:Bob Corker

Corker was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina,{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001071|title=Corker profile|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=January 10, 2012}} the son of Jean J. (née Hutto) and Robert Phillips "Phil" Corker. His great-great-grandfather was U.S. Congressman Stephen A. Corker.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thetruecitizen.com/news/2017-07-12/Front_Page/Hall_explores_wealth_of_Civil_War_history_in_new_b.html |title=The True Citizen {{!}} |access-date=July 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063551/http://www.thetruecitizen.com/news/2017-07-12/Front_Page/Hall_explores_wealth_of_Civil_War_history_in_new_b.html |archive-date=July 4, 2018 }} His family moved to Tennessee when he was eleven.{{cite news |last=Feldmann|first=Linda|title=All eyes on South's big race |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1025/p01s02-uspo.html|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=October 25, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026050404/http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1025/p01s02-uspo.html|url-status=live|archive-date=October 26, 2006}}

Corker graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1970 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1974. Corker is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. Corker's roommate in the Sigma Chi fraternity was Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2012/07/background_on_jimmy_haslam_iii.html|title=Potential Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam uses hands-on business approach|first1=Bill|last1=Lubinger|first2=The Plain|last2=Dealer|date=July 28, 2012|website=cleveland}} whose brother is the former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam.

During his twenties, Corker participated in a mission trip to Haiti, which he credits with inspiring him to become more active in his home community. Following his return, Corker helped found the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, a nonprofit organization that has provided low-interest home loans and home maintenance education to thousands of Tennesseans since its creation in 1986.{{cite news|url=http://www.t-g.com/story/1287597.html|title=Corker returns to Haiti|date=October 30, 2007|newspaper=The Shelbyville Times-Gazette|last1=Carney|first1=John I.|access-date=August 16, 2012|archive-date=June 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615003039/http://www.t-g.com/story/1287597.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Biography|title=About Bob Corker|publisher=Senator Bob Corker|access-date=August 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830010451/http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Biography|archive-date=August 30, 2012}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BmtOAAAAIBAJ&pg=2391,6171623&dq=chattanooga-neighborhood-enterprise+founded+corker&hl=en|title=Chattanooga mayor addresses Catoosa Chamber|date=September 18, 2002 |newspaper=Fort Oglethorpe Press|last1=Zelk|first1=Chris|access-date=August 16, 2012}}

Corker and his wife Elizabeth, whom he married on January 10, 1987, have two daughters.{{cite web |url=http://bobcorker.com/bio/?page=bio |title=Biography |publisher=Bob Corker for U.S. Senate |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627074622/http://bobcorker.com/bio/?page=bio |archive-date=June 27, 2012 }} The family's permanent residence is at the Anne Haven Mansion, built by Coca-Cola Bottling Company heirs Anne Lupton and Frank Harrison.{{cite web |title=The Spirit of the Luptons |url=http://oldmoneynewsouth.com |work=Old Money, New South |author=Dean Arnold |year=2006}}

In an interview with Esquire, Corker said that he started working when he was 13, collecting trash and bagging ice. Later he worked at Western Auto and as a construction laborer.{{cite web |url=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/bob-corker-interview-1110#ixzz22IyuuJe9

|title=What I've Learned: Senator Bob Corker (R, Tenn.) |last1=Fussman |first1=Cal |date=October 18, 2010 |work=Esquire |access-date=August 9, 2012}} After graduating from college, he worked for four years as a construction superintendent.{{cite web|url=http://www.utc.edu/Academic/HarrisChair/2005.php|title=Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame 2005|year=2005 |publisher=University of Tennessee at Chattanooga|access-date=August 9, 2012}} During this time he saved up $8,000, which he used to start a construction company, Bencor, in 1978.{{cite news|title=Congressional Men of Honor |work=Tennessee Archways|publisher=The University of Tennessee College of Business Administration|date=Winter 2012 }} The company's first large contract was with Krystal restaurants, building drive-through windows. The construction company became successful, growing at 80 percent per year, according to Corker, and by the mid-1980s carried out projects in 18 states. He sold the company in 1990.{{cite news |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/external/pre-election/bios/51865.html?SITE=TXHOUELN&SECTION=PREELECTION&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT |title=Candidates: Bob Corker|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=August 10, 2012}}

In 1999, Corker acquired two of the largest real estate companies in Chattanooga: real estate developer Osborne Building Corporation and property management firm Stone Fort Land Company. In 2006, he sold the properties and assets that had formed these companies to Chattanooga businessman Henry Luken.{{cite news|title=Corker Selling Many Business Holdings To Henry Luken |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2006/1/5/78144/Corker-Selling-Many-Business-Holdings.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|date=January 5, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2012}}

In recognition of his business success, in 2005 the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga named him to their "Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame." Corker has said that he believes his business background has been valuable in his political career and that experience "gives [him] unique insights and allows [him] to weigh in, in valuable ways". As of 2008, Corker's assets were estimated at more than $19 million.{{cite news|last=Humphrey|first=Tom|date=July 2, 2006|title=Corker appreciates 1994 loss|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/election/article/0,1406,KNS_630_4816805,00.html|work=Knoxville News-Sentinel|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123094718/http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/election/article/0,1406,KNS_630_4816805,00.html|archive-date=November 23, 2008}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2008/guide/28506-1.html?type=printer_friendly|title=The 50 Richest Members of Congress |first=Paul|last=Singer |author2=Jennifer Yachnin|author3=Casey Hynes|date=September 22, 2008|work=Roll Call |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922215221/https://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2008/guide/28506-1.html?type=printer_friendly|archive-date=2008-09-22}}

{{Main|1994 United States Senate election in Tennessee}}

Corker first ran for the United States Senate in 1994, finishing second in the Republican primary to eventual winner Bill Frist. During the primary campaign, Frist's campaign manager attacked Corker, calling him "pond scum".{{cite news |title=Former foes praise Haslam at GOP rally |last1=Sher |first1=Andy |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/aug/08/former-foes-praise-haslam-gop-rally/ |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=August 8, 2010 |access-date=August 24, 2012}} Despite the rhetoric, Corker arrived in Nashville the morning after the primary to offer the Frist campaign his assistance. He went on to campaign for Frist in the general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/bob-corker-tn|title=Sen. Bob Corker (R) |publisher=The National Journal|access-date=August 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719171212/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/bob-corker-tn/|archive-date=July 19, 2012}}{{cite news|title=The Man of the Nitty Gritty |last1=Rubin|first1=Jennifer |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/220282/man-nitty-gritty/jennifer-rubin|newspaper=National Review Online|date=March 13, 2007|access-date=August 16, 2012}}

From 1995 to 1996, Corker was the Commissioner of Finance and Administration for the State of Tennessee, an appointed position, working for Governor Don Sundquist.

File:Hunter Museum of American Art.jpg

Corker was elected mayor of Chattanooga in March 2001 with 54% of the vote, and served from 2001 to 2005. While in office, he outlined a bold vision and enacted a series of changes that transformed the city. He was elected on an aggressive and specific platform, focused primarily on economy development, public safety, and education. Within six months in office, he had already implemented initiatives to address each area.{{Cite web|title=2001-2005 Bob Corker|url=http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors/2001-2005-bob-corker|publisher=City of Chattanooga |access-date=2020-11-24}}

With a focus on bringing good paying jobs to the city, he developed, in conjunction with the state and county, Enterprise South, a 1,200-acre industrial park, which is now home to several industries, including Volkswagen Group of America's manufacturing headquarters. He also recognized the need for access to capital to assist start up and emerging businesses and created the Chattanooga Opportunity Fund,{{Cite web|date=August 19, 2003|title=Chattanooga Opportunity Fund Grows As Banks Help|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2003/8/19/39919/Chattanooga-Opportunity-Fund-Grows-As.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2020}} a $1.5 million fund established for investment in locally owned start-up companies, minority owned companies, and existing small businesses. Chattanooga has since been named one of the best cities for startups by Forbes{{Cite web|title=The Top 10 Rising Cities For Startups|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2018/10/01/the-top-10-rising-cities-for-startups/|last=Badenhausen|first=Kurt|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2020}} and has developed a strong, locally focused financing ecosystem.

He also sought to enhance the city's ability to recruit companies reliant on high-level technology. Part of that vision became reality when Chattanooga became the first and only city with a direct fiber optic connection to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the world's fastest computers, which helped both businesses and government advance technology use in the city. To this day, the community is using this unique connection to the supercomputers in Oak Ridge to develop Smart City concepts for the future.{{Cite news|last=Flessner|first=Dave|date=August 16, 2019|title=How Chattanooga helped Oak Ridge get the world's fastest and most powerful computer|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2019/aug/16/oak-ridge-boasts-worlds-fastest-computer/501335/|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

He also laid out and executed a digital vision for the city during his tenure. He launched MetroNet with a goal of providing super-speed Gigabit Ethernet (Gig-E) connection to the Internet for businesses in the downtown and Southside.{{Cite news|date=May 16, 2002|title=Mayor Launches MetroNet High-Speed Data Service|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2002/5/16/21937/Mayor-Launches-MetroNet-High-Speed-Data.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|language=en|access-date=May 26, 2020}} After piloting the project in City Hall and realizing the magnitude of the opportunity, he asked the Electric Power Board (EPB), the city-owned utility, to take on the task.{{Cite news|date=May 16, 2003|title=MetroNet Folded Into New EPB Internet|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2003/5/16/36587/MetroNet-Folded-Into-New-EPB-Internet.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|language=en|access-date=May 26, 2020}} As a result of Corker's vision and EPB's execution, Chattanooga has since been dubbed the "Gig City"{{Cite web|title=Gig City: How Chattanooga Became a Tech Hub|url=https://sea.pcmag.com/gallery/20960/gig-city-how-chattanooga-became-a-tech-hub|last=Marvin|first=Rob|date=May 4, 2018|website=PCMag Asia|language=en-sg|access-date=May 26, 2020}} and became the most connected city in the Western Hemisphere,{{Cite news|last=Rushe|first=Dominic|date=August 30, 2014|title=Chattanooga's Gig: how one city's super-fast internet is driving a tech boom|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/30/chattanooga-gig-high-speed-internet-tech-boom|access-date=May 26, 2020|issn=0261-3077}} offering Internet speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second to every home and business in EPB's 600-square mile service area.{{Cite web|date=October 15, 2015|title=Chattanooga Implements World's First Community-wide 10 Gigabit Internet Service|url=https://epb.com/about-epb/news/articles/62|last=EPB|website=EPB {{!}} Powering Chattanooga|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

He implemented a merit-based bonus system for teachers. The system, established in 2002, awarded teachers and principals bonuses for improving student performance at Chattanooga's lowest performing schools.{{cite news|title=More teachers graded for their pay|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2002-09-09/us/b2s.02.scoring.teachers_1_tie-teachers-three-teachers-rewards-teachers?_s=PM:US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119095055/http://articles.cnn.com/2002-09-09/us/b2s.02.scoring.teachers_1_tie-teachers-three-teachers-rewards-teachers?_s=PM:US|archive-date=January 19, 2013|newspaper=CNN|date=September 9, 2002|access-date=July 2, 2012}} Two years after its implementation, a study published in The Tennessean showed that the percentage of third graders reading at or above grade level had increased from 53% to 74%.{{cite news|title=Wisdom of teachers' rejecting bonus is questioned |last1=Torres|first1=Ailene|url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4M51-XMT0-TWWX-K2MC&csi=255267&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=The Tennessean|date=October 15, 2006|access-date=July 2, 2012}} However, a report by the think tank Education Sector suggested that specific teacher training had at least as much to do with the student improvement.

In 2003, Corker started a program called ChattanoogaRESULTS, facilitating monthly meetings with public service department administrators to evaluate their performance and set goals for improvement. The program was continued by Corker's successor, Ron Littlefield.{{cite news|title=City tallies its success on goals|last1=Wang|first1=Herman|url=http://www.researchcouncil.net/upload/091905.htm|newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press|date=September 19, 2005|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222062230/http://www.researchcouncil.net/upload/091905.htm|archive-date=February 22, 2013}} Corker has credited the increased collaboration between departments for decreasing crime in Chattanooga. City data showed a nearly 26% decrease in crime and a 50% reduction in violent crimes between 2001 and 2004.{{cite news |title=Corker Says City Has "Enormous Drop" In Crime Rate|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2005/1/5/60621/Corker-Says-City-Has-Enormous-Drop.aspx |newspaper=The Chattanoogan|date=January 5, 2005|access-date=July 24, 2012}}

During his first annual State of the City address as mayor, Corker announced a $120 million riverfront renovation project and stated it would be completed in 36 months. The project was announced with no identified funding source or architectural plans.{{Cite news|date=May 22, 2002|title=Corker Announces Waterfront Trust, Air Service Task Force|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2002/5/22/22231/Corker-Announces-Waterfront-Trust-Air.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|language=en|access-date=May 26, 2020}} The 21st Century Waterfront Plan included an expansion of the Hunter Museum of Art, a renovation of the Creative Discovery Museum, an expansion of Chattanooga's River Walk, and the addition of a new salt water building to the Tennessee Aquarium.{{cite news|title=Chattanooga: A riverfront transformed|last1=Poovey|first1=Bill|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2005-05-16-chattanooga_x.htm |newspaper=USA Today|date=May 16, 2005|access-date=July 24, 2012}} Corker's vision for the riverfront also included building pads for the private sector to build additional housing along the riverfront and magnificent new public parks and space for outdoor recreation. It was the largest public-private undertaking in the community's history. Half of the project was financed with a city bond, while Corker led a fundraising team in more than 81 meetings in 90 days that raised $51 million from the private sector. A hotel-motel tax was implemented in 2002 to fund the city's debt service on the bonds, fulfilling a commitment Corker made that there would be no financial burden on the citizens of Chattanooga. The 21st Century Waterfront opened 35 months later, as Corker had promised, and is widely credited with transforming the city of Chattanooga.{{Cite news|last=Lundy|first=Davis|date=July 7, 2019|title=Moments in Memory: Idea for Chattanooga's 21st Century Waterfront was born 18 years ago|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/jul/07/moments-memory-idechattanoogas-21st-century-w/498244/|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

Corker also created Outdoor Chattanooga{{Cite web|title=Mayor Corker Unveils Outdoor Chattanooga Initiative|date=January 15, 2004|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2004/1/15/45601/Mayor-Corker-Unveils-Outdoor.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|language=en|access-date=May 26, 2020}} to promote the outdoor opportunities that exist throughout the region and famously claimed the city would become the "Boulder of the East."{{Cite news|date=October 14, 2003|title=Corker Seeks To Have Chattanooga Known As "Boulder, Colo. Of The East"|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2003/10/14/42092/Corker-Seeks-To-Have-Chattanooga-Known.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|language=en|access-date=May 26, 2020}} Chattanooga has since been named the "Best Town Ever" by Outside Magazine{{Citation|title=Video: Chattanooga Is the Best Town Ever|date=August 17, 2015|url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2008956/why-chattanooga-best-town-ever|website=Outside Online|language=en|access-date=May 26, 2020}} - twice - and now hosts one of the world's largest rowing regattas,{{Cite web|title=Head of the Hooch- Rowing Regatta {{!}} Outdoor Chattanooga|url=https://outdoorchattanooga.com/event/head-of-the-hooch-rowing-regatta/|last=jmyers|date=October 30, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=May 26, 2020}} as well as Ironman races.{{Cite web|title=IMChattanooga|url=https://www.ironman.com/im-chattanooga|website=www.ironman.com|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

{{Main|2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee}}

In 2004, Corker announced that he would seek the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by incumbent Republican Senator Bill Frist, who had announced that he would not run for reelection. In the Republican primary, Corker faced two former congressmen, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary. Both of his opponents ran as strong conservatives, denouncing Corker as a moderate, and even a leftist.{{cite web |url=http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/downloads/uploaded/75_spr732.pdf |title=Unemployment Hitting Dixie |date=December 22, 2008 |work=Southern Political Report |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127182021/http://southernpoliticalreport.com/downloads/uploaded/75_spr732.pdf |archive-date=November 27, 2010 }} In the course of his campaign, Corker spent $4.2 million on television advertising, especially in the western portion of the state, where he was relatively unknown. In the August primary, he won with 48% of the vote; Bryant got 34% and Hilleary got 17%.{{cite web |title=Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) |work=National Journal |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/bob-corker-tn/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129223722/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/bob-corker-tn/ |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |year=2011 }}

In the general election campaign, Corker's Democratic opponent, Harold Ford, Jr., challenged him to seven televised debates across the state. In response, Corker said he would debate Ford, though he did not agree to seven debates.[http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4892535,00.html Corker wins; Ford challenges him to debates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818040809/http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4892535,00.html |date=August 18, 2006 }}, The Commercial Appeal, Richard Locker and Ruma Banerji Kumar, August 3, 2006. The two candidates eventually participated in three televised debates: in Memphis on October 7,[http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5051668,00.html Senate candidates spar over Corker's comments about Ford's Memphis 'political machine'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155602/http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5051668,00.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}, by Richard Locker, The Commercial Appeal, October 8, 2006 in Chattanooga on October 10,[http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5057333,00.html Ford treads Corker's turf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154524/http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5057333,00.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}, by Beth Rucker, Associated Press, October 11, 2006 and in Nashville on October 28.[http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4973610,00.html Corker silent on invitation to debate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709064228/http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4973610,00.html |date=July 9, 2007 }}, The Commercial Appeal, Bartholomew Sullivan, September 7, 2006.

The race between Ford and Corker was described as "among the most competitive and nasty" in the country. In October 2006, as polls indicated that Ford maintained a slight lead over Corker,[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/senate_races/tennessee_senate_ford_d_48_corker_r_46 Tennessee Senate: Ford (D) 48%; Corker (R) 46%] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201141330/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/senate_races/tennessee_senate_ford_d_48_corker_r_46|date=December 1, 2008 }}, Rasmussen Reports, October 13, 2006. the Republican National Committee ran a controversial television advertisement{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWkrwENN5CQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/cWkrwENN5CQ |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Too Hot For Corker |via=YouTube |access-date=January 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}} attacking Ford. In the 30-second ad, sound bites of "people in the street" pronouncing Ford wrong for Tennessee were interspersed with two shots of a white woman animatedly recalling meeting Ford—who is African-American and was unmarried at the time—at "the Playboy party". The ad concludes with this woman leeringly inviting Ford to phone her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rove-protege-behind-racy-tennessee-ad/ |work=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |title=Rove Protegé Behind Racy Tennessee Ad|date=October 26, 2006|first=Sean|last=Alfano}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/15403071 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422164005/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15403071 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2015 |title=Tennessee ad ignites internal GOP squabbling|work=NBC News|first=Alex|last=Johnson|date=October 25, 2006}} Corker denounced the ad and asked that it be taken off the air.{{cite news |date=October 25, 2006 |title=GOP retires 'Playboy' ad in Tennessee |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/15418962/ns/politics/t/gop-retires-playboy-ad-tennessee/#.WqvTzt-nE2x |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312131055/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15418962/ns/politics/t/gop-retires-playboy-ad-tennessee/#.WqvTzt-nE2x |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |agency=NBC News }} Corker won the election by less than three percentage points. He was the only non-incumbent Republican to be elected to the U.S. Senate in the 110th Congress.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/TN/S/01/index.html|title=U.S. Senate/Tennessee|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 26, 2017}} Corker was sworn in as Senator on January 4, 2007.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=5892999|title=Corker sworn in as U.S. Senator|date=January 4, 2007|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 9, 2007|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208150646/http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=5892999|url-status=dead}}; retrieved January 7, 2007.

File:Bobcorker.jpg

{{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee}}

In November 2012, Corker won his re-election bid with 65% of the vote. Corker faced the conservative Democrat Mark E. Clayton, from Davidson County, near Nashville, who received 30% of the general election vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Elections/2012/Senate/Tennessee/1/|title=Tennessee Senate Race for 2012 – Tennessee Senate Candidates and Election Results|publisher=PoliGu.com, The Political Guide|access-date=May 10, 2016|archive-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052735/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Elections/2012/Senate/Tennessee/1/|url-status=usurped}} Clayton was disavowed by his own party, the leadership of which urged Democrats to write in a candidate of their choice in the race against Corker; the reason given by the party was Clayton's association with a hate group, an apparent reference to the fact that Clayton was vice president of the interest group Public Advocate of the United States, based in Washington, D.C.{{cite web |url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Tennessee/Mark_Clayton/Scandals/Disavowed_by_Party/|title=Mark Clayton – Disavowed by Party|publisher=PoliGu.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126194633/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Tennessee/Mark_Clayton/Scandals/Disavowed_by_Party/|access-date=November 26, 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 26, 2016}}

File:FirstCorkerBakerAlexander.jpg, and Lamar Alexander]]

File:U.S. Senators Bob Corker, Richard Burr, Lamar Alexander, Congressman John Duncan among others at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009.jpg, Lamar Alexander, Kay Hagan, Congressman John Duncan, and Dolly Parton among others at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009]]

Corker was one of the original members of the Gang of 10, now consisting of twenty members, which is a bipartisan coalition seeking comprehensive energy reform. The group pushed for a bill that encouraged state-by-state decisions on offshore drilling and authorized billions of dollars for conservation and alternative energy.{{Cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/28297749.html |title=Klobuchar joins bipartisan energy group |first=Mitch |last=Anderson |date=September 12, 2008 |work=Star Tribune}}

In June 2008, Corker was among the 36 senators who voted against a cloture motion needed to allow the further progress of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, a measure to set up a "cap-and-trade" framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.Sheppard, Kate "[http://grist.org/article/an-inhospitable-climate/ Climate Security Act dies, failing to muster enough votes to move forward]" (June 6, 2008). Grist. grist.org. Shortly before, Corker had offered three amendments to the act which focused on returning as much money as possible to American consumers, in part by eliminating free allowances and international offsets."[https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=317957CA-9FE1-8DFF-EA87-9B0FE1FBC03A Corker Announces Amendments to Climate Security Legislation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201144914/https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=317957CA-9FE1-8DFF-EA87-9B0FE1FBC03A |date=December 1, 2016 }}" [press release] (May 28, 2008). Corker.senate.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2016. Two years later he supported a proposed Senate resolution to express disapproval of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency on its endangerment finding identifying greenhouse gases as a matter for regulation under the Clean Air Act.[https://votesmart.org/bill/11592/statement-of-opposition-to-epa-greenhouse-gas-rule "SJ Res 26 – Statement of Opposition to EPA Greenhouse Gas Rule – Key Vote"], votesmart.org; retrieved November 30, 2016."[https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=63883089-9527-4c1e-b320-4d02b57d5564&ContentType_id=b94acc28-404a-4fc6-b143-a9e15bf92da4&Group_id=650e2033-9317-4405-a8df-47cdd1c9d515 Corker Cosponsors, Votes for Murkowski Resolution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201150418/https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=63883089-9527-4c1e-b320-4d02b57d5564&ContentType_id=b94acc28-404a-4fc6-b143-a9e15bf92da4&Group_id=650e2033-9317-4405-a8df-47cdd1c9d515 |date=December 1, 2016 }}" [press release] (June 10, 2010), Corker.senate.gov; retrieved November 30, 2016. In spring 2011 he was a co-sponsor of the Energy Tax Prevention Act, which would have amended the Clean Air Act to prohibit the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases, and thus aimed to protect households and businesses from paying increased costs passed on to them by businesses compelled to comply with new regulations. Corker said at the time that he hoped that as an alternative to administrative regulations by the EPA, Congress would "determine a rational energy policy for the country, broadly advancing our energy security and maintaining existing policies to ensure clean air and water.""[https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=40361077-C828-4414-982D-8FF101E0A7E0 Corker Cosponsors Bill Protecting Consumers and Businesses from Costly New Carbon Regulations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201150419/https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=40361077-C828-4414-982D-8FF101E0A7E0 |date=December 1, 2016 }}" [press release] (March 4, 2011), Corker.senate.gov; retrieved November 30, 2016.

In 2008, Corker was one of the only sixteen Senators who opposed the tax rebate stimulus plan,{{Cite news|url=http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A44914|title=The McCain Effect|last=Baker|first=Jackson|date=June 26, 2008|work=Memphis Flyer|access-date=November 15, 2008}} criticizing it as "political stimulus" for electoral campaigns.{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/may/12/washington-sen-corker-stands-firm-his-positions|title=Washington: Sen. Corker stands firm on his positions|last=Wang|first=Herman|date=May 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323214604/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/may/12/washington-sen-corker-stands-firm-his-positions/|archive-date=March 23, 2013|access-date=December 2, 2016|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press}} He later described the stimulus package that passed Congress as "silly".{{Cite news |url=http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=42174|title=Corker Decries Auto Industry Bailout, Other Federal Moves |last=Dries|first=Bill|date=April 29, 2009|work=Memphis Daily News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223073730/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=42174 |archive-date=February 23, 2012}}

In December 2008, Corker opposed the federal bailout of failing U.S. automakers,{{Cite news|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_140345.asp|title=Corker Disappointed In Initial Outline Of Auto Bailout Plan|date=December 6, 2008|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press|access-date=December 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209004123/http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_140345.asp|archive-date=December 9, 2008}} and expressed doubt that the companies could be salvaged.{{Cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbjFY-o07QeryRxtFR3oC1w_v1PwD94SAT5G0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208074737/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbjFY-o07QeryRxtFR3oC1w_v1PwD94SAT5G0|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2008|title=Carmakers' bailout pleas hit Senate skepticism|first=Julie|last=Hirschfel Davis|agency=Associated Press|date=December 5, 2008|access-date=December 5, 2008|quote=No thinking person thinks that all three companies can survive}} Corker proposed that federal funds be provided for automakers only if accompanied by cuts in labor costs and other concessions from unions.{{Cite news |url=http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/dec/05/tennessee-corker-outlines-proposal-big-three-rescu/?local|title=Tennessee: Corker outlines proposal for Big Three rescue package: Conditions would include significant concessions by labor |first=Herman |last=Wang |date=December 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328165550/http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/dec/05/tennessee-corker-outlines-proposal-big-three-rescu/?local|archive-date=March 28, 2012|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press|access-date=December 2, 2016}}{{cite news |date=December 4, 2008 |title='Corker Plan' Outlined in Hearing with Detroit Three and UAW |url=https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=047433fd-ec4f-ae65-de32-b566a76767d2 |agency=Corker.senate.gov |access-date=March 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024443/https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=047433fd-ec4f-ae65-de32-b566a76767d2 |archive-date=July 27, 2018 }} The United Auto Workers (UAW), which had previously accepted a series of cuts in its current contract, sought to put off any further cuts until 2011, while Corker requested that cuts go into effect in 2009.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/business/13uaw.html|title=U.A.W. at Center of Dispute Over Bailout Failure |first=Micheline|last=Maynard|work=The New York Times|date=December 12, 2008}} Republicans blamed the UAW for failure to reach an agreement, while the UAW claimed that Corker's proposal singled out "workers and retirees for different treatment and make[s] them shoulder the entire burden of restructuring."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/business/13auto.html|title=White House Considers Use of Funds to Aid Automakers|first=Edmund|last=Andres|author2=David M. Herszenhorn|work=The New York Times |date=December 12, 2008}} Corker's plan to protect taxpayers through tough conditions on any federal aid, however, was ultimately embraced by both President George W. Bush, who put Corker's stipulations in an executive order, and President Barack Obama, through his auto task force.{{cite news |date=July 10, 2009 |title=GM Gets a Second Chance |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124709568035014941 |work=The Wall Street Journal }}

In September 2009, Corker became the ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, replacing former Sen. Mel Martinez.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mcknights.com/corker-replaces-martinez-as-ranking-member-on-senate-aging-committee/article/149528/ |title=Corker replaces Martinez as ranking member on Senate Aging Committee |publisher=Mcknights.com |date=September 24, 2009 |access-date=January 8, 2010}}

On May 20, 2010, despite his initial role as the key Republican negotiator on financial regulatory reform, Corker voted against the Senate financial regulations bill ("Restoring American Financial Stability Act", S. 3217, the Senate version of what eventually became the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act), which included provisions for increased scrutiny of financial derivatives traded by major U.S. banks and financial institutions.Corker, Bob. "[https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2010/05/20/senate-section/article/S4034-2 Restoring American Financial Stability Act]". Congressional Record. Vol. 156, No. 77. 111th Congress, 2nd Session. Senate. p. S4043–S4044.

Following the Senate vote, Corker expressed his disappointment with the bill, stating, among other things, that it did not adequately address concerns about the integrity of loan underwriting, or the need to strengthen bankruptcy laws, and provide for orderly liquidation. The main critique of financial reform offered by Corker at the joint House and Senate conference on Financial Regulation on June 10, 2010, was that it would hurt industry and jobs if passed.{{Cite news|publisher=WPLN News|url=http://wpln.org/?p=18534|title=Corker Says Financial Regulation Bill Hurts Banks and Business|date=June 11, 2010|first=Blake|last=Farmer|access-date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715202147/http://wpln.org/?p=18534|archive-date=July 15, 2012}}

Corker opposes limits to credit card fees imposed by banks on merchant transactions.{{Cite news |last=Snyder |first=Naomi|date=June 7, 2010|work=The Tennessean|title=Sen. Bob Corker opposes limits to debit card fees}}

Corker was one of three Republicans to support the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September 2010."[http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/16/senate.start.treaty/ Key Senate committee passes nuclear arms treaty], CNN, September 16, 2010. The treaty was given final approval by the Senate in December 2010, after the chamber disposed of a raft of Republican-proposed amendments. Amendments by Corker and fellow Republican Jon Kyl on missile defense and modernization were among the few accepted. Corker was one of thirteen Republican senators to vote for the final version.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|title=Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26|first=Peter|last=Baker|work=The New York Times|date=December 22, 2010}}

In April 2013, Corker was one of forty-six senators to vote against a bill which would have expanded background checks for all gun buyers. Corker voted with 40 Republicans and 5 Democrats to stop the passage of the bill.{{cite news |url=http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/modeling-the-senates-vote-on-gun-control|work=The New York Times |first=Nate|last=Silver|title=Modeling the Senate's Vote on Gun Control|date=April 18, 2013}}

Corker has called for tempering the role of outside spending in elections by giving political candidates the right to approve advertising on their behalf made by an outside party committee.{{cite web|title=Sen. Bob Corker (R) |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/116|publisher=National Journal Almanac|access-date=August 16, 2014}}

In August 2018, Corker and Bob Menendez signed a letter warning that Congress would refuse attempts by the Trump administration to form congressional appropriations for foreign aid.{{cite news |last=Elis |first=Niv |date=August 20, 2018|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/402758-foreign-relations-senators-push-back-on-wh-aid-cut/|title=Foreign Relations senators push back on WH aid cut|newspaper=The Hill |access-date=December 3, 2024}}

In September 2018, Corker announced that he would vote for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, saying in a statement, "There is no question that Judge Kavanaugh is qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, and in a different political environment, he would be confirmed overwhelmingly."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/408881-corker-announces-support-for-kavanaugh/|title=Corker announces support for Kavanaugh|date=September 27, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}} On October 6, hours before Corker voted to confirm Kavanaugh, he stated during an interview that Kavanaugh's confirmation would "impact our country for more than a generation" while noting the intent of Congress to confirm additional judges throughout the remainder of the year and praising the handling of the confirmation process by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.{{cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/10/06/kavanaugh-vote-lamar-alexander-bob-corker-explain-votes/1539335002/|title=Tennessee's Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker explain their votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court|first=Joey|last=Garrison|newspaper=The Tennessean}}

In a November 2018 interview, Corker stated that President Trump divided Americans as part of his attempts to appeal to his base "instead of appealing to our better angels and trying to unite us like most people would try to do". He mentioned the possibility of Trump's conduct squandering good will toward the US during a period where American leadership was "more important than ever."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/418209-corker-trump-tries-to-divide-us-and-bases-governing-model-on-anger-and-hate/|title=Corker: Trump governs by using 'anger' and 'hate'|date=November 26, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

In December 2018, with the possibility of a government shutdown that month looming, the House passed a bill funding the government through February and providing $5.7 billion for the border wall between the United States and Mexico favored by President Trump hours after he told House Republican leaders that he would not sign a package passed in the Senate due to it not providing money for the barrier.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-approves-spending-bill-with-5b-for-border-wall|title=House approves spending bill with $5.7B for border wall|date=December 20, 2018|publisher=Fox News}} On December 21, after attending a meeting in the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Corker announced that Senate leaders had reached an agreement on how to apply the House-passed bill and expressed hope it would ultimately lead to a deal averting a shutdown while cautioning the agreement was only on the bill's processing.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422537-corker-breakthrough-reached-in-shutdown-stalemate/|title=Corker: Breakthrough reached in shutdown stalemate|date=December 21, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}} In a December 23 appearance on State of the Union, Corker called the conflict between Democrats and Republicans over funding a "purposely contrived fight" that would end with American borders remaining unsecured no matter which side won and furthered that it was "a made-up fight so the president can look like he's fighting but even if he wins, our borders are going to be insecure." Corker noted that more funding was passed for border security in a 2013 amendment that received bipartisan support and opined that if Trump was more concerned about border security than politics, he would have accepted a deal offered by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer the previous January that would have allocated $25 billion for border security in exchange for the reauthorization of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Corker also predicted that the "next three months could well determine whether [Trump] decides to run again or not."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/422638-corker-border-wall-standoff-is-a-made-up-fight/|title=Corker: Border wall standoff is a 'made-up fight'|date=December 23, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs{{cite web|url=https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committeeassignments|title=Committee Assignments - United States Senator Bob Corker|publisher=corker.senate.gov|access-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229062700/https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committeeassignments|archive-date=December 29, 2017}}
• Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
• Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment
• Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
• Committee on Foreign Relations (chairman)
• Subcommittee on African Affairs (Ex Officio)
• Subcommittee on European Affairs (Ex Officio)
• Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Ex Officio)
• Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs (Ex Officio)
• Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere and Global Narcotics Affairs (Ex Officio)
• Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs,
  and International Environmental Protection (Ex Officio)
• Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy
  and Global Women's Issues (Ex Officio)
• Special Committee on Aging (Ranking member, 2009–2011)

File:The Global Impact of America First (39008107735).jpg

On September 26, 2017, Corker announced that he would not seek re-election in 2018,{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Michael|title=Sen. Bob Corker will not seek re-election next year|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/26/sen-bob-corker-not-seek-re-election-next-year/678088001/|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=September 26, 2017}} keeping his pledge when he ran in 2006 to only serve two terms in the Senate.{{cite news |date=September 18, 2017 |title=Sources: Trump encourages Corker to run for re-election in 2018 |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/18/sources-trump-encourages-corker-run-re-election-2018/679500001/ |agency=AP }} After announcing his retirement, Corker intensified his opposition to President Donald Trump, accusing him of lying, debasing the United States, and weakening its global standing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41729586|title=Trump debasing US, says top Republican|date=October 24, 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=November 23, 2019|language=en-GB}} However, Corker refused to use his powers as Senate Foreign Relations chairman to use procedural leverage in the Senate to influence Trump's rhetoric and actions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/17/trump-critics-nuclear-russia-putin-728974|title=Why Trump's GOP critics never go nuclear|work=Politico |access-date=July 17, 2018|language=en}}

He joined investment bank Jefferies Financial Group Inc. as a special adviser in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Gillian |date=October 14, 2020 |title=Jefferies Adds Former GOP Senator Bob Corker as a Senior Adviser |website= Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-14/former-senator-bob-corker-joins-jefferies-as-a-senior-adviser |access-date=July 13, 2022

}}

Bob Corker is considered a moderate conservative.{{cite magazine|last=Packer|first=George|date=November 5, 2018|title=The Demise of the Moderate Republican|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/12/the-demise-of-the-moderate-republican/|magazine=The New Yorker|location=New York City|access-date=March 18, 2019}} Corker scored 80% on American Conservative Union's 2017 Ratings of Congress.{{cite web|url=http://acuratings.conservative.org/acu-federal-legislative-ratings/?year1=2017&chamber=13&state1=0&sortable=1|title=Federal Legislative Ratings|access-date=July 18, 2018|publisher=Acuratings.org|archive-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622220340/http://acuratings.conservative.org/acu-federal-legislative-ratings/?year1=2017&chamber=13&state1=0&sortable=1|url-status=dead}} According to National Journal's 2009 Vote Ratings, he was ranked as the 34th most conservative member of the Senate.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nw_20100225_4841.php|title=2009 Vote Ratings|date=February 27, 2010|work=National Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228204805/http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nw_20100225_4841.php|archive-date=February 28, 2010}}

111th Congress

• National Journal: 66% Conservative{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nw_20100225_4841.php |work=National Journal Magazine |title=Senate Ratings |date=February 27, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522215403/http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nw_20100225_4841.php |archive-date=May 22, 2010 }}
• Economic: 29% Liberal / 69% Conservative
• Social issues: 29% Liberal / 70% Conservative
• Foreign-policy: 41% Liberal / 56% Conservative
• Americans for Democratic Action: 10% (Liberal Score){{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org|title=2009 Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|access-date=June 9, 2010}}
• National Taxpayers Union: 83% (Grade: B; Rank: 24){{cite web|url=http://www.ntu.org/on-capitol-hill/ntu-rates-congress/members/senate/bob-corker.html|title=NTU Rates Congress: Senator Bob Corker|publisher=National Taxpayers Union|access-date=June 9, 2010}}

File:Race Photo ACLI Capital Challenge.jpg, Bart Gordon, and Zach Wamp]]

In the 2006 primary campaign, Corker's opponents claimed he had changed his view on abortion since his first Senate campaign in 1994.{{Cite news|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4849272,00.html|title=GOP Senate candidates conclude debates ahead of August 3 primary|work=The Commercial Appeal|first=Richard|last=Locker|date=July 17, 2006}} Corker responded that he "was wrong in 1994" when he said that the government should not interfere with an individual's right to an abortion, stating that he now believes that life begins at conception. Corker has since changed his position and opposes abortion except when the life of the mother is endangered or in cases of rape or incest.

Corker opposes same-sex marriage.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Bob_Corker.htm|title=Bob Corker on the Issues|last=OnTheIssues.org|publisher=On the Issues |access-date=August 27, 2018}} However, in 2015, Corker was one of 11 Republican Senators who voted with Democrats in support of giving social security benefits to same-sex couples living in states that had not yet recognized same-sex marriage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/same-sex-marriage-benefits-endorsed-on-senate-floor|title=Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Endorsed on Senate Floor (Updated)|last1=Dennis|first1=Steven T.|date=March 27, 2015|work=Roll Call|access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en}}

In June 2018, Corker was one of thirteen Republican senators to sign a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting a moratorium on the Trump administration family separation policy while Congress drafted legislation.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/393108-dozen-gop-senators-ask-administration-to-pause-separation-of/|title=13 GOP senators ask administration to pause separation of immigrant families|date=June 19, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}} In an interview that month, Corker stated that the Trump administration "obviously made a large mistake" and that he was aware "that some in the White House want to use the immigration issue as a force to activate the base for elections, but obviously the president realized that was a mistake, and now it's up to us in Congress to work with them to come up with a longer-term solution." Corker opined that the zero tolerance policy was part of a larger issue of Congress having failed to address existing immigration problems in the US.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-bob-corker-on-face-the-nation-faults-trump-for-ready-fire-aim-family-separation-policy/|title=Sen. Bob Corker faults Trump administration for "ready, fire, aim" family separation policy|date=June 24, 2018|work=CBS News}}

In 2006, Corker supported making the 2001 tax cut and the 2003 tax cut permanent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bobcorkerforsenate.com/Issues.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821195935/http://www.bobcorkerforsenate.com/Issues.aspx|title=Corker campaign website, issues|archive-date=August 21, 2006}} He has shown interest in replacing the federal progressive income tax with a flat tax.Knoxville News Sentinel, Scott Barker, June 30, 2006.

He endorsed the initial $350 billion of TARP funding in 2008,{{cite web|publisher=U.S. Senate |url=https://corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=News&ContentRecord_id=bb18386e-be21-1918-7c32-8fe05aab35fc&ContentType_id=b94acc28-404a-4fc6-b143-a9e15bf92da4&Group_id=650e2033-9317-4405-a8df-47cdd1c9d515&YearDisplay=2008|title=Sen. Corker: This Vote is Not about Wall Street|date=October 1, 2008}} and opposed releasing the additional $350 billion of it in 2009.{{cite web|work=U.S. Senate |date=January 15, 2009|title=Corker Says Plans to Release Additional TARP Funds Aren't Prescriptive Enough|url=https://corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=News&ContentRecord_id=dca0a6cb-ec86-b5cd-39a4-3b5276c632d1&ContentType_id=b94acc28-404a-4fc6-b143-a9e15bf92da4&Group_id=650e2033-9317-4405-a8df-47cdd1c9d515&MonthDisplay=1&YearDisplay=2009}}

In 2011, Corker voted in favor of the Republican alternative budget proposed by Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), a proposal that would eliminate the health care provided through the Medicare program and instead give seniors subsidies for part of the cost of obtaining private medical insurance.{{cite news| last = Barrett | first = Ted|author2=Tom Cohen| title = Senate rejects budget measure containing Medicare overhaul| publisher = CNN| date = May 25, 2011 | url = https://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/25/senate.medicare/?hpt=T1 | access-date = May 28, 2011}} Corker referred to such programs as Medicare and Social Security as "generational theft".{{cite web | title = Senator Corker Says Medicare and Social Security are "Generational Theft"| publisher = National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare| date = May 27, 2011| url = http://www.ncpssm.org/EntitledtoKnow/entryid/1814/Senator-Corker-Says-Medicare-and-Social-Security-are-Generational-Theft | access-date = June 17, 2015}}

In 2013, Corker endorsed the Marketplace Fairness Act and voted for its passage in the Senate. The Marketplace Fairness Act would enable states to begin collecting sales taxes on online purchases.{{cite news|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/5/6/250611/Corker-Alexander-Praise-Passage-Of.aspx|title=Corker, Alexander Praise Passage Of Online Sales Tax Bill|date=May 6, 2013|work=The Chattanoogan|access-date=May 10, 2013}}

Corker was the only Republican senator to vote against the Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 before it was sent to a conference committee with the House, citing concerns about the deficit.{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Herb |date=December 2, 2017|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/01/senate-passes-huge-tax-cuts-after-last-minute-changes-conference-house-next/914701001/|title=Senate passes huge tax cuts after last-minute changes; conference with House next|work=USA Today |access-date=December 2, 2017|language=en}} On December 20, 2017, Corker, who previously said he would "take a close look at the product developed in conference before making a decision on the final legislation,"{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Clint|date=December 5, 2017 |title=Tennessee senators have keys in tax bill vote |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2017/dec/05/cooper-tennessee-senators-have-keys-tax-bill/ |work=Times Free Press|access-date=December 3, 2024}} voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act conference report,{{cite news |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Congress Approves Republican Tax Plan Setting Up Delivery to Trump's Desk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-vote-republicans.html |work=The New York Times }} saying, "In the end, after 11 years in the Senate, I know every bill we consider is imperfect and the question becomes is our country better off with or without this piece of legislation. I think we are better off with it. I realize this is a bet on our country's enterprising spirit, and that is a bet I am willing to make."{{cite news |last=Carney |first=Jordain |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Corker to support tax bill in boost to GOP |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/365156-corker-to-support-tax-bill/ |work=The Hill }}

IB Times said that a provision newly added to the final version of the bill, which some termed the "pass-through provision", could financially benefit the Trump family and several congressional Republicans, including Corker.{{cite news |date=September 18, 2017 |title=Why Corker flipped on the tax bill |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/18/bob-corker-tax-bill-kickback-republicans-respond-302482 |work=Politico |author=Seung Min Kim}} For example, the top 20% of Americans by income have received more than 60% of the tax savings. After two years, the tax cuts never paid for itself with economic growth, according to Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.{{cite news|last1=Horsley |first1=Scott |date=December 20, 2019|title=After 2 Years, Trump Tax Cuts Have Failed To Deliver On GOP's Promises|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/20/789540931/2-years-later-trump-tax-cuts-have-failed-to-deliver-on-gops-promises|work=NPR |access-date=December 3, 2024}}

Corker traveled to Iraq for the first time as a senator in February 2007 as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee to study the situation on the ground.{{cite news |date=February 18, 2007 |title=Corker Makes First Trip to Iraq to Evaluate Situation on the Ground |url=https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=5FD7603E-5B1E-4AB3-AFD4-75CE08777ECC |agency=Corker.senate.gov |access-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919163851/https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ID=5FD7603E-5B1E-4AB3-AFD4-75CE08777ECC |archive-date=September 19, 2018 }} In March 2007, he subsequently expressed his opposition to an arbitrary withdrawal deadline of U.S. troops in Iraq and declared his support for General David Petraeus's counterinsurgency strategy.{{cite news |date=March 29, 2007 |title=Sen. Corker Votes Against Arbitrary Date for Withdrawal in Iraq |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1246971111.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318054950/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1246971111.html |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |agency=US Fed News Service |via=Highbeam Research }} Corker said that any further reduction in U.S. forces in Iraq should be based on improved conditions in the country.{{Cite news|first=Bill |last=Theobald|url=http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080408/NEWS01/80408022 |title=Corker says further withdrawal will need to be 'measured' |work=The Leaf-Chronicle |date=April 8, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=May 2016}} In May 2008, Corker and Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey advocated for greater burden sharing among Iraq's neighbors in funding reconstruction efforts in the country.{{cite news |date=April 22, 2008 |title=Sens. Casey, Corker Resolution to Urge Greater International Support for Iraq Reconstruction Passes Foreign |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1467012571.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317035808/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1467012571.html |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |agency=US Fed News Service |via=Highbeam Research }}

In April 2009, Corker criticized President Obama's Afghan war strategy, which boosted civilian efforts to rebuild the impoverished country and placed nuclear-armed Pakistan at the center of the fight: "I have no idea what it is, other than sending additional troops. I hope we dig a lot deeper," said Corker.{{Cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h7evCEtqUsRqbSNO6llrn48By-eA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527185824/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h7evCEtqUsRqbSNO6llrn48By-eA |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=September 2, 2010 |title=Military solution won't end Afghan war: Veterans |date=April 23, 2009 |agency=AFP}} He expected that the United States is having to build the economic and governmental structure of Afghanistan after decades of war.{{Cite news|title=U.S. to be in Afghanistan for 'at least a 10 years' |first=Dave |last=Flessner |date=August 26, 2009 |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/26/us-to-be-in-afghanistan-for-at-least-a-10-years/ |work=Chattanooga Times Free Press |agency=The Associated Press}}

In September 2009, during a Special Committee on Aging hearing, Corker told former Canadian Public Health Minister Carolyn Bennett that Canada was living off the United States by setting lower health care prices and that "all the innovation, all the technology breakthroughs just about take place in our country and we have to pay for it." Corker stated that the US was not really the problem but rather "sort of the parasitic relationship that Canada, and France, and other countries have towards us" and affirmed his opposition to this policy.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/30/corker-canada-france-have-parasitic-relationship-with-us/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001233658/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/30/corker-canada-france-have-parasitic-relationship-with-us/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2009|title=Corker: Canada, France have 'parasitic relationship' with US|date=September 30, 2009|publisher=CNN}}

In October 2013, Corker said of American involvement in Syria, "I think our help to the opposition has been an embarrassment and I find it appalling you would sit here and act as if we're doing the things we said we'd do three months ago, six months ago, nine months ago."{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-usa-idUSBRE99U18220131031|title=Key U.S. senators strongly criticize Obama's Syria policy|first=Patricia|last=Zengerle|date=October 31, 2013|publisher=Reuters}} In February 2016, Corker stated his belief that the European Union had become open to President of Syria Bashar al-Assad remaining in power "for a while and they look at that as a better case than the chaos" as well as crediting Russian president Vladimir Putin with playing "the cards that he has in a masterful way and taken advantage of a nation that is not willing to lead". Corker furthered that the US not intervening in Syria with a strike in 2013 "said to the world that we could not be counted on" and that the US propped up Assad more than any other country.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4235984/bob-corker-syria-bashar-assad/|title=Corker: The U.S. Is 'Empowering Assad' in Syria|date=February 24, 2016|magazine=Time}} During the confirmation hearings of Mike Pompeo in April 2018, President Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Pompeo pointed to the US military killing Russians in Syria as proof of the administration's strength against Russia. Corker thanked him for mentioning the strike, saying, "I don't think enough has been said or made of the fact the Russia crossed the Euphrates with their own troops and were annihilated, and it was really a strong statement that I don't think many are paying as much attention to as should."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/382864-pompeo-defending-trumps-russia-policy-confirms-a-couple-hundred-russians/|title=Pompeo confirms 'a couple hundred' Russians killed in Syria|date=April 12, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

In April 2015, Corker's position on Iraq was that turmoil in the Middle East predated Barack Obama's presidency, and that by invading Iraq in 2003 the U.S. "took a big stick and beat a hornets' nest", unleashing rivalries that might take decades to resolve.{{cite news|author=Lexington|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21648568-if-barack-obama-wants-nuclear-deal-stick-he-must-deal-senator-bob-corker-man-plan|title=The man with a plan for Iran; If Barack Obama's nuclear deal sticks, thank Senator Bob Corker|publisher=The Economist |date=April 18, 2015|access-date=May 24, 2016}}

In March 2016, following reports that Iran conducted ballistic missile tests, Corker encouraged the Obama administration and United Nations to demonstrate that Iran would face "swift and immediate consequences."{{cite news |last=Carney |first=Jordain|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/272198-gop-pressure-obama-on-iran-missile-test/|title=GOP presses Obama to punish Iran for missile tests|date=March 8, 2016|newspaper=The Hill}} In October 2017, amid the feud between Corker and President Trump, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated, "Sen. Corker worked with Nancy Pelosi and the Obama administration to pave the way for that legislation and basically rolled out the red carpet for the Iran deal, and those are pretty factual." The claim was refuted by Corker's communications director and news outlets.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/10/white-house-says-corker-rolled-out-red-carpet-for-iran-deal.html|title=White House says Corker 'rolled out the red carpet' for Iran nuclear deal, which he actually opposed|date=October 10, 2017|publisher=CNBC}} In December 2018, President Trump wrote of Corker's involvement with the Iran nuclear deal, "For all of the sympathizers out there of Brett McGurk remember, he was the Obama appointee who was responsible for loading up airplanes with 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH & sending it to Iran as part of the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal (now terminated) approved by Little Bob Corker."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/422738-trump-rips-brett-mcgurk-and-little-bob-corker-over-iran-deal/|title=Trump rips 'Little Bob Corker,' US envoy McGurk over Iran deal|date=December 24, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

During the war in Donbas, Corker supported supplying Ukraine with lethal weapons.[http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1361IS Ukraine hopes Trump is 'no Tsar', will not abandon Kiev], Reuters, November 11, 2016.

In 2017, Corker criticized President Trump's tweets against North Korea as impulsive. He said, "A lot of people think that there is some kind of 'good cop, bad cop' act underway, but that's just not true."Diaz, Daniella. [http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/09/politics/corker-world-war-iii-donald-trump-white-house/index.html "Bob Corker: Trump ...."] CNN. October 9, 2017. October 10, 2017.Goldberg, Michelle. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/opinion/corker-trump-truth-.html "Corker Told the Truth About Trump. Now He Should Act on It."] The New York Times. October 10, 2017. October 10, 2017 He further expressed concern that Trump's reckless behavior could lead to war. Corker's comments were not met with public dissent; Republicans appeared to agree with Corker.[http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/gabfest/2017/10/trump_s_spats_allegations_against_harvey_weinstein_and_repeal_of_the_clean.html "The "Adult Day Care" Edition."] Slate's Political Gabfest, October 12, 2017. In April 2018, Corker stated that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un viewed "having deliverable nuclear weapons as his ticket to dying as an old man in his bed" after seeing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi die following surrendering his nuclear weapons and that it was not realistic for the Trump administration to "think that someone's going to go in and charm him out of" the nuclear weapons.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/384324-corker-charming-north-korea-out-of-getting-rid-of-nuclear-weapons/|title=Corker: Charming North Korea into getting rid of nuclear weapons is not realistic|date=April 22, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

In October 2017, Corker confirmed that he was engaged in discussions with Ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin on creating a bipartisan plan that would meet the wishes of President Trump for a stronger nuclear agreement with Iran and that they hoped the final version of the legislation "would pass with 80 to 85 votes by the time we're through with it."{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/25/iran-nuclear-deal-bob-corker-ben-cardin-244163|title=Corker in talks with Cardin on Iran nuclear deal|date=October 25, 2017|newspaper=Politico}} In January 2018, Corker warned that pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal would have negative consequences for a treaty with North Korea: "I hope at some point we're going to enter into a very binding agreement with North Korea, and if it's believed that we withdrew from a military agreement when there aren't material violations — there's some technical violations, but not material violations — then it makes it more difficult for people to believe we're going to abide by another agreement."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/368181-corker-scrapping-iran-deal-could-make-north-korea-more-difficult/|title=Corker: Scrapping Iran deal could make North Korea 'more difficult'|date=January 9, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

In October 2017, Corker said he would "get on the phone with someone" within a day to get answers to why the Trump administration had missed the October 1 deadline to install penalties on Russian entities.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/25/bob-corker-trump-russia-sanctions-delay-244166|title=Corker vows to get answers on Trump's Russia sanctions delay|date=October 1, 2017|newspaper=Politico}}

In April 2018, Corker stated that relations between the United States and Russia were at their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis and that Congress "should be aware that miscalculations could lead us to a very bad place."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/384322-gop-sen-miscalculations-with-russia-could-lead-us-to-a-very-bad/|title=GOP senator: Miscalculations with Russia 'could lead us to a very bad place'|date=April 22, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

Corker supported President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.{{cite news |title=In US Congress, robust backing for Trump's Jerusalem move |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-us-congress-robust-backing-for-trumps-jerusalem-move/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=December 6, 2017}}

In April 2018, Corker was one of six senators to introduce bipartisan legislation meant to update authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) by replacing the 2001 and 2002 bills that authorized the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and in subsequent years used as the basis for military action against terrorist groups. In his accompanying statement, Corker noted previous attempts to update the authorizations and admitted that there was "still work ahead".{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/383439-senators-introduce-bill-to-update-trumps-war-authority/|title=Senators introduce bill to update Trump's war authority|date=April 16, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

Corker received campaign donations from Saudi Arabia's lobbyists.{{cite news |title=Report Says Saudi-hired Lobbyists Give Millions to Influence US Congress |url=https://www.voanews.com/usa/report-says-saudi-hired-lobbyists-give-millions-influence-us-congress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624090846/https://www.voanews.com/usa/report-says-saudi-hired-lobbyists-give-millions-influence-us-congress |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |work=VOA News |date=October 30, 2018}}

In June 2017, Corker voted against a resolution by Rand Paul and Chris Murphy that would block President Trump's $510 million sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia that made up a portion of the $110 billion arms sale Trump announced during his visit to Saudi Arabia the previous year.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/13/saudi-arabia-weapons-sales-senate-approves-239505|title=Senate backs weapons sales to Saudi Arabia|first=Elana|last=Schor|date=June 13, 2017|publisher=Politico}} Corker reasoned that Saudi Arabia had already acquired the American bombs and that the resolution "is one of those things you're cutting your nose off to spite your face, and I think some are doing it because it's something Trump is proposing."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/13/politics/senate-saudi-arms-deal-paul/index.html|title=Senate narrowly votes to back Saudi arms sale|date=June 13, 2017|publisher=CNN}}

In March 2018, Corker voted to table a resolution spearheaded by Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy, and Mike Lee that would have required President Trump to withdraw American troops either in or influencing Yemen within the next 30 days unless they were combating Al-Qaeda.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/379392-senate-sides-with-trump-on-providing-saudi-military-support/|title=Senate sides with Trump on providing Saudi military support|date=March 20, 2018|work=The Hill}}

In October 2018, Corker sent a letter to President Trump over the disappearance of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which "instructs the administration to determine whether Khashoggi was indeed kidnapped, tortured, or murdered by the Saudi government and...to respond within 120 days with a determination of sanctions against individuals who may have been responsible."{{cite news |title=Is This the Beginning of the End of the U.S.-Saudi Alliance? |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/10/11/is-this-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-us-saudi-alliance/ |work=The Intercept |date=October 11, 2018}} In late November 2018 in an initial procedural step, Senator Corker joined with others backing an effort to suspend U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.{{cite news |title=Rebuking Trump, senators back effort to suspend U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pompeo-mattis-to-brief-senate-on-saudi-arabia-khashoggi-and-yemen/2018/11/27/ee4e36c0-f28a-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en}} Corker told reporters, "We also have a crown prince that's out-of-control — a blockade in Qatar, the arrest of a prime minister in Lebanon, the killing of a journalist — whether there is a smoking gun, I don't think there is anybody in the room that doesn't believe he was responsible for it."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/418862-corker-saudi-crown-prince-is-out-of-control/|title=Corker: Saudi Crown Prince is 'out of control'|date=November 29, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}} During late December 2018, he stated he would introduce a resolution directly naming Mohammed Bin Salman as "responsible" for Khashoggi's death. About the resolution, Corker stated it was a "strong denouncing of a crown prince and holding them responsible for the murder of a journalist", further considering it a "pretty strong statement for the United States Senate to be making, assuming we can get a vote on it."{{cite web |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Corker to introduce resolution holding Saudi crown prince 'responsible' for Khashoggi's death |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/420707-corker-to-introduce-resolution-holding-saudi-crown-prince/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=December 11, 2018 |access-date=December 11, 2018}} The resolution comfortably passed the Senate on December 13, 2018, the same day it also and approved a measure to pull support from the Saudi military campaign in Yemen.{{cite web |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Senate passes resolution naming crown prince 'responsible' for Khashoggi slaying |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/421287-senate-passes-resolution-naming-crown-prince-responsible-for-khashoggi/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=December 13, 2018 |access-date=December 13, 2018}}

In September 2009, Corker opposed a health-care reform amendment that would legally allow Americans to buy cheaper Canadian drugs.{{Cite news|date=October 1, 2009 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-senator-slams-parasitic-canada-over-drug-prices-1.814985 |title=U.S. senator slams 'parasitic' Canada over drug prices |publisher=CBC News}} He opposed President Barack Obama's health reform legislation. He voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009,{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396 |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3590 as Amended) |publisher=senate.gov |access-date=January 10, 2012}} and he voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=August 29, 2010}}

In late February 2010, Corker became the sole senator to back retiring Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky in filibustering a 30-day extension of expiring unemployment and COBRA benefits.{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/unemployment-benefits-to-expire-sunday-after-senate-stalemates-on-extension/ |agency=Fox News |title=Unemployment Benefits to Expire Sunday After Senate Stalemates On Extension |date=February 27, 2010 |access-date=March 1, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303150544/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/27/unemployment-benefits-expire-sunday-senate-stalemates-extension/?test=latestnews |archive-date=March 3, 2010 }}

Amid Republican efforts to repeal the ACA following the election of Trump, Corker said in July 2017 he would support a repeal bill in the Senate even if it did not include a replacement effort.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/20/sen-bob-corker-support-repeal-and-delay-obamacare/495176001|title=Sen. Bob Corker changes mind and says he will support 'repeal and delay' of Obamacare|newspaper=The Tennessean |access-date=July 31, 2017}}

In October 2017, Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray introduced a bipartisan stabilization package for exchanges as part of attempts to stabilize the ACA's individual insurance exchanges, Alexander announcing Corker as one of the eleven other Republican senators cosponsoring the legislation.{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-obamacare-alexander-murray-stabilization-bill-republican-support-2017-10|title=The new bill to fix Obamacare has enough votes to pass — but Trump and the GOP could still kill it|date=October 19, 2017|publisher=Business Insider}}

In January 2018, Corker was one of thirty-six Republican senators to sign a letter to President Trump requesting he preserve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by modernizing it for the economy of the 21st century.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/371492-senate-republicans-call-on-trump-to-preserve-nafta/|title=Senate Republicans call on Trump to preserve NAFTA|date=January 30, 2018|first=Vicki|last=Needham|newspaper=The Hill}}

In May 2018, following President Trump announcing plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum toward Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, Corker said that placing tariffs "on our most important trading partners is the wrong approach and represents an abuse of authority intended only for national security purposes."{{cite news|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/may/31/alexander-warns-looming-us-tariffs-will-destroy-auto-manufacturing-jobs-tn/472149/|title=Corker on looming Trump trade tariffs: 'An abuse of authority'|date=May 31, 2018|newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press}}

At a July 2018 hearing on tariff policy, Corker stated, "I'm very concerned about the president's trade policies and I think we all should be. These actions are hurting our business and farm communities all around the country. They're damaging our international relationships."{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-senate/u-s-senators-blast-trump-on-trade-vow-to-press-for-change-in-policy-idUSKBN1K22RK|title=U.S. senators blast Trump on trade, vow to press for change in policy|date=July 12, 2018|first=Patricia|last=Zengerle}}

In September 2018, after President Trump announced tariffs on 200 billion worth of goods from China, Corker stated that the move was misrepresented and Americans would be paying for the tariffs. Corker stated that while China was using the US and other countries to its advantage, the administration had not articulated what the US hoped to achieve with imposing the tariffs.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/407411-corker-blasts-trumps-ready-fire-aim-trade-policy/|title=Corker blasts Trump's 'ready, fire, aim' trade policy|date=September 19, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

In late 2004 while mayor of Chattanooga, Corker requested the Tennessee Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limits on interstate highways and other four-lane controlled access highways in Hamilton County from 70 mph to 65 mph and 55 mph for trucks in an effort to reduce particulate air pollution after Chattanooga failed to meet the EPA's requirements for air quality.{{cite news|author= |title=Truck Speed Lowered To 55 MPH In Hamilton County|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2005/2/8/62265/Truck-Speed-Lowered-To-55-MPH-In.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|location=Chattanooga, Tennessee|date=February 28, 2005|access-date=January 26, 2019}}

While Corker has not fully accepted the scientific consensus that global warming is dangerous, progressing, and primarily caused by humans, in 2015 he supported a resolution expressing that humans do contribute to it.{{cite news |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Senate votes that climate change is real |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/230316-senate-votes-98-1-that-climate-change-is-real/ |work=The Hill }} He favors imposing a tax on carbon.{{cite web|url=http://www.grist.org/article/2009-bob-corker-on-climate-legislation|title=Bob Corker (R-Tenn): Tracking where senators stand on climate legislation|date=August 2009 |publisher=Grist|access-date=December 7, 2009}} Corker opposed John McCain's 2008 campaign proposal to suspend the 18-cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax, calling it "pandering extraordinaire".{{Cite news|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/03/mccain-enlists-states-gop-stalwarts-help|title=McCain enlists state's GOP stalwarts for help|first=Tom|last=Humphrey|date=June 3, 2008|work=Knoxville News Sentinel}}

File:Bob Corker 2010.jpg Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce breakfast in 2010]]

In 2003, Osborne Enterprises, an affiliate of the real estate company Corker Group, sold protected wetlands near South Chickamauga Creek in Chattanooga to Wal-Mart for $4.6 million.{{cite news |last=Pare |first=Mike |title=Wal-Mart planned for Brainerd |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=483C-9480-00C0-G2B6&csi=155832&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=March 5, 2003 |access-date=July 2, 2012}} In July 2003 environmental educator Sandy Kurtz filed a restraining order to stop the construction of the Wal-Mart. After briefly being upheld, the lawsuit was dismissed on July 15, 2003. The Wal-Mart opened in May 2004.{{cite news |title=Old lawsuit back to haunt Corker in race |last1=Perrusquia |first1=Marc |last2=Locker |first2=Richard |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4KPN-FF30-TX2J-F2VX&csi=143932&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=The Commercial Appeal |date=August 20, 2006 |access-date=July 2, 2012}}

Attorney Joe Prochaska, who represented Kurtz, served from 1992 to 1997 as a member of the Davidson County Democratic Party's executive committee. Prochaska accused Corker of selling the land shortly after the construction easement was approved. However, public records show that the land was approved for development by the city prior to Corker becoming mayor in April 2001. As part of the development plans, the Corps of Engineers approved the filling in of 2.5 acres of the wetlands, to widen an access road, in exchange for the creation of an additional 11 acres of new wetlands in a nearby area. Public records show no involvement of Corker in the approval process.{{cite news |title=Land sale predates Corker as mayor |last1=Perrusquia |first1=Marc |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4KXM-MN90-TX2J-F2XX&csi=143932&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=The Commercial Appeal |date=September 18, 2006 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}

In 2006, during Corker's United States Senate campaign against Democrat Harold Ford Jr., a second lawsuit was filed by Kurtz, again represented by Prochaska, and the Tennessee Environmental Council. The lawsuit accused Wal-Mart of encroaching onto an adjacent protected nature area that was also held by a company owned by Corker. The suit alleged that Corker did not fully disclose his interest in the property where the Wal-Mart was built or in the adjacent nature area at the time the deal was made. The Corker campaign countered that an article published on March 5, 2003, in the Chattanooga Times Free Press publicly identified Corker's ownership interest in the land, through Osborne Enterprises, and that as mayor, a blind trust barred Corker from being involved in issues like these that affected his business.

On October 13, 2006, lawyers involved in the case announced a settlement agreement. Details of the settlement were not announced, but court records indicate that a portion of the settlement involved a 45-day option for the Tennessee Environmental Council to purchase over {{Convert|13|acre|m2}} of the land in dispute that the Council hopes to dedicate for public use.{{cite news |title=Suit settlement aids Corker and nonprofit |last1=Perrusquia |first1=Marc |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/709441/suit_settlement_aids_corker_and_nonprofit__exchattanooga_mayors_firm/ |newspaper=The Commercial Appeal |date=October 26, 2006 |access-date=July 9, 2012}}

Shortly after taking office as mayor, Corker voluntarily placed his Hamilton County real estate holdings and businesses into a blind trust to avoid "even the perception of any conflict". Corker stated that the visibility of his properties and public knowledge of his ownership in them served as another check on his actions as mayor.{{cite news |title=Corker prepares blind trust for his real estate holdings |last1=Flessner |first1=Dave |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=42JR-P000-00C0-G23T&csi=155832&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=March 11, 2001 |access-date=August 15, 2012}}

On October 11, 2006, The Commercial Appeal reported that the blind trust that Corker set up to run his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest while he was mayor "may not have been all that blind". According to e-mails discovered by the Appeal (some of which had previously presumed to be lost):

Corker met often with employees from his private companies while mayor from 2001 to 2005, and he shared business tips with others. Corker also got help organizing his 2001 mayoral campaign from City Hall, where a government secretary passed on voting lists and set up meetings for the millionaire commercial real estate developer.{{Cite news|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5057186,00.html |title=Corker saw to interests in 'blind' trust, records show |first=Marc |last=Perrusquia |work=The Commercial Appeal |date=October 11, 2006}}

The e-mails show that Corker often met with officials from his private company, the Corker Group, which was part of the blind trust, while he was mayor. When asked about these e-mails by the Appeal, Corker said that he thought the blind trust had "worked very well" and that he had sold most of his business holdings so that he could avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest in the Senate.

In 2014, Corker, a long-time opponent of unions in Tennessee,{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/10/21/236983306/volkswagen-union-opposed-by-tennessee-republican-officials|publisher=NPR|title=Volkswagen Union Opposed By Tennessee Republican Officials|first=Blake|last=Farmer|date=October 21, 2013}} tried to influence the ballot election of blue-collar workers at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant whether to allow the United Auto Workers to represent them.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-corker-idUSBREA1C04H20140213|work=Reuters|title=U.S. senator drops bombshell during VW plant union vote|last=Woodall|first=Bernie|date=February 13, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-date=October 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004050707/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/13/us-volkswagen-corker-idUSBREA1C04H20140213|url-status=live}}

On the first day of the three-day election, Corker said that he "had conversations" and "based on those am assured that should the workers vote against the UAW, Volkswagen will announce in the coming weeks that it will manufacture its new mid-size SUV here in Chattanooga." Corker's public statement went counter to statements by Volkswagen officials in the lead-up to the vote that the outcome of the vote would not affect the determination of whether the SUV would be made in Chattanooga or at the Puebla, Mexico, plant. National Labor Relations Board expert Kenneth G. Dau-Schmidt of Indiana University Bloomington said that Corker's remarks were "shocking" and an attempt to intimidate workers into voting against UAW representation. The UAW was dealt a "stinging defeat" after a majority of employees at the Volkswagen plant voted against joining the union.{{cite news|author=Lydia DePillis|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/02/14/united-auto-workers-lose-historic-election-at-chattanooga-volkswagen-plant|title=Auto union loses historic election at Volkswagen plant in Tennessee|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 14, 2014}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results in Tennessee, U.S. Senate, 2006

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bob Corker

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 231,541

| percentage = 48.13%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ed Bryant

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 161,189

| percentage = 33.50%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Van Hilleary

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 83,078

| percentage = 17.27%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Tate Harrison

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 5,309

| percentage = 1.10%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 481,117

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2006 United States Senate election, Tennessee{{cite web|url=http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/results/2006-11/en4uss.pdf|title=General Election|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109000531/http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/results/2006-11/en4uss.pdf|archive-date=November 9, 2006}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Bob Corker

| votes = 929,911

| percentage = 50.7

| change = -14.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Harold Ford, Jr.|votes=879,976|percentage=48.0|change=+15.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Ed Choate|votes=10,831|percentage=0.6|change=n/a}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=David "None of the Above" Gatchell|votes=3,746|percentage=0.2|change=n/a}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Emory "Bo" Heyward|votes=3,580|percentage=0.2|change=n/a}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=H. Gary Keplinger|votes=3,033|percentage=0.2|change=n/a}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party (United States)|candidate=Chris Lugo|votes=2,589|percentage=0.1|change=n/a}}

{{Election box majority|votes=49,935|percentage=2.7|change=}}

{{Election box turnout|votes=1,833,693|percentage=|change=}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| loser =

| swing = -15.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results in Tennessee, U.S. Senate, 2012{{cite web|url=http://elections.tn.gov/results.php?ByOffice=United%20States%20Senate|title=Tennessee Secretary of State Unofficial Election Results|access-date=August 2, 2012|work=Secretary of State of Tennessee}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bob Corker (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 389,483

| percentage = 85.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Zach Poskevich

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 28,299

| percentage = 6.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Fred Anderson

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 15,942

| percentage = 3.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Mark Twain Clemens

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 11,788

| percentage = 2.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Brenda Lenard

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 11,378

| percentage = 2.5

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 456,890

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2012{{Cite web|url=http://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com.s3.amazonaws.com/sos/election/results/2012-11/USSenateCountyTotals.pdf|title=State of Tennessee General Election}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Bob Corker (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 1,506,443

| percentage = 64.89%

| change = +14.18%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Mark Clayton|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=705,882|percentage=30.41%|change=-17.59%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Martin Pleasant|party=Green Party (United States)|votes=38,472|percentage=1.66%|change=+1.52%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Shaun Crowell|party=Independent (United States)|votes=20,936|percentage=0.90%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Kermit Steck|party=Constitution Party (United States)|votes=18,620|percentage=0.80%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=James Higdon|party=Independent (United States)|votes=8,085|percentage=0.35%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Michael Joseph Long|party=Independent (United States)|votes=8,080|percentage=0.35%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Troy Stephen Scoggin|party=Independent (United States)|votes=7,148|percentage=0.31%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=David Gatchell|party=Independent (United States)|votes=6,523|percentage=0.28%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Write-ins|party=n/a|votes=1,288|percentage=0.05%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 2,321,477

| percentage = 100.0%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|title=The Benwood Plan: A Lesson in Comprehensive Teacher Reform|url=http://www.cli.org/sites/default/files/Benwood%20report.pdf|publisher=Education Sector|access-date=May 25, 2014|author=Elena Silva|location=Washington, D.C.|year=2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617040619/http://www.cli.org/sites/default/files/Benwood%20report.pdf|archive-date=June 17, 2014}}}}

• {{cite magazine |author=Calabresi, Massimo |others=With reporting by Alex Altman, Alex Rogers and Zeke J. Miller |date=April 20, 2015 |title=The tireless Tennessee dealmaker |department=Politics |magazine=Time |edition=South Pacific |volume=185 |issue=14 |pages=10–14|ref=none}}

{{Commons}}

• {{C-SPAN|1021114}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee|years=2015–2019}}

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{{Portalbar|Conservatism}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Corker, Bob}}

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