Scott Brown in A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren

On Abortion: Calls himself pro-choice, but usually votes pro-life

Early on, our campaign team had taken a close look at Scott Brown's record on women's issues. It wasn't terrible. He said he was pro-choice, although he didn't turn down the support from the pro-life groups that endorsed him. When it came to women's issues, a fair assessment of Brown's voting record would be "pretty good some of the time"--but why should that be good enough?

Pro-life groups that endorsed him: "We consider him a senator who votes prolife," said MA Citizens for Life. "We have to take his word for it when he says he is prochoice. But what we're looking for is someone who votes prolife, and he does." Brown said he would not reject the backing of MA Citizens for Life but reiterated that he considers himself a supporter of abortion rights.

Source: A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren, p.266&335 Apr 22, 2014

On Budget & Economy: 2010: Banks should not pay $19B price for bank reform

The Democrats had lost the 60-seat majority in January, and now the bill needed the support of MA's newest senator, Republican Scott Brown. Wasting no time, he threatened to hold up the financial bill unless the Democrats agreed to reopen the nearly completed package to add one more provision: a financial break for the big banks.

Ever since the US began writing rules for financial institutions, the banks have always paid the costs of regulation. The price tag for enforcing the new bank reforms was estimated to be about $19 billion, and the current version of the reform bill specifically said that the biggest financial institutions would pay for it.

Now Senator Brown threatened to hold up the bill unless that provision was changed. He insisted that the taxpayers, not the big banks, pick up the tab. Barney Frank was furious, but he didn't have much choice: the deal was cut, the final bill was passed by both the House & the Senate, and the legislation was sent to the president for his signature.

Source: A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren, p.160 Apr 22, 2014

On Corporations: Dubbed one of Wall Street's Favorite Congressmen

Unlike me, Scott Brown had grown up in MA. He was a longtime member of the National Guard, and over the years he had risen to the rank of colonel. He was well-liked and handsome. He had developed a reputation as a moderate and bipartisan Republican, he had high approval ratings, and he already had nearly $10 million in the bank. He has been dubbed one of "Wall Street's Favorite Congressmen," with all the promise of future fund-raising that the title implied.

When MA held its special election shortly after Senator Kennedy's death, Brown had beaten Martha Coakley, a popular attorney general who was well known and had strong support across the state. A lot of people were downright nasty in their criticism of Martha after her loss, but even her critics acknowledged the exceptionally strong political skills of Scott Brown. After years of quiet backbenching in the state legislature, he had swept through MA politics like a gale-force wind.

Source: A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren, p.209 Apr 22, 2014

On Government Reform: Motor Voter registration "outrageous"; it helps Democrats

The National Voter Registration Act requires states to offer people the chance to register to vote when they get a driver's license, which is why the law is usually called "Motor Voter." But since not everyone gets a driver's license--especially the disabled, elderly, and urban poor--the same law required states to invite people to register to vote when they applied for social services, such as veteran's benefits, food stamps, or Medicaid. That's where Massachusetts had dropped the ball.

Massachusetts was finally mailing out half a million voter registration cards. In early August, Scott Brown issued a furious statement calling the state's mailing "outrageous."

Okay, people can laugh and say I'm hopelessly naive, but this issue is a direct shot at democracy. In many states, the Republicans have made voter suppression a regular part of their arsenal, chipping away at early voting. African American voting, Latino voting, immigrant voting, student voting, you-name-it voting.

Source: A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren, p.251 Apr 22, 2014

On Principles & Values: Favorite Supreme Court justice: Antonin Scalia, but...

When Senator Brown and I met for our 2nd debate, somewhere toward the middle of the debate, the moderator asked us to name our favorite Supreme Court justice. Brown's response: Justice Antonin Scalia. The ripple through the audience was instantaneous. Scalia? The most outspoken, conservative, anti-woman justice on the Court--THAT'S the justice Scott Brown liked best? A few people started to boo, and Senator Brown backtracked, naming in quick succession Justices Kennedy, Roberts, and Sotomayor. Source: A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren, p.266 Apr 22, 2014

The above quotations are from A Fighting Chance by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Click here for other excerpts from A Fighting Chance by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Click here for other excerpts by Scott Brown. Click here for a profile of Scott Brown.
*Scott Brown on other issues:*
Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade	Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Jul 26, 2015