Biography of Congressman Steve Cohen
Steve Cohen is a fourth-generation Memphian who has dedicated his life to public service. As a child stricken with polio, Steve's dreams of playing sports yielded to the other passion in his young world, politics. Filing to run for office on the same day he first registered to vote, Steve stepped onto the path that has defined his life and affected the lives of people in Memphis and across Tennessee throughout his career in national, state and local politics.
During his term as a Shelby County Commissioner, Steve cast one of the essential votes for the creation of the Med. This would be the first in a long line of votes during his career to fight for the most basic of human rights such as access to health care.
Steve's 24 years in the State Senate serving the citizens of Memphis provide a record of vigorous, passionate, honest and unselfish service that is unparalleled. He consistently stands up for the people who elected him, not for special interests. Steve has a well-deserved reputation for standing up and speaking out on important issues and has been called the father of the Tennessee Lottery which has produced over a half-billion dollars for education in just over two years.
He has provided outstanding constituent service to the citizens of Memphis. Steve Cohen has never faltered in his fight for those who do not have the power bestowed by wealth and advantage, realizing that the American dream cannot flourish without constant rededication to its principle. Steve Cohen now stands ready to serve the citizens of Congressional District 9 with the same ethics, vigor and dogged determination that have marked his life of public service.
Biographical Information
- B.A. Vanderbilt University 1971
- J.D. University of Memphis School of Law 1973
- Established legal practice in 1978 after serving as a legal advisor for the Memphis Police Department
- Quoted in Time, Newsweek and Molly Ivin's column, and in 1996, had one of the four government quotes of the year, according to Newsweek. Quote of the Day in the New York Times
- Appeared on the Today Show and other national news and news talk programs regarding First Amendment Issues
Public Office
- Senate member of the 93rd through 104th Tennessee General Assemblies
- Chair, Senate State and Local Government Committee from 1991 to the present
- Member, Senate Judiciary Committee
- Member, Senate Fiscal Review Committee>
- Member, Senate Education Committee
- Chair of Lottery Oversight Committee Committee
- Council of State Governments Executive Committee, 2002
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Executive Committee member 1998 to 2005
Community Involvement
- Memphis College of Art, Board of Trustees 1988-2002
- Memphis Zoological Council 2001-present; Memphis Zoological Society, Board of Directors 1988-2000
- Circuit Playhouse, Inc., Board of Directors 1977-Present
- Memphis Redbirds Foundation 1998-2003
- Tennessee Holocaust Commission
- Memphis/Shelby County Center City Commission
- Memphis/Shelby County Sports Authority
- University of Memphis Presidential Search Committee, 2000
- University of Memphis Football Coach Search Committee, 1994
Honors
2004: Shelby County Democratic Party "William W. (Bill) Farris Political Leadership Award", Business Tennessee Magazine "Power 100", University of Memphis Society, "Walter Barret Distinguished Service Award", University of Memphis "Eye of the Tiger Award"
2003: National College Board "Excellence in Education" award, presented at NCSL Convention; Boys and Girls clubs of Tennessee "Legislator of the Year Award"; Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist's "Legislator of the Year"
2002: Tennessee Human Rights Campaign "Public Leadership Award"
2001: Governor's Awards in the Arts "Leadership Award", Executive Seminar for Legislative Leaders,University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
2000: AAA Legislator of the Year Award, Holocaust Commission award, & AutoZone Park Opening Day First Pitch
1999: TN Pediatrics Society Friend of Children Award
1998: Memphis Arts Council/"Memphis Theatre Award"
1997: Common Cause of Tennessee "Bird Dog Award" for ethics
1996: University of Tennessee-Memphis Faculty Senate's Presidential Citation & Memphis Magazine Reader's Poll "Best Local Politician"
1995: Lorin Hollander Arts Award from the Tennessee Arts Academy & Memphis Women's Political Caucus Good Guys Award
1994: Unitarian Fellowship Dr. Peter Cooper Award
1992: Tennesseans for the Arts Advocate Award, Tennessee Bill of Rights Award, Tennessee Association of County Election Officials Award, Common Cause of Tennessee "Bird Dog Award" for ethics & Sierra Club "green list" top rating in Senate
1991: Community Mental Retardation Agencies of Tennessee Legislator of the Year Award & The Blues Foundation Keeping the Blues Alive Award
1988: Save Shelby Farms Award
1987: Memphis Arts Council Commendation
Most significant legislative accomplishments:
2006: Lottery-funded after-school programs, Lottery scholarship awards increased, Felon voting right reform, Coretta Scott King Memorial Highway, Teen DUI death initiative
2005: Lottery Scholarship expansion & refinement, One of the Principal Ethics Bills of 2005 which included the Prohibition of Lifetime Health Benefits for Interim Legislators, and Cell phone restrictions/learner and graduated drivers
2004: "General Patton Act"/animal cruelty felony, Lottery Education Reform, Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act
2003: Tennessee Education Lottery Implementation Law and Scholarship/Education Law
2002: State Lottery Referendum passed with 58%, President Tennessee Student Scholarship Lottery Coalition, Aggravated animal cruelty act, Cultural license plates reform act
2001: State Lottery Referendum, Non-livestock Humane Death Act, Post Conviction DNA Analysis Act, Uniform Athlete Agents Act, & The 2000 Presidential Election Debacle Reform Bill
2000: Graduated Drivers License, T-BO Act (non-economic damages for death of pets), & Emeritus Pay Reform
1999: Naming of the "Albert Gore, Sr. Memorial Interstate Highway System," The Good Samaritan Protection Act, & Elderly Abuse Law
1998: Most Aggravated Drunk Driver Act, 70 MPH Speed Limit, & Cultural/Special License Plate Reform
1997: Music Highway Act, Anti-SLAPP Act, Memphis Sports Authority Funding Act, & Professional Baseball Sales Tax Rebate Act (AutoZone Park)
1995: Toll Free Legislative Line Service, Campaign Finance Reform (co-prime sponsor), Lobbyist Reform Act (co-prime sponsor), State Carjacking Law, Handicapped Parking Citation Law, & Imported Keg Beer Law
1994: Handgun Permit Reform Bill & Women's Restroom Equity Act
1993: Sexual Harassment Act, Used Oil Collection Act, & Bicentennial Beautification Act (interstate wildflowers)
1992: Open Appointments Act & Stalking Law
1991: Reduction of Waste in Government Act, Anti-Skullduggery Act (election reform), & Consumer Telemarketing Protection Act
1990: Civil Rights Act & Finance Registry Act (Ethics)
1989: Volunteer State Investment Fund Act (tax free open-ended bond funds)
1988: Sports Agent Legislation & Hate Crimes Bill
1987: Racing Control Act (Parimutuel referendum), College and Cultural License Plates (Arts funding), Dual Divorce Act, & Private Protective Services Licensing & Regulatory Act
1986: Felon voting rights (1986-96 "Cohen Period")
1984: Created the Tennessee Commission on the Commemoration of the Holocaust
Also: Charter form of county government, Hall Income Tax exemptions for elderly and low income, and citations in lieu of arrest for misdemeanants and a plethora of laws facilitating the enjoyment of wine while dining· Primary budget proponent for state funding for The Pyramid, the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum of Art, the Memphis Food Bank, the Orange Mound Senior Care Home, Orange Mound Concerned Citizens Headquarters, Aloyious House, Friends for Life, the Memphis College of Art's Burton Callicott Auditorium, Overton Park/Ted Rust lawn sculpture, the Brannon-McCulloch Primary Health Center, The Blues Foundation, the Center for Southern Folklore, the Blues City Cultural Center and the state student ticket subsidy program for the arts, sponsored legislation which created the environmental license plates and suggested the iris design.
Other Political Positions
- 1977: Delegate and Vice-President of the Tennessee Constitutional Convention
- 1978-80: Shelby County Commissioner
- 1980: Interim judge for Shelby County General Sessions Court
- 1980,1992 & 2004: Delegate to Democratic National Convention; Platform Committee 2000
- 1984: Shelby County Charter Commission
- 1988-90: Chair, Shelby County Legislative Delegation
- 1986: Delegate to American Council of Young Political Leaders, USA/Japan Study Mission
- 1999:Delegate NCSL/China 1999
- 2000:Delegation Leader NCSL/Germany
- Download a high-resolution official photo
