A Senator and a Representative from South Dakota; born in Canton, S.Dak., December 28, 1946; attended public schools; B.A., University of South Dakota 1969; M.A., 1970; post-graduate studies, Michigan State University 1970-1971; J.D., University of South Dakota 1975; budget advisor, Michigan Senate 1971-1972; began the practice of law in Vermillion, S.D., in 1975; member, South Dakota House of Representatives 1979-1982; member South Dakota Senate 1983-1986; Clay County deputy States attorney 1985; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundredth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1987-January 2, 1997); not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives in 1996; elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996; reelected in 2002, and again in 2008 for the term ending January 3, 2015; chair, Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses).