits and U.S. Justice Department criminal and civil racketeering probes. According to The New York Times "Gillibrand was involved in some of the most sensitive matters related to the defense of the tobacco giant as it confronted pivotal legal battles beginning in the mid-1990s."11 Gillibrand rarely comments on her work for Philip Morris citing attorney-client privilege.Note 2 She states that she had no control over cases and clients she received12 though The New York Times claims otherwise.13 While working on the Philip Morris case Gillibrand was promoted to senior associate.12 Gillibrand indicates her work for Philip Morris allowed her to take on multiple pro bono cases defending abused women and their children as well as defending tenants seeking safe housing after lead paint and unsafe conditions were found in their homes.4 I was just a young lawyer thinking What am I doing with my life What am I doing with my career As I watched her on that stage I thought Why arent I there It was so poignant for me. And thats what made me figure out how to get involved in politics. Gillibrand describing Hillary Clinton's influence on her entering politics4 While working for Davis Polk Gillibrand became involved inand later the leader ofthe Women's Leadership Forum a program of the Democratic National Committee. Gillibrand states that a speech to the group by Senator Hillary Clinton left an impressionable mark on her: "Clinton was trying to encourage us to become more active in politics and she said 'If you leave all the decision-making to others you might not like what they do and you will have no one but yourself to blame.' It was such a challenge to the women in the room. And it really hit me: Shes talking to me."2 Following her time at Davis Polk Gillibrand served as Special Counsel to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Andrew Cuomo during the last year of the Clinton administration.5 She worked on HUD's Labor Initiative and its New Markets Initiative as well as on TAP's Young Leaders Of The American Democracy on strengthening DavisBacon Act enforcement.14 In 1999 Gillibrand began working on Hillary Clinton's 2000 US Senate campaign. There she focused on campaigning to young women and encouraging them to join the campaign. Many of those women would end up working on Gillibrand's future campaigns.1 Gillibrand and Clinton became close during the election with Clinton becoming something of a mentor to the young lawyer.4 Gillibrand's fondness for Clinton has seen her donate more than $12000 to Clinton's senate campaigns.15 In 2001 Gillibrand became a partner at the Manhattan office of Boies Schiller & Flexner where one of her clients was the Altria Group Philip Morris' parent company. In 2002 she informed Boies of interest in running for office and was allowed to transfer to the firm's Albany office. She left Boies in 2005 to begin her 2006 campaign for congress.411 House of Representatives 2006 campaign Main article: New York 20th congressional district election 2006 Four-term incumbent John E. Sweeney lost a reelection bid to Gillibrand in 2006. Gillibrand's first run for office was in the 2006 race in New York's 20th congressional district against four-term Republican incumbent John E. Sweeney.Note 3 The 20th district encompasses all or part of Columbia Dutchess Delaware Essex Greene Otsego Rensselaer Saratoga Warren and Washington counties.16 Traditionally conservative it had been considered a safe seat for Republicans to such an extent that after redistricting in 2002 then-Congressman Sweeney was quoted as saying that no Republican can ever lose the district.17 In November 2006 the Republican Party held an enrollment advantage over Democrats of 82737 voters (197473 to 114736).18 Engaging New York's electoral fusion election laws Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families lines. In addition to having the Republican nomination Sweeney was endorsed by the Conservative and Independence parties.19 During the campaign Gillibrand was a popular candidate with Democrats. Mike McNulty Democratic Congressman from the neighboring 21st congressional district campaigned for her as did both Hillary and Bill Clinton; the former president appeared twice at campaign events.20 The election was noted as being vital to returning control of the House to Democrats. As such both parties poured millions of dollars into the respective campaigns.21 Both campaigns spent a portion of those dollars on heated campaign ads; each campaign accused the other of "fighting dirty with negative campaign advertising and of dragging the opponent's family into the campaign." Gillibrand was seen as a moderate by many conservatives. The American Conservative described her eventual win by saying "Gillibrand won her upstate New York district by running to the right: she campaigned against amnesty for illegal immigrants promised to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington and pledged to protect gun rights."22 The probable turning point of the election was the November 1 release of a December 2005 police report of a 911 call made by Sweeney's wife in which she claimed Sweeney was "knocking her around the house". The Sweeney campaign claimed it was a lie and promised to have the official report released by State Police but never came through on that promise.20 In response the Sweeney campaign released an ad during which Sweeney's wife described Gillibrand's campaign as "a disgrace."23 By November 5 a Siena College Research Poll showed Gillibrand ahead of Sweeney by three points (46% to 43% although that was still within the 3.9% margin of error).24 Gillibrand ended up winning with 53.10 percent of the vote (a 6-point lead).19 She began her first term on January 3 2007 in the 110th Congress. Following her win Republicans quickly began speculating about who would run against her in 2008. Len Cutler director of the Center for the Study of Government and Politics at Siena College indicated that the seat would be difficult for Gillibrand to hold in 2008 noting the substantial Republican enrollment advantage.20 Gillibrand was noted for her skill at fundraising giving her a leg up in her future appointment to the senate.3 110th Congress This section requires expansion. Main article: 110th United States Congress Upon the start of her tenure Gillibrand became the first member of Congress to publish her official schedule listing everyone she met with on a given day as well as earmark requests and her personal financial statement. This "Sunlight Report" as her office termed it was praised by a New York Times editorial in December 2006 as being a "quiet touch of revolution" in a non-transparent system.2526 She joined the Blue Dog Coalition a group of fiscally conservative Democrats. She was noted for voting against 2007's Immigration Reform Act and George W. Bush's Wall Street bailout.22 During her first year Gillibrand opened the earmarking process up to The New York Times. New rules requiring Representatives to tag their names to requests was seen as an increase in transparency as was the invitation from the Congresswoman. Gillibrand stated she wanted what was best for her district "by requiring every project to pass a 'greatest-need greatest-good' test."27 Gillibrand was noted as being an aggressive legislator and someone that sometimes stirs up minor controversy within the House; members of the New York congressional delegation were known to refer to her as Tracy Flick.28 2008 campaign Main article: New York's 20th congressional district election 2008 Gillibrand won her bid for re-election in 2008 enjoying a sophomore surge. Her challenger was former New York Secretary of State Sandy Treadwell. Despite significantly outspending Gillibrand and promising to never vote to raise taxes not accept a federal salary and limit himself to three terms in office Treadwell lost the election by a 24-point margin which for Gillibrand was a four-fold increase in the differential from the 2006 election.29 Gillibrand scored 62.13% of the vote with Treadwell getting 37.87%.30 Democrats generally saw major successes during the 2008 congressional election credited in part to a coattail effect from Barack Obama's election.31 Once again Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families party lines; Treadwell ran on the Republican Independence and Conservative lines.30 Gillibrand's campaign ended up spending $3.5 million while Treadwell's spent $5.5 million. Like 2006 this election was also considered to be largely negative. Gillibrand emphasized bettering Wall Street regulation pulling out of Iraq and increasing local jobs by utilizing colleges and high tech companies.29 Committee assignments While in the House of Representatives Gillibrand served on the following committees:32 Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation Credit Energy and Research (now known as Subcommittee on Conservation Energy and Forestry) Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock Dairy and Poultry Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats Senate Appointment Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to the Senate in January 2009. On December 1 2008 President-elect Barack Obama announced his choice of Hillary Rodham Clinton the junior U.S. Senator from New York as Secretary of State. This began a two-month search process to fill her vacant senate seat.33 Upon a senate vacancy in New York the governor appoints a replacement. In this case Governor David Paterson was obliged to choose the new senator; Clinton's replacement would face a special election in 2010 with the final part of the term ending in January 2013.34 The selection process began with a number of prominent names and high-ranking New York Democrats vying for the spot. Gillibrand quietly campaigned to Paterson for the position meeting secretly with the governor on at least one occasion; she says she made an effort to underscore her successful House elections in a largely conservative district adding that she could be a good complement to Chuck Schumer.3 Gillibrand was presumed a likely choice the days before the official announcement;35 Paterson held a press conference at noon on January 23 announcing Gillibrand as his choice.36 Gillibrand herself has expressed the belief that her ability to keep their interaction secret was vital to the outcome: while other candidates were discussing the process with reporters Gillibrand was on a holiday vacation in London far away from the excitement surrounding the selection. A July 2009 Elle magazine expos stated "Competing against an A-list cast that included Caroline Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo along with virtually every big-name Democrat in New York Gillibrand succeeded in her stealth campaign to persuade Governor David Paterson to appoint her as Clintons successor."3 The response to the appointment was mixed. The upstate media was generally optimistic about an upstate Senator37 which had not been seen since Charles Goodell left office in 1971;38 downstaters focused on disappointment with a non-Kennedy selection with some media outlets stating that the selection ignored the democratic influence New York City and downstate have on state politics (due to the area's population). One explicitly asked whether Paterson's administration was aware of "where statewide elections are won and lost".37 The relative unfamiliarity with Gillibrand statewide was undeniable though with many finding the choice surprising.5 One source states "With every Democrat in New York...angling for the appointment there was a sense of bafflement belittlement and bruised egos when Paterson tapped the junior legislator unknown outside of Albany."3 Gillibrand was sworn in on January 26 2009; at 42 she entered the chamber as the youngest senator in the 111th Congress.3 111th Congress This section requires expansion. Main article: 111th United States Congress Senator Gillibrand speaks in support of the DREAM Act and the repeal of Don't ask don't tell. Soon after her appointment Gillibrand's viewpoints on many political issues saw at least some change. Transitioning from representing a heavily Republican congressional district to a largely Democratic state is the given reason though many in the 20th congressional district saw it as flip-flopping.39 Gillibrand in association with Senator Schumer were instrumental in Sonya Sotomayor's nomination to the US Supreme Court.citation needed On April 9 2009 a combined Schumer-Gillibrand press release stated strong support of a Latino being nominated to the Surpreme Court at the time of the next vacancy. Sotomayor was their first choice.40 The two senators introduced Sotomayor at the Senate confirmation hearing in July.41 During the lame duck session of the 111th Congress Senator Gillibrand scored two substantial legislative victories: the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Both were issues she had championed during that session. In the aftermath of these victories many commentators opined that these victories marked her emergence on the national stage.424344 In 2011 Gillibrand visited her friend Congresswoman Gabby Giffords who had been shot in the head during the shooting in Tucson and Giffords opened her eyes for the first time and squeezed Gillibrand's hand.4546 The National Journal declared Gillibrand to be the tenth most liberal member of the senate in 2010 (she tied Chuck Schumer).47 2010 election Main article: United States Senate special election in New York 2010 External videos Gillibrand-DioGuardi Debate WABC October 17 2010 Gillibrand won 54 of 62 counties in the 2010 Senate election.48 Gillibrand faced a Democratic primary election on September 14 2010. Challengers surfaced as early as the time of her appointment most notably Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy who was unhappy with Gillibrand's stance on gun control.49Note 4 McCarthy ultimately decided not to run.50 By March 2009 Harold Ford Jr. former Congressman from Tennessee considered a run but ultimately decided against it after pressure from Chuck Schumer and other high-ranking Democrats.51 Congressman Steve Israel was also a contender but was talked out of it by President Obama. Concerned about a possible schism in the party that could lead to a heated primary split electorate and weakened stance high-ranking members of the party backed Gillibrand and requested major opponents to back off.51 In the end Gillibrand faced Gail Goode a lawyer from New York City52 and handily won the primary with 76% of the vote.53 Initially expected to be a heated race Gillibrand easily won against Republican Joseph DioGuardi a former New York Congressman. This was Gillibrand's first state-wide election.48 By the end of October a Quinnipiac University poll placed Gillibrand over DioGuardi by 23 points (57 to 34).54 She won the November election 63% to 35% carrying 54 of New York's 62 counties; those counties that supported DioGuardi did so by a margin no greater than 10%.48 Gillibrand is sworn in by Vice President Biden in January 2011. 2012 election Main article: United States Senate election in New York 2012 Gillibrand is currently running for reelection. After winning the 2010 special election Gillibrand serves the rest of Clinton's unfinished term which ends in January 2013. The next election is in November 2012.55 Committee assignments While in the Senate Gillibrand served on the following committees:56575859 Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing Inspection and Plant and Animal Health (Chair) Subcommittee on Energy Science and Technology Subcommittee on Hunger Nutrition and Family Farms Committee on Armed Services (112th Congress) Subcommittee on Airland Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee on Oversight Subcommittee on Superfund Toxics and Environmental Health Committee on Foreign Relations (111th Congress) Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations Human Rights Democracy and Global Women's Issues Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs Special Committee on Aging Political views Gillibrand's views on many issues can be defined as an evolution based on constituent needs; some have characterized this progression as flip-flopping. In the House she was known as a conservative liberal serving at the will of a highly conservative electorate. In the Senate she is known more as a populist-leaning liberal as she represents a heavily Democratic state. At the time of her appointment to the Senate a Salon.com editorial said that Gillibrand's reputation in the House characterized her as "a hybrid politician who has remained conservative enough to keep her seat while appearing progressive enough to raise money downstate."60 During her tenure in the House of Representatives Gillibrand was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition61 and was considered a centrist.6263 Gillibrand has received an 8% rating from the American Conservative Union64 70% from Americans for Democratic Action65 and 90% from the American Civil Liberties Union.66 OnTheIssues.org rates Gillibrand as a "Populist-Leaning Liberal."67 Abortion and reproductive rights Gillibrand espouses a pro-choice position stating on her Senate website "I will always protect a woman's right to chooseno matter what."68 She has voted in favor of federal funding of embryonic stem cell research contraception and supporting United Nations Population Fund programs.69 She voted against Senator Ben Nelson's proposed amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (part of the health care reform legislation of 2010) which would have prohibited the government from allowing insurance plans that cover abortion in a national healthcare exchange.70 She expressed strong opposition to House Republicans' No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act in early 2011 stating in her opinion that the act "disregards womens rights and restricts the ability of women to access affordable health care."71 Economic crisis measures This section requires expansion. During the height of the global financial crisis in 2008 Gillibrand then a member of the House of Representatives voted twice against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 calling it "fundamentally flawed".72 However she did vote for the automobile industry bailout in December 2008.73 In 2009 as Senator Gillibrand voted for the $787 billion stimulus plan backed by the Obama administration. At a press conference on January 25 2009 Gillibrand said that during her first week in the Senate she would work to ensure that the stimulus bill included relief funds for New York State.74 She supported the President's recovery plan75 and budget76 and voted for cram down to allow judges to write down mortgages of struggling homeowners.77 Government transparency Gillibrand's office has published a "Sunlight Report" since she began her tenure as a member of the House. This document compiles her financial report as well as all meetings and earmark requests. She also pledged as a House member to accept no lobbyist gifts.78 In May 2010 she cosponsored the Earmark Transparency Act of 2010 which would require hosting of earmark requests online and limit discussion on those requests until they were posted.79 Gun control Gillibrand's position on gun rights has changed from being against strict gun control in the House to being more "flexible" on the issue since she joined the Senate. While in the House she had received a 100% positive rating from the National Rifle Association22 and sponsored an amendment to the 2008 Farm Bill that would have allowed expanded hunting on public lands.80 On the other hand Gillibrand worked to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Act.81 Gillibrand's pro-gun rights positions received scrutiny after her appointment to the Senate and were the object of criticism by some of her fellow New York Democrats particularly those in the New York City area.8283 Within days of her being named to the Senate Gillibrand indicated that her pro-gun rights position was "flexible".84 By late 2010 the NRA had regraded Gillibrand to an F rating citing her votes against NRA-backed bills.85 In one of her first votes as a senator Gillibrand voted to reject a measure that would have expanded gun rights in the District of Columbia.80 While Gillibrand's spokesman characterized the vote as consistent with her previous view that local governments have the right to determine gun restrictions the Albany Times Union noted that her position was counter to her vote just five months earlier on an almost identical House bill.80 She coauthored the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2009Note 5 with Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy a longtime advocate of gun control.87 Gillibrand also opposed federal legislation that would have allowed American citizens to carry concealed firearms across state lines even if they were legally allowed to carry the weapons in their home states.88 Gillibrand's support of gun rights has been characterized more specifically as support of hunters' rights.80 Despite her mother being an avid hunter Gillibrand has never hunted before though she has shot skeet.3 Health care reform legislation Gillibrand voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act the Senate's version of health care reform legislation although it did not contain provisions for a public option for health insurance for which she had previously expressed support.8990 The Senate bill was heavily criticized by New York Governor David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg who claimed that it would force New York City to close 100 health clinics would create a $1 billion hole in New York State's budget and threaten the existence of struggling hospitals nursing homes and other facilities.91 Bloomberg who called the bill a "disgrace"92 subsequently telephoned Gillibrand personally to express his extreme dissatisfication with the bill.93 When confronted with these criticisms Gillibrand responded "What the mayor and the governor are talking about is the Medicare reimbursement rates... I've been fighting on this issue for over six months. What it is Erroll is when it comes to funding formulas in the Senate there are more small states than big states and so the funding formulas tend to help small states. And that's something Senator Schumer and I have to push back on every single time because the fact of the matter is for every dollar New York sends to Washington we only get 79 cents back and that's largely due to these formulas. We win on the formula debate on the House. So what I've been trying to do is fight for the House version of the bill when we are in conference... If we are successful we can close the $1 billion gap."94 Gillibrand also claimed that the bill would be a net benefit for New York because it would bring in $40 billion to the state insure 2.7 million New Yorkers increase the use of preventative care by requiring that it is covered and give tax credits to 250000 small businesses to help them afford health care coverage.9495 Illegal immigration Gillibrand's views on illegal immigration have shifted since she joined the Senate. Noted for having relatively conservative viewpoints while in the House she quickly switched some opinions upon entering the upper house. As a Representative Gillibrand opposed granting any sort of amnesty to illegal immigrants and supported empowering local police to enforce federal immigration laws. She also opposed giving federal contracts to employers that hire illegal immigrants and supported increasing the number of border patrol agents. She was a co-sponsor of the SAVE Act which aimed to increase the number of border guards increase surveillance and hasten deportations. Breaking with former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer Gillibrand opposed his plan to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. She also voted in favor of legislation targeting and withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities. Americans for Better Immigration an immigration reduction lobby graded Gillibrand at a B.9697 Following her appointment to the Senate Gillibrand's positions were criticized by immigration advocates and Democratic elected officials especially in New York. She subsequently changed some of her positions explaining that "its a case of learning more and expanding my view."96 She now opposes deporting illegal immigrants and cutting off funds to sanctuary cities.97 She also supports an earned path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.98 In 2010 she was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act which would have provided pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived under the age of 16 complete at least 2 years of college or 2 years of military service and are under age of 35 at the time of enactment; the proposal was subsequently filibustered in the Senate in December 2010.99 She also supports a moratorium on home raids until comprehensive immigration reform is passed.98 Labor This section requires expansion. Gillibrand is a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act commonly referred to by its opponents as card check. The legislation would allow the formation of a union without an election by secret ballot when 50% or more of workers sign authorization cards.100 LGBT issues Gillibrand favors legalizing civil unions across the country and leaving the issue of same-sex marriage up to the States once stating All the things that we give to married couples committed gay couples should be eligible for. And then the question of whether you call it a marriage or not what you label it that can be left to the states to decide.101 In 2007 Gillibrand received an 80 out of 100 rating from the LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaignthe lowest score out of New Yorks Democratic representatives.102 In an interview with the editorial board of the New York Times following her appointment to the Senate Gillibrand insisted that she had supported same-sex marriage since shortly before her re-election to the House in 2008.103 On the morning of her appointment to the Senate she called the Empire State Pride Agenda104 to reiterate her full support for same-sex marriage.101 According to the ESPA as a member of the Senate Gillibrand will also support a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the "don't ask don't tell" policy.104 On April 16 2009 Gillibrand endorsed Governor Paterson's proposed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.105 In July 2009 Gillibrand announced she was considering introducing an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would impose an 18-month moratorium on the discharge of gays serving in the military.106 She decided against introducing the amendment as she could not amass the 60 votes required to avoid a filibuster but told the blog The Daily Beast that she was able to secure the commitment of the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold hearings on "don't ask don't tell" in the fall of 2009.107 However the hearings were postponed108 and began on February 2 2010.109 The repeal ultimately passed both Houses of Congress and was signed by President Obama on December 22 2010.110 In December 2009 the LGBT publication The Advocate citing Gillibrand's position on gay marriage and her work toward repealing "don't ask don't tell" declared her one of its five "People of the Year".111 On March 16 2011 Gillibrand along with Senators Feinstein and Leahy introduced a bill to repeal DOMA.112 Taxes She opposes the No Child Left Behind Act because she believes it "places an unmanageable strain on county and school budgets".113 She supports doubling the Child and Dependent Care Credit and eliminating or permanently fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax.113 Personal life Gillibrand with her husband and sons on Halloween 2009 Gillibrand lives in Brunswick with her husband and two sons. She is married to Jonathan Gillibrand a venture capitalist and British national. The two met on a blind date; Jonathan was only meant to be in the United States for a year while studying for his MBA at Columbia University however he stayed in the country because of his relationship with Kirsten. The two were married in a Catholic church in Manhattan in 2001.23 Due to the requirements of the office the family spends most of its time in Washington;4 in 2011 the Gillibrand family sold their house in Hudson and purchased a home in Brunswick to be closer to Kirsten's family in Albany.114 The Gillibrands welcomed their first child Theodore in 2003.4 Their second son Henry was born in 2008. Gillibrand is the sixth woman to have a child while serving as a member of congress.115 She continued to work until the day of Henry's delivery for which she received a standing ovation from her colleagues in the House the next day.4 See also Biography portal New York portal Capital District portal Government of the United States portal List of United States Senators from New York United States congressional delegations from New York Women in the United States House of Representatives Women in the United States Senate Notes For more information on the Corning-Noonan relationship see: Grondahl Paul. Mayor Erastus Corning: Albany Icon Albany Enigma. Albany: State University of New York Press; 2007. ISBN 9780791472941. More controversy stirred when Gillibrand's 2008 reelection campaign accepted over $18000 worth of contributions from tobacco companies and executives.11 Gillibrand had considered running as early as 2004 but Hillary Clinton advised to wait until the 2006 midterm elections when circumstances would be more favorable for Gillibrand.4 McCarthy has been a supporter of strict gun control since her husband was murdered in a 1993 commuter train shooting spree.49 S. 2878; after being read twice on the floor it was sent to the Committee on the Judiciary where it died.86 References a b c Tumulty Karen (2009-01-23). "Kirsten Gillibrand". Time (Time Inc.). http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/01/23/kirstin-gillibrand. Retrieved 2011-01-27.  a b c d e f Van Meter Jonathan (November 2010). "In Hillarys Footsteps: Kirsten Gillibrand". Vogue (Cond Nast Publications). http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/in-hillarys-footsteps-kirsten-gillibrand. Retrieved 2011-01-26.  a b c d e f g h i j k l Shapiro Walter (2009-07-08). "Whos Wearing the Pantsuit Now: The story of Kirsten Gillibrands polite meteor ride to the top". Elle (Hachette Filipacchi Mdias). http://www.elle.com/Life-Love/Society-Career-Power/Kirsten-Gillibrand. Retrieved 2011-01-27.  a b c d e f g h i j Rodrick Stephen (2009-06-07). "The Reintroduction of Kirsten Gillibrand". New York (magazine) (New York Media Holdings). http://nymag.com/news/politics/57197/. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  a b c Powell Michael; Raymond Hernandez (2009-01-23). "Senate Choice: Folksy Centrist Born to Politics". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24gillibrand.html. Retrieved 2011-01-26.  Chen David W. (2009-02-14). "Ni Hao. My Name Is Gillibrand but Lu Will Do". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/nyregion/15kirsten.html. Retrieved 2011-01-27.  a b Perret Anya (2009-01-23). "Gillibrand 88 picked for N.Y. Senate seat". The Dartmouth (The Dartmouth Inc.). http://thedartmouth.com/2009/01/23/news/senate. Retrieved 2011-01-29.  No author given (2009-02-09). "Gillibrand Says DAmato Isnt in the Picture". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/nyregion/10damato.html. Retrieved 2011-01-29.  No author given (2009-01-26). "UCLA law alumna appointed U.S. senator from New York". UCLA Today. University of California Los Angeles. http://www.today.ucla.edu/portal/ut/ucla-law-alumna-appointed-u-s-79380.aspx. Retrieved 2011-01-29.  McShane Larry; Kenneth Lovett and Elizabeth Benjamin (2009-01-23). "Who is Kirsten Gillibrand New York congresswoman to take Clinton's Senate seat". Daily News (New York) (Mortimer Zuckerman). http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/22/2009-01-22whoiskirstengillibrandnewyorkcongr.html. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  a b c Hernandez Raymond; David Kocieniewski (2009-03-26). "As New Lawyer Senator Was Active in Tobaccos Defense". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/nyregion/27gillibrand.htmlpagewanted1&refkirstengillibrand. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  a b Odato James (2008-10-16). "Gillibrand's tobacco past includes Philip Morris". Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers). http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid7067847. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  Samuels Dorothy (2009-04-09). "Smoke and Politics: Considering Senator Gillibrands Tobacco Past". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/opinion/10observer.htmlr1. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  "Biography of Kirsten Gillibrand". Dartmouth College Office of Alumni Relations. http://alumni.dartmouth.edu/events/Celebrating35YearsofWomenatDartmouth/SpeakerList/KirstenGillibrand. 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Blog of Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers). http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/2673/siena-gillibrand-46-sweeney-43/. Retrieved 2011-02-02.  No author listed (editorial) (2006-12-14). "Congress and the Benefits of Sunshine". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/opinion/14thu3.html. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  Hernandez Raymond (2007-05-15). "Barely in Office but G.O.P. Rivals Are Circling". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/nyregion/15freshman.html. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  Hernandez Raymond (2007-03-21). "Earmarked for Success". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/nyregion/21freshman.html. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  O'Connor Patrick; Glenn Thrush (2009-01-25). "Gillibrand unpopular among peers". Politico (Allbritton Communications). http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17877.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  a b Hornbeck Leigh (2008-11-05). 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Retrieved 2011-02-20.  Hernandez Javier C.; Danny Hakim and Nicholas Confessore (2009-01-23). "Paterson Announces Choice of Gillibrand for Senate Seat". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24choice.htmlrefnyregion. Retrieved 2011-01-26.  Seiler Casey; (with wire reports) (2008-12-02). "From Foe to Secretary of State". Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers): p. A1. http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid7239251. Retrieved 2011-01-29.  Hornbeck Leigh (2009-01-23). "Paterson Poised for Senate Pick". Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers): p. A1. http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid7411044. Retrieved 2011-01-29.  Silverleib Alan (2009-01-23). "N.Y. Governor Names Clinton Successor". Cable New Network (CNN). http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-23/politics/gillibrand.profile1rep-kirsten-gillibrand-hillary-clinton-hardball-politicssPM:POLITICS. Retrieved 2011-01-29.  a b Germano Sara (2009-01-28). "Upstate/Downstate Divide in Gillibrand Coverage". Columbia Journalism Review (Columbia University). http://www.cjr.org/thekicker/upstatedownstatedivideingil.php. Retrieved 2011-01-30.  Editorial (no author attributed) (2009-01-25). "Week in Review: Some of the Top Stories in the Capital Region". Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers): p. B2. http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid7419034. Retrieved 2011-01-30.  Halbfinger David M. (2009-02-08). "To Some in Gillibrands Old District Her Evolution Is a Betrayal". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/nyregion/09district.html. Retrieved 2011-02-04.  Senate Offices of Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (2009-04-09). "Schumer Gillibrand Make Direct Appeal to President Obama Recommending He Nominate the First Ever Latino to the Surprime Court Should a Vacancy Occur During His Term". Press release. http://schumer.senate.gov/newwebsite/record.cfmid311344. Retrieved 2011-02-26.  Halbfinger David M. (2009-07-13). "Gillibrand Gets the Gavel on Big Stage". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/nyregion/14gillibrand.html. Retrieved 2011-02-26.  Gillibrand Gains Foothold With Victory on 9/11 Aid Bill The Education of Kirsten Gillibrand Sen. Gillibrand's moment Sen. Gillibrand On Giffords' Eye-Opening Moment Carleo-Evalgelist Jordan (January 14 2011). "Gillibrand touched by visit with Giffords". Times Union (Albany: Hearst Corporation): p. D3. http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Gillibrand-touched-by-visit-with-Giffords-955322.php. Retrieved April 10 2011.  Mihalcik Carrie (2011-02-26). "Most Liberal Members of Congress". National Journal. Atlantic Media Company. http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/most-liberal-members-of-congress-20110226mrefidmostViewed. Retrieved 2011-02-26.  a b c "Election 2010 Results: New York". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/new-yorkscp5&sqdioguardi%20gillibrand&stcse. Retrieved 2011-04-15.  a b Hakim Danny (2009-01-22). "With Kennedy Out N.R.A. Becomes Issue". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/congresswomen-could-be-in-senate-showdown/. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Brune Tom (2009-06-04). "McCarthy Won't Seek Gillibrand's Senate Seat". News Day. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/mccarthy-won-t-seek-gillibrand-s-senate-seat-1.1240653qr1. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  a b "Ford: Dems 'Bullied Me Out' of N.Y. Senate Race". Associated Press. Fox News. 2009-03-02. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/01/ford-wont-run-gillibrand-new-york/testlatestnews. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Hernandez Javier C. (2010-09-15). "In Tight Republican Race DioGuardi Is Chosen to Face Gillibrand". The New York Times (The New York Times Company): p. A28. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/nyregion/15gillibrand.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  "2010 Primary Election Results". New York State Board of Elections. 2010-09-14. http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/elections/2010/Primary/2010PrimaryElectionResults.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (2010-10-27). "Cuomo Leads By 20 Points In New York Gov Race Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Gillibrand Stuns Gop Challenger". Press release. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1318.xmlReleaseID1526.  Hill Michael (Associated Press) (2010-11-03). "Day after win NY Sen. Gillibrand is running again". The Buffalo News (Berkshire Hathaway). http://www.buffalonews.com/wire-feeds/state/article240192.ece. Retrieved 2011-01-27.  Joint Committee on Printing (2009-12-01). "Standing Committees of the Senate" (PDF). Congressional Directory (111th Congress). 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Salon.com. Salon Media Group. http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joeconason/2009/01/23/kirstengillibrand. Retrieved 2011-03-16.  "About Kirsten". Gillibrand for Congress. http://kirstengillibrand.com/freedetails.aspid1. Retrieved January 23 2009. dead link Hakim Danny; Confessore Nicholas (January 23 2000). "Paterson Picks Gillibrand for Senate Seat". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24choice.htmlrefnyregion. Retrieved January 23 2009.  "Kirsten Gillibrand. Really". Salon. http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/01/23/kirstengillibrand. Retrieved January 23 2009.  American Conservative Union. 2007 Votes by State Delegation Americans for Democratic Action. 2008 Congressional Voting Record ACLU. Sources: ACLU Congressional Scorecard "Kirsten Gillibrand". On The Issues. http://ontheissues.org/NY/KirstenGillibrand.htm. Retrieved July 21 2009.  "Issues: Right to Choose". Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. http://gillibrand.senate.gov/issues/issue/id57cd61b3-dc1b-4613-b528-40a874429dc9. Retrieved 2011-02-28.  "Kirsten Gillibrand on Abortion". On the Issues. 2010-12-20. http://www.ontheissues.org/social/KirstenGillibrandAbortion.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-28.  O'Brien Michael (2009-12-08). "Senate tables Nelson's abortion amendment 5445 The Hill's Blog Briefing Room". Thehill.com. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/71239-senators-table-nelsons-abortion-amendment. Retrieved 2010-07-12.  Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (2011-02-08). "Gillibrand Senate Democrats Speak Out Against Republican Efforts to Restrict Women's Access to Health Care". Press release. http://gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/id349bec4e-2728-4f04-a7d7-40c6f6674d4c. Retrieved 2011-02-28.  "Gillibrand votes no to bailout bill". Poststar.com. October 3 2008. http://poststar.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/latest/doc48e65c16c1393077116528.txt. Retrieved July 21 2009.  "Getting to Know Gillibrand". Rochesterhomepage.net. January 23 2009. http://rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/cid63022. Retrieved July 21 2009. dead link Gillibrand Meets With Clinton "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/rollcalllists/rollcallvotecfm.cfmcongress111&session1&vote00059. Retrieved July 12 2010.  "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/rollcalllists/rollcallvotecfm.cfmcongress111&session1&vote00154. Retrieved July 12 2010.  "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/rollcalllists/rollcallvotecfm.cfmcongress111&session1&vote00174. Retrieved July 12 2010.  "Kirsten Gillibrand on Government Reform". On the Issues. 2010-12-15. http://www.ontheissues.org/NY/KirstenGillibrandGovernmentReform.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-28.  "Bill Summary and Status: S.3335 Earmark Transparency Act". THOMAS. Library of Congress. 2010-05-11. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/zd111:SN03335:. Retrieved 2011-02-28.  a b c d Dlouhy Jennifer A. (2009-02-27). "Gillibrand Backs Gun Control Bill". Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers): p. A3. http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid7544955. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Hornick Ed (2009-01-23). "Confusion Dissent Over New York Senate Pick". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/23/ny.senate.process/index.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  "Will Gillibrand Shift on Guns" Albany's TimesUnion Jan. 27 2009dead link Lovett Kenneth (2009-01-23). "Critics Pounce on Gov. Paterson's Choice of Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand for Hillary's Senate Seat". Daily News (New York) (Mortimer Zuckerman). http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/23/2009-01-23criticspounceongovpatersonschoiceo.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Dobnik Verena (Associated Press) (2009-01-25). "Senator-to-be Starts 'Sistening Tour' in Harlem". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Newspapers). http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-01-25/news/171971371kirsten-gillibrand-rev-al-sharpton-senate-seat. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Russo Melissa (2010-10-14). "NRA Shoots Down Gillibrand's "Grade"". News 4 New York. http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/NRA-Shoots-Down-Kirsten-Gillibrands-Rating--104050029.html. Retrieved 2011-02-20.  United States Congress (2009-12-11). "Search Bill Summary & Status 111th Congress". S. 2787 Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2009. http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php&nBSS&c111. Retrieved 2011-02-17.  McCarthy Robert J. (2010-08-21). "Gillibrands Bill Targets Gun Trafficking". The Buffalo News (Berkshire Hathaway). http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/873105.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Dunham Richard S.; Jennifer A. Dlouhy (2009-07-23). "Senate Kills Concealed-Weapons Bill". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Newspapers). http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-07-23/news/172196941concealed-sen-john-thune-gun-safety. Retrieved 2011-02-07.  Kirsten Senator (May 11 2009). "I Support The Public Option". Daily Kos. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/11/730233/-I-Support-The-Public-Option. Retrieved July 12 2010.  "Sens. Schumer Gillibrand applaud health care reform bill while Bloomberg Paterson feel N.Y.'s pain" N.Y. Daily News Dec. 25 2009 "Gov. Paterson Mayor Bloomberg and other NY pols: Health care bill is prescription for disaster" N.Y. Daily News Dec. 22 2009 "Health-Care Reform Making Bloomberg Paterson Sick" New York Magazine Daily Intel Dec. 22 2009 "Mayor calls Gilly to rip health fix as bad for NY" New York Post December 24 2009 a b "Sen Kirsten Gillibrand on The WWRL Morning Show with Errol Louis Jan. 14 2010" Morning Show with Errol Louis Jan. 14 2010 Sen. Gillibrand Applauds Senate Health Care Bill a b Powell Michael (2009-02-01). "Gillibrand Hints at a Change of Mind on Immigration". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/nyregion/02kirsten.html. Retrieved 2011-02-20.  a b Semple Kirk (2009-01-27). "Gillibrands Immigration Views Draw Fire". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/us/politics/28immigration.html. Retrieved 2011-02-20.  a b Saul Michael (2009-02-03). "In Effort to Soften Anti-Immigration Rep Sen. Gillibrand to Support Moratorium on Raids". Daily News (New York) (Mortimer Zuckerman). http://www.nydailynews.com/nylocal/2009/02/03/2009-02-03inefforttosoftenantiimmigrationrep.html. Retrieved 2011-03-11.  Erica Pearson (2010-12-18). "DREAM Act Fails in the Senate Obama and Democrats Fail to Get 60 Votes to End GOP Filibuster". Daily News (New York) (Mortimer Zuckerman). http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-12-18/news/270848481end-gop-filibuster-dream-act-immigrant-community. Retrieved 2011-03-11.  "S.560: Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 U.S. Congress". OpenCongress. April 29 2009. http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s560/show. Retrieved July 12 2010.  a b NY Daily News. Interview with Kirsten Gillibrand January/February 2009 http://www.hrc.org/documents/CongressScorecard-110th.pdf Halbfinger David M. (February 10 2009). "New Senator Vows to New Yorkers to Take Wider View on Gun Issues". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htmlres9A00E1D81238F933A25751C0A96F9C8B63&&scp12&sqgillibrand%20same-sex%20marriage&stcse. Retrieved July 21 2009.  a b Empire State Pridge Agenda. Pride Agenda statement on Gov. Patersons selection of Kirsten Gillibrand as new U.S. Senator January 23 2009 "If Iowa Can Do It So Can We". Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator for New York. April 16 2009. http://gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/id4DA671BE-D1BC-4C55-8AC8-019F1F39A596.  Bellini J. (July 11 2009) "Don't Ask Fight Hits Senate" The Daily Beast Bellini J. (July 27 2009) "Finally Action on Gay Soldiers" The Daily Beast "Levin: Hearings to examine Don't ask don't tell repeal likely next year" The Hill November 21 2009 "Top Defense Officials Seek to End 'Dont Ask Dont Tell'" "It's official: 'Don't ask don't tell' repealed" "People of the Year: Part One: The Public Servant: Kirsten Gillibrand" Greenberg Scott L. (March 16 2011) "Democrats Unveil Bills to End Defense of Marriage Act" The Wall Street Journal http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/03/16/democrats-unveil-bills-to-end-defense-of-marriage-act/ retrieved March 16 2011  a b "Cutting Taxes for Middle Class Families and Small Business". Kirsten Gillibrand for Congress. http://kirstengillibrand.com/releasedetails.aspid7. Retrieved January 24 2009. dead link Bryce Jill (2011-02-11). "Gillibrand Buys Home Outside Troy". Times Union (Albany) (Hearst Newspapers). http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Gillibrand-buys-home-outside-Troy-1009307.php. Retrieved 2011-02-11.  "Son Born to New York Congresswoman". The New York Times. Associated Press (The New York Times Company). 2008-05-16. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/nyregion/16birth.html. Retrieved 2011-01-28.  External links Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Kirsten Gillibrand Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand official U.S. Senate site Gillibrand for Senate official campaign site Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Voting record maintained by The Washington Post Biography voting record and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart Congressional profile at GovTrack.us Congressional profile at OpenCongress Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues Financial information at OpenSecrets.org Staff salaries trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission Appearances on C-SPAN programs Collected news and commentary at The New York Times Profile at SourceWatch Campaign contributions made by Kirsten Gillibrand United States House of Representatives Preceded by John E. Sweeney Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district 20072009 Succeeded by Scott Murphy United States Senate Preceded by Hillary Rodham Clinton United States Senator (Class 1) from New York 2009present Served alongside: Chuck Schumer Incumbent Preceded by Max Baucus Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing Inspection and Plant and Animal Health 2009present Incumbent Honorary titles Preceded by Michael Bennet Youngest Member of the United States Senate 2009 Succeeded by George LeMieux New title Honorary Chairman of the College Democrats of America 2011present Incumbent Party political offices Preceded by Hillary Rodham Clinton Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New York (Class 1) 2010 Most recent United States order of precedence Preceded by Michael Bennet D-Colorado United States Senators by seniority 81st Succeeded by Al Franken D-Minnesota v d eNew York's current delegation to the United States Congress Senators Charles E. Schumer (D) Kirsten Gillibrand (D) Representatives (District maps) Tim Bishop (D) Steve Israel (D) Peter T. King (R) Carolyn McCarthy (D) Gary Ackerman (D) Gregory Meeks (D) Joseph Crowley (D) Jerrold Nadler (D) Anthony D. Weiner (D) Edolphus Towns (D) Yvette Clarke (D) Nydia Velzquez (D) Michael Grimm (R) Carolyn B. Maloney (D) Charles B. Rangel (D) Jos Serrano (D) Eliot Engel (D) Nita Lowey (D) Nan Hayworth (R) Chris Gibson (R) Paul Tonko (D) Maurice Hinchey (D) Bill Owens (D) Richard L. Hanna (R) Ann Marie Buerkle (R) Kathy Hochul (D) Brian Higgins (D) Louise Slaughter (D) Tom Reed (R) Other states' delegations Alabama  Alaska  Arizona  Arkansas  California  Colorado  Connecticut  Delaware  Florida  Georgia  Hawaii  Idaho  Illinois  Indiana  Iowa  Kansas  Kentucky  Louisiana  Maine  Maryland  Massachusetts  Michigan  Minnesota  Mississippi  Missouri  Montana  Nebraska  Nevada  New Hampshire  New Jersey  New Mexico  New York  North Carolina  North Dakota  Ohio  Oklahoma  Oregon  Pennsylvania  Rhode Island  South Carolina  South Dakota  Tennessee  Texas  Utah  Vermont  Virginia  Washington  West Virginia  Wisconsin  Wyoming Nonvoting: American Samoa  District of Columbia  Guam  Northern Mariana Islands  Puerto Rico  U.S. Virgin Islands v d eCurrent members of the United States Senate     AL: Shelby (R) Sessions (R) AK: Murkowski (R) Begich (D) AZ: McCain (R) Kyl (R) AR: Pryor (D) Boozman (R) CA: Feinstein (D) Boxer (D) CO: M. Udall (D) Bennet (D) CT: Lieberman (I) Blumenthal (D) DE: Carper (D) Coons (D) FL: C.W. Nelson (D) Rubio (R) GA: Chambliss (R) Isakson (R) HI: Inouye (D) Akaka (D) ID: Crapo (R) Risch (R) IL: Durbin (D) Kirk (R) IN: Lugar (R) Coats (R) IA: Grassley (R) Harkin (D) KS: Roberts (R) Moran (R) KY: McConnell (R) Paul (R) LA: Landrieu (D) Vitter (R) ME: Snowe (R) Collins (R) MD: Mikulski (D) Cardin (D) MA: Kerry (D) S.P. Brown (R) MI: Levin (D) Stabenow (D) MN: Klobuchar (D) Franken (D) MS: Cochran (R) Wicker (R) MO: McCaskill (D) Blunt (R) MT: Baucus (D) Tester (D) NE: E.B. Nelson (D) Johanns (R) NV: Reid (D) Heller (R) NH: Shaheen (D) Ayotte (R) NJ: Lautenberg (D) Menendez (D) NM: Bingaman (D) T. Udall (D) NY: Schumer (D) Gillibrand (D) NC: Burr (R) Hagan (D) ND: Conrad (D) Hoeven (R) OH: S.C. Brown (D) Portman (R) OK: Inhofe (R) Coburn (R) OR: Wyden (D) Merkley (D) PA: Casey (D) Toomey (R) RI: Reed (D) Whitehouse (D) SC: Graham (R) DeMint (R) SD: T. Johnson (D) Thune (R) TN: Alexander (R) Corker (R) TX: Hutchison (R) Cornyn (R) UT: Hatch (R) Lee (R) VT: Leahy (D) Sanders (I) VA: Webb (D) Warner (D) WA: Murray (D) Cantwell (D) WV: Rockefeller (D) Manchin (D) WI: Kohl (D) R. Johnson (R) WY: Enzi (R) Barrasso (R) Democratic (51) Republican (47) Independent (2) v d eUnited States Senators from New York Class 1 Schuyler Burr Schuyler Hobart North Watson Morris Bailey Armstrong Mitchill German Sanford Van Buren Dudley Tallmadge Dickinson Fish P. King Morgan Fenton Kernan Platt Miller Hiscock Murphy Depew O'Gorman Calder Copeland Mead Ives Keating Kennedy Goodell Buckley Moynihan H. Clinton Gillibrand Class 3 R. King Laurance Armstrong D. Clinton Armstrong Smith R. King Sanford Marcy Wright Foster Dix Seward Harris Conkling Lapham Evarts Hill Platt Root Wadsworth Wagner Dulles Lehman Javits D'Amato Schumer v d eCurrent elected and appointed statewide political officials of New York U.S. Senate Chuck Schumer  Kirsten Gillibrand State government Andrew Cuomo Governor  Robert Duffy Lieutenant Governor  Eric Schneiderman Attorney General  Thomas DiNapoli Comptroller Senate Dean Skelos Temporary President/Majority Leader  John L. Sampson Minority Leader Assembly Sheldon Silver Speaker  Ronald Canestrari Majority Leader  Brian Kolb Minority Leader Court of Appeals (appointed) Jonathan Lippman Chief Judge  Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick  Victoria Graffeo  Susan Phillips Read  Robert Smith  Eugene Pigott Jr.  Theodore Jones AL  AK  AZ  AR  CA  CO   CT  DE   FL   GA   HI   ID   IL   IN   IA   KS   KY   LA   ME   MD   MA   MI   MN   MS   MO   MT   NE   NV   NH   NJ   NM   NY   NC   ND   OH   OK   OR   PA   RI   SC   SD   TN   TX   UT   VT   VA   WA   WV   WI   WY Persondata Name Gillibrand Kirsten Rutnik Alternative names Gillibrand Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Short description American politician United States Senator from New York Date of birth December 9 1966 Place of birth Albany New York Date of death Place of death