John Kline (politician).html



John Kline
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Mark Kennedy
Born	September 6, 1947 (1947-09-06) (age 61) Allentown, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Vicky Kline
Children	Kathy Kline Dan Kline
Residence	Lakeville, Minnesota
Alma mater	Rice University, Shippensburg University
Occupation	defense strategist
Religion	Methodist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1969-1994
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	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 was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He 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.¹

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 2008 Kline defeated former Watertown, MN mayor Steve Sarvi and increased his margin of victory to over 57% of the vote. Kline's victory in 2008, an election cycle capped by the decisive victory of Barack Obama and Joe Biden and more Democrat gains in the House and Senate have lead to speculation that Minnesota Democrats will focus less on trying to unseat Kline, and more on defeating freshman Congressman Erik Paulsen and the Sixth District's Michele Bachmann.

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.² 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.³

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 issues⁴ and 88% conservative based on 2006 House votes.⁵ 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, 2007,⁶ and against most of the Democrat’s “100-Hour Plan” legislative agenda.⁷

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

2008

Main article: U.S. House elections, 2008

2006

Main article: U.S. House elections, 2006

2004

Main article: U.S. House elections, 2004

2002

Main article: U.S. House elections, 2002

2000

Main article: United States House elections, 2000

1998

Main article: United States House elections, 1998

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

References

External links

• Congressman John Kline official U.S. House website

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• MPR — Campaign 2006: John Kline profile from Minnesota Public Radio
• NNDB — John Kline profile