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John Kline (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Paul Kline is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2003. The district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Apple Valley
, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville
and Eagan
. He is a member of the Republican Party.
in Corpus Christi, Texas
(1965) and was educated at Rice University
(1969) and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
(1988).
Before his election to Congress, Kline was a 25-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps
, where he was a senior military aide to Presidents Carter
and Reagan
and was responsible for carrying the President's "Football
". During his military career, Kline served as a helicopter
pilot in Vietnam
, commanded all Marine aviation forces in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, flew "Marine One
," the Presidential helicopter, and served as Program Development Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps
. During his military career, Kline received numerous medals and commendations including Four Legions of Merit
, the Meritorious Service Medal
, the Defense Superior Service Medal
, the Vietnam Service Medal
(awarded 3 times), the Vietnam Campaign Medal
, a Presidential Service Badge
, and the Navy Commendation Medal. Kline retired as a Colonel from the Marine Corps.
on the $50 bill
. While the bill has a dozen Congressional cosponsors, it has not made any legislative progress.
In his campaigns, Kline received $30,000 in contributions from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
's political action committee
ARMPAC. Following DeLay's indictment on charges of money laundering
, Democrats have criticized Kline for failing to return DeLay's contributions or to donate them to charity. The case against Tom DeLay is pending. Kline also accepted $11,000 in political contributions from the PAC of former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. After Cunningham’s indictment on fraud charges, Kline donated the $11,000 to charity “to remove questions of any impropriety" according to his chief of staff, Steve Sutton.
Kline was considered to have been the most conservative member of the Minnesota delegation in the 109th Congress
, scoring 2.8% progressive
on a range of issues and 88% conservative based on 2006 House
votes. Minnesota Congressional Districts
shows the scores for the entire delegation.
Kline supported the interests of Disabled American Veterans
0% of the time in 2004 and 2005. He voted against retirement and disability benefits for veterans in 2003.
Kline supported President Bush's
plan to increase troop levels in Iraq in January, 2007, and against most of the Democrat’s “100-Hour Plan
” legislative agenda.
During Kline's 2008 bid for reelection, he defended his refusal to request earmarks
for his district. His opponent, Steve Sarvi, pointed to the 2nd district's lack of federal funding for highway and bridge projects.
In votes on the subject of sexual orientation, Kline tends to vote with the Republican party. In 2006, he voted to restrict the definition of marriage to being between one man and one woman. He has voted against a bill prohibiting employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT equality organization in the country, has given Kline multiple low ratings in past years.
With regard to gun control, Kline has supported the freedom of gun owners. He has received high ratings in recent years from such organizations as Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association. Keeping with his anti-gun-control viewpoints, he voted to repeal parts of the firearms ban for Washington, D.C. Self-described as "a collector of antique guns and a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment," Kline is quick to spot any possible infringements upon the rights of gun owners.
In a November press release, Kline declared, "Job creation is our nation's no. 1 challenge and Congress must make it our no. 1 priority." Kline has spoken out in support of education reform designed to encourage parent involvement and teacher accountability. He is opposed to any tax increases and has stated that such strategies must be taken "off the table." In remarks made to fellow representatives, Kline has said, "we are watching a massive growth of government power, size, and spending, and I deem that unacceptable."
In his time in office, Representative Kline has sponsored eight bills, with such diverse topics as Veterans' Day and tribal lands. Only one has made it out of the House, but none have been passed into law.
incumbent Bill Luther
and lost, taking 46 percent of the vote. He sought a rematch in 2000 and lost by only 5,400 votes as George W. Bush
narrowly carried the district.
After the 2000 census, Minnesota's congressional map was radically altered, even though the state didn't gain or lose any districts. The old 28-county 2nd District was dismantled, and a new 2nd District was created in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. At the same time, the 6th District was pushed slightly to the north and made significantly more Republican than its predecessor. The remap left the home of the 2nd District's freshman incumbent, Republican Mark Kennedy, just inside the reconfigured 6th District. Realizing this, Kline immediately filed for the Republican nomination in the new 2nd District; his home had been drawn into this district. After some consideration, Luther opted to run in the 2nd as well, even though it was thought to lean slightly Republican.
During the campaign, Luther came under fire when one of his supporters, Sam Garst, filed for the race under the banner of the "No New Taxes Party." This was done in retaliation for an ad the National Republican Congressional Committee
ran in support of Kline that accused Luther of being soft on crime. Luther subsequently admitted that his campaign knew about Garst's false flag
campaign. Kline gained considerable momentum from this, and ultimately won handily, taking 53 percent of the vote to Luther's 42 percent.
In 2004, he defeated Democratic Burnsville
City Councilwoman Teresa Daly
to win a second term and in 2006, he defeated former FBI
Special agent
and whistleblower
Coleen Rowley
, one of Time magazine's
"Persons of the Year", with 56% of the vote. In 2008 Kline defeated former Watertown
mayor Steve Sarvi
and increased his margin of victory to over 57% of the vote. In both 2006 and 2008, Kline was one of the few bright spots in disastrous years for Republicans.
. They have two children and four grandchildren.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2003. The district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Apple Valley
Apple Valley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,527 people, 16,344 households, and 12,405 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,625.5 people per square mile . There were 16,536 housing units at an average density of 953.6 per square mile...
, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville
Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville is a city south of downtown Minneapolis in Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River...
and Eagan
Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan is a city south of Saint Paul in Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. Eagan and nearby suburbs form the southern portion of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the fifteenth largest...
. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life, education and career
Kline was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of W. B. Ray High SchoolW. B. Ray High School
W. B. Ray High School is a secondary school centrally located in Corpus Christi, Texas and is part of the Corpus Christi Independent School District. The school is named in honor of the school board president, William Benton Ray. W. B...
in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
(1965) and was educated at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
(1969) and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as Ship, or SU, is a public university located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 40 miles west-southwest of Harrisburg...
(1988).
Before his election to Congress, Kline was a 25-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, where he was a senior military aide to Presidents Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and was responsible for carrying the President's "Football
Nuclear Football
The nuclear football is a briefcase, the contents of which are to be used by the President of the United States of America to authorize a nuclear attack while away from fixed command centers, such as the White House Situation Room...
". During his military career, Kline served as a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
pilot in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, commanded all Marine aviation forces in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, flew "Marine One
Marine One
Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D Sea King or the newer, smaller VH-60N "WhiteHawk", both due to be replaced by the...
," the Presidential helicopter, and served as Program Development Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions...
. During his military career, Kline received numerous medals and commendations including Four Legions of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
, the Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
, the Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
(awarded 3 times), the Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is...
, a Presidential Service Badge
Presidential Service Badge
The Presidential Service Badge is a badge of the United States military issued to service members who serve as full-time military staff to the President of the United States...
, and the Navy Commendation Medal. Kline retired as a Colonel from the Marine Corps.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
(Chairman)- As Chairman of the full committee, Rep. Kline may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees of which he is not already a voting member.
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary EducationUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary EducationThe House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce...
- Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsThe House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:...
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training
Political positions
In 2005, Kline introduced legislation to place Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on the $50 bill
United States fifty-dollar bill
The United States fifty-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. Ulysses S. Grant is currently featured on the obverse, while the U.S. Capitol is featured on the reverse. All current-issue $50 bills are Federal Reserve Notes....
. While the bill has a dozen Congressional cosponsors, it has not made any legislative progress.
In his campaigns, Kline received $30,000 in contributions from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
's political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
ARMPAC. Following DeLay's indictment on charges of money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, Democrats have criticized Kline for failing to return DeLay's contributions or to donate them to charity. The case against Tom DeLay is pending. Kline also accepted $11,000 in political contributions from the PAC of former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. After Cunningham’s indictment on fraud charges, Kline donated the $11,000 to charity “to remove questions of any impropriety" according to his chief of staff, Steve Sutton.
Kline was considered to have been the most conservative member of the Minnesota delegation in the 109th Congress
109th United States Congress
The One Hundred Ninth United States Congress was the legislative branch of the United States, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2007, during the fifth and sixth years of George W. Bush's presidency. House members...
, scoring 2.8% progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
on a range of issues and 88% conservative based on 2006 House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
votes. Minnesota Congressional Districts
Minnesota Congressional Districts
Minnesota currently has eight congressional districts. There were 9th and 10th districts but they were eliminated in 1963 and 1933 respectively...
shows the scores for the entire delegation.
Kline supported the interests of Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
0% of the time in 2004 and 2005. He voted against retirement and disability benefits for veterans in 2003.
Kline supported President Bush's
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
plan to increase troop levels in Iraq in January, 2007, and against most of the Democrat’s “100-Hour Plan
100-Hour Plan
The 100-Hour Plan was a United States Democratic Party political strategy detailing the actions the party pursued upon assuming leadership of the 110th Congress on January 4, 2007. The strategy was announced before the 2006 midterm elections. Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged that her party would...
” legislative agenda.
During Kline's 2008 bid for reelection, he defended his refusal to request earmarks
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
for his district. His opponent, Steve Sarvi, pointed to the 2nd district's lack of federal funding for highway and bridge projects.
In votes on the subject of sexual orientation, Kline tends to vote with the Republican party. In 2006, he voted to restrict the definition of marriage to being between one man and one woman. He has voted against a bill prohibiting employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT equality organization in the country, has given Kline multiple low ratings in past years.
With regard to gun control, Kline has supported the freedom of gun owners. He has received high ratings in recent years from such organizations as Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association. Keeping with his anti-gun-control viewpoints, he voted to repeal parts of the firearms ban for Washington, D.C. Self-described as "a collector of antique guns and a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment," Kline is quick to spot any possible infringements upon the rights of gun owners.
In a November press release, Kline declared, "Job creation is our nation's no. 1 challenge and Congress must make it our no. 1 priority." Kline has spoken out in support of education reform designed to encourage parent involvement and teacher accountability. He is opposed to any tax increases and has stated that such strategies must be taken "off the table." In remarks made to fellow representatives, Kline has said, "we are watching a massive growth of government power, size, and spending, and I deem that unacceptable."
In his time in office, Representative Kline has sponsored eight bills, with such diverse topics as Veterans' Day and tribal lands. Only one has made it out of the House, but none have been passed into law.
Political campaigns
Kline made his first run for office in 1998, when he challenged 6th District DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Bill Luther
Bill Luther
William Paul "Bill" Luther is an American politician. Luther was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 2003, serving in the 104th, 105th, 106th, and 107th congresses, representing Minnesota's 6th congressional...
and lost, taking 46 percent of the vote. He sought a rematch in 2000 and lost by only 5,400 votes as George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
narrowly carried the district.
After the 2000 census, Minnesota's congressional map was radically altered, even though the state didn't gain or lose any districts. The old 28-county 2nd District was dismantled, and a new 2nd District was created in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. At the same time, the 6th District was pushed slightly to the north and made significantly more Republican than its predecessor. The remap left the home of the 2nd District's freshman incumbent, Republican Mark Kennedy, just inside the reconfigured 6th District. Realizing this, Kline immediately filed for the Republican nomination in the new 2nd District; his home had been drawn into this district. After some consideration, Luther opted to run in the 2nd as well, even though it was thought to lean slightly Republican.
During the campaign, Luther came under fire when one of his supporters, Sam Garst, filed for the race under the banner of the "No New Taxes Party." This was done in retaliation for an ad the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
ran in support of Kline that accused Luther of being soft on crime. Luther subsequently admitted that his campaign knew about Garst's false flag
False flag
False flag operations are covert operations designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is flying the flag of a country other than one's own...
campaign. Kline gained considerable momentum from this, and ultimately won handily, taking 53 percent of the vote to Luther's 42 percent.
In 2004, he defeated Democratic Burnsville
Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville is a city south of downtown Minneapolis in Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River...
City Councilwoman Teresa Daly
Teresa Daly
Teresa Daly is an American politician. She is a city councilwoman, and former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives....
to win a second term and in 2006, he defeated former FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
Special agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
and whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
Coleen Rowley
Coleen Rowley
Coleen Rowley is a former FBI agent and whistleblower, and was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota in 2006...
, one of Time magazine's
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
"Persons of the Year", with 56% of the vote. In 2008 Kline defeated former Watertown
Watertown, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,029 people, 1,078 households, and 775 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,808.0 people per square mile . There were 1,100 housing units at an average density of 656.6 per square mile...
mayor Steve Sarvi
Steve Sarvi
Stephen Todd 'Steve' Sarvi is an Iraq War veteran and the 2008 Democratic Farmer Labor Party candidate for U.S. Congress in .-Civic leadership:...
and increased his margin of victory to over 57% of the vote. In both 2006 and 2008, Kline was one of the few bright spots in disastrous years for Republicans.
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
Personal life
Kline and his wife, Vicky, live in LakevilleLakeville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,128 people, 13,609 households, and 11,526 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.4 people per square mile . There were 13,799 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile...
. They have two children and four grandchildren.
External links
- Congressman John Kline official U.S. House site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Campaign 2006: John Kline profile from Minnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...