Dennis Moore (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Moore
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 3rd district |
|
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Vince Snowbarger |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Yoder |
| District Attorney of Johnson County, Kansas | |
| In office 1977–1989 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1945 Anthony, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 2021 (aged 75) Overland Park, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Stephene Moore |
| Education | University of Kansas (BA) Washburn University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1970–1973 |
Dennis Moore (born November 8, 1945 – died November 2, 2021) was an American politician and lawyer. He was known as a "Blue Dog" Democrat, which means he held more moderate views within the Democratic Party.
Moore served for six terms as a U.S. Representative for the 3rd District of Kansas. He held this important role from 1999 until 2011. He was a member of the Kansas Democratic Party.
He and Sharice Davids are the only two Democrats from Kansas to have served in Congress since January 2009.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dennis Moore was born in 1945 in a town called Anthony in southcentral Harper County, Kansas. He went to the University of Kansas and earned a bachelor's degree there.
Later, he studied law and received his law degree from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas.
Dennis Moore's Career in Public Service
Before becoming a politician, Moore served in the United States Army. After his military service, he worked as an Assistant Kansas Attorney General.
He then became the District Attorney for northeast Johnson County. He held this position from 1977 to 1989.
Becoming a U.S. Representative
Dennis Moore was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1998. He won against the Republican who was in office at the time, Vince Snowbarger.
The district he represented usually voted for moderate Republicans. However, Snowbarger's very conservative views led many voters to choose Moore instead. This made Moore the first Democrat to represent that district in 37 years.
He won his elections several times, often in close races. In 2006, he won by a much larger amount than before, showing strong support from voters.
In 2009, after serving six terms, Dennis Moore decided not to run for re-election. His wife, Stephene Moore, ran as the Democratic candidate but lost the election. The district was later represented by another Democrat, Sharice Davids, starting in 2019.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
While in office, Dennis Moore represented Kansas's 3rd congressional district. This district is the smallest and wealthiest in Kansas. It includes many cities in the Kansas side of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
These cities include Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa, and De Soto.
Committee Assignments
In Congress, representatives work in special groups called committees. These groups focus on different topics and help create laws. Dennis Moore was part of several important committees:
- Committee on the Budget: This committee deals with the government's spending plans.
- Committee on Financial Services: This committee focuses on banks, money, and consumer protection. Moore was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations within this committee.
- Committee on Small Business: This committee helps small businesses.
Moore was also a leader in the Blue Dog Coalition. This group is made up of moderate Democrats in Congress. He was also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, another group of Democrats who focus on new ideas and economic growth.
Dennis Moore's Political Views
Dennis Moore had specific views on many important topics during his time in Congress.
Budget, Spending, and Taxes
Moore often supported policies that aimed to make taxes fairer for middle and low-income families. He also supported closing tax loopholes for large companies.
National Security
Moore's views on national security often focused on careful spending and following rules. For example, he voted to limit how much money was spent on the Iraq war. He also supported strict rules for government surveillance.
Military Support
Representative Moore worked to support military families. He sponsored a bill that increased the amount of money paid to families of soldiers who died in combat. This amount was raised from $12,000 to $100,000.
He also pushed for the Department of Defense to pay for all travel costs for troops returning home for leave from Iraq and Afghanistan. This became law in 2004.
Property Rights
Moore's voting record showed that he often voted against positions that would limit government control over private land use.
Gun Control
Moore generally supported stricter gun control measures. He often voted in line with organizations that advocate for preventing gun violence.
Women's Issues
Moore consistently supported issues important to women. He voted with the League of Women Voters 100% of the time in 2007. This organization even gave him an award in 2010 for his work in supporting democracy.
He also consistently voted against positions that would limit a woman's right to choose.
Environment and Animal Protection
Moore was a strong supporter of environmental protection. He received high scores from groups like the League of Conservation Voters. He supported laws to protect clean water and provide energy help for families.
He also opposed oil drilling in sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Moore also had a good record on animal protection issues. He received high marks from the Animal Welfare Institute for supporting various animal welfare laws.
Electoral History
Here are the results of some of Dennis Moore's elections:
- 1998: Defeated Vince Snowbarger (52% to 48%)
- 2000: Defeated Phill Kline (50% to 47%)
- 2002: Defeated Adam Taff (50% to 47%)
- 2004: Defeated Kris Kobach (55% to 43%)
- 2006: Defeated Chuck Ahner (64% to 34%)
- 2008: Defeated Nick Jordan (56% to 40%)
Health and Passing
In June 2011, Dennis Moore was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking. His father also had this disease.
Moore and his wife, Stephene, were open about his diagnosis. Stephene has since become a national advocate, helping other families dealing with Alzheimer's disease.
Dennis Moore passed away on November 2, 2021, at the age of 75. He died from cancer at a care facility in Overland Park, Kansas.
