John Kline (politician)

Infobox Congressman
name = John Kline


state = Minnesota
district = 2nd
date of birth = birth date and age|1947|09|06
place of birth = Allentown, Pennsylvania
party = Republican
term_start = January 3, 2003
preceded = Mark Kennedy
succeeded = Incumbent
religion = Methodist
spouse = Vicky Kline
children = Kathy Kline
Dan Kline
residence= Lakeville, Minnesota
alma_mater= Rice University, Shippensburg University
occupation= defense strategist
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=1969-1994
rank=Colonel
battles=Vietnam War
Operation Restore Hope
awards=Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (3)
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Presidential Service Badge
Navy Commendation Medal

John Paul Kline (born September 6, 1947 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American politician. He has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota.

Background and education

Kline is a graduate of W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas (1965) and was educated at Rice University (1969) and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1988).

Prior to 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 package containing launch codes for a nuclear attack, known as the "Football". During his military career, retiring as Colonel, 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. [cite web|title = Congressman John Kline — Representative of Minnesota|work = John Kline's Biography|publisher = United States House of Representatives|url = http://kline.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutJohnKline.Biography&CFID=25214513&CFTOKEN=13374456|accessdate = 2006-12-22]

Political career

In 2002, Kline defeated the Democratic incumbent, Bill Luther, in a rematch of their 2000 and 1998 races. 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".

In 2005, Kline introduced legislation to place Ronald Reagan 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. [ [http://www.ourfuture.org/issues_and_campaigns/accountablecongress/delay/money9.cfm DeLay's Money, Part 9] Accessed August 12th, 2006] 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. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20051202-9999-1n2giveback.html Some Republicans are dumping donations given by Cunningham] Accessed August 12th, 2006]

Kline was considered to have been the most conservative member of the Minnesota delegation in the 109^th Congress, scoring 2.8% progressive on a range of issues [cite web|last = Grossman|first = Joshua|title = ProgressivePunch Leading with the Left|work = All Issues|publisher = ProgressivePunch|url = http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN2|accessdate = 2007-09-08] and 88% conservative based on 2006 House votes. [cite web |title = ACU Ratings of Congress, 2006|publisher = American Conservative Union |date = 2006 |url = http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN |accessdate = 2007-09-08] Minnesota Congressional Districts shows the scores for the entire delegation.

110th congress

Along with fellow Minnesota Republican, Michele Bachmann, Kline supported President Bush's plan to increase troop levels in Iraq in January, 2007, [cite web|last = Diaz|first = Kevin|title = Minnesota delegation offers cool response|publisher = Star Tribune|date = 2007-01-08|url = http://www.startribune.com/587/story/923881.html|accessdate = 2007-01-09] and against most of the Democrat’s “100-Hour Plan” legislative agenda. [cite web|last =Talev|first = Margaret|title =House approves minimum wage increase|publisher = Star Tribune|date = 2007-01-10|url = http://www.startribune.com/587/story/928410.html|accessdate = 2007-01-12]

Committee Assignments

*Armed Services Committee
**Military Personnel Subcommittee
**Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee
*Education and Labor Committee
**Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (Ranking Member)
**Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

Personal life

Kline and his wife, Vicky, live in Lakeville, Minnesota. They have one daughter and one son, Kathy and Dan, and four grandchildren.

Electoral History

*1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 6th District
**Bill Luther (DFL) (inc.), 50%
**John Kline (R), 46%

*2000 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 6th District
**Bill Luther (DFL) (inc.), 50%
**John Kline (R), 48%

*2002 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 2nd District
**John Kline (R), 53%
**Bill Luther (DFL) (inc.), 42%

*2004 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 2nd District
**John Kline (R) (inc.), 56%
**Teresa Daly (DFL), 40%

*2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 2nd District
**John Kline (R) (inc.), 56%
**Coleen Rowley (DFL), 40%

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/kline/ Congressman John Kline] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Kline Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/congress/kline/ MPR — Campaign 2006: John Kline] profile from "Minnesota Public Radio"
* [http://www.nndb.com/people/503/000039386/ NNDB — John Kline] profile