Congressman representing the 22nd District of New York, the Catskills
Member of the Progressive Caucus
Advocate of restoring the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” to radio broadcasting
Maurice Hinchey is a Democratic Member of Congress who represents the 22nd District of New York.
Born in October 1938 in New York City, Hinchey enlisted in the Navy at age 18. After completing his military service, he spent two years working as a laborer in a cement factory. He then attended the State University of New York at New Paltz, graduating in 1968. He subsequently found work as an analyst for the state education department.
In 1974 Hinchey won election to the New York State Assembly, where he would serve nine terms and help to pass more than 600 bills. He first ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1992 and won by a three-percent margin; he has been re-elected every two years since then.
Described by political analyst Michael Barone as “one of the most liberal” members of Congress, Hinchey belongs to the Progressive Caucus in the House of Representatives. Americans for Democratic Action consistently rates his voting record as 95 to 100 percent on the left side of legislation.
During his congressional career, Hinchey has voted:
against the development of a national missile defense system;
against allowing the U.S. government to use electronic surveillance to investigate suspected terrorist operatives;
against a bill permitting the government to combat potential terrorist threats by monitoring foreign electronic communications which are routed through the United States;
against an October 2002 joint resolution authorizing U.S. military action in Iraq;
In the immediate aftermath of the 2004 presidential election, Hinchey was one of the 31 House members who held that the electoral votes from Ohio (a state that was won by Republican George W. Bush) had been invalidated by "election irregularities" and thus should not be counted.
Hinchey is a leading advocate of restoring the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” to radio broadcasting, a move that analysts predict would stifle predominantly-conservative talk radio.
