Representative John Kline (R-MN) has been an out-spoken opponent of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Kline has framed this issue as one of protecting us from tyrannies that use secret ballots. “There are sacred principles that epitomize American democracy,” wrote Rep. John Kline (R-MN), attacking EFCA. He's even gone so far as to introduce a 'secret ballot protection act'. Yet now that the National Mediation Board (NMB) is proposing a rule change to the Railway Labor Act (RLA) to make elections more democratic, John Kline has decided democracy isn't all it's cracked up to be...
The AFL-CIO has petitioned for change that could possibly have a big impact on companies with non-union workers. The proposed change would overturn an old rule in place for decades (1934) that counts those employees not voting in union elections as “no” votes. Under the new proposal, those who don't vote would simply not be counted at all...just like in any other official election in America...Can't get more democratic then that!
Rep. John Kline issued a release that called it a radical proposal that adds “to a troubling perception that federal agencies have embraced a culture of union favoritism.” Hmm...interesting take...so if we extend that to CD2 voters, then can we say...everyone who doesn't vote is a 'no' vote for Kline...if that's the case my wish has come true! Really that's radical...not the notion of counting only those that cast votes.
By his stance on this issue, Kline shows us that it's not really democracy he's supporting (can you say union-busting?). All along John Kline has asked that voting being more democratic, but now that Kline has an opportunity to support a truly democratic voting method, he opposes it.
The proposed rule change doesn't count a vote for one side or another when it's not cast. This rule change will go a long way to help Americans revive the economy and rebuild the middle class, by empowering workers to bargain for better wages and benefits. But it would seem that instead of democracy, John Kline shows us he supports greedy CEOs and anti-union front groups while tearing down those would want to bargain fairly for better wages.
Congressman John Kline, like many other GOP fear mongers, likes to promote fear and distrust of government among his constituents. Just like the GOP talking heads Russ Limbaugh and Chris Baker, Rep. Kline is willing to ‘spin the truth’ and yes…dare I say, lie, in promoting fear if it will get people to support or oppose legislation.
During last month's staged public forum where all the powerpoint slides were queued up by his staff in order of the ‘random’ questioned asked, Kline on several occasions told the audience they should be ‘afraid of the Democrat Health Care Reform’ and incited them to be ‘afraid’ of the out of control government. Although in defense of Kline, this is a new stance for him. John Kline was AWOL on the issue of out of control government the whole eight years prior during the Bush Administration in which Kline supported Bush 97% of the time!
John Kline's latest ‘spin’ is fabricated to crush the hate crime legislation. Kline charges that even to speak about being opposed to a sexual preference at church would make it a crime under the new bill. But unless Kline is totally ignorant of the law (always a possibility), then he knows as well as everyone else that his claim is totally false. Brian Moulton, chief legislative counsel for the Human Rights Coalition, said this language makes "exceedingly clear" that the kind of thing talked about by Kline, Pence and others is "just not possible under this legislation."
So why would Kline be oppose to this legislation? Partisan Politics? Always a possibility with Kline as he always puts politics before people! Or perhaps he's a racist? Certainly his staffer who yelled ethnic slurs is a racist and still on Kline's staff!
During the Bush year, we’ve all learn to take the oppose of what was said to us as the truth (Operation Enduring Freedom, Blue Skies Initative)…now we need to do the same under Kline's rule…Read about the details here at PolitiFact.com
Rep. John Kline(MN-CD2) believes that teachers aren't doing thier jobs well. So he introduced a bill that would establish a Teacher Incentive Fund. The bill, which Kline introduced Wednesday with Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., would provide seed money for states and schools to reward teachers for improving student academic achievement, according to a statement released by the House Education and Labor Committee. His bill is grounded in the faulty reasoning that teachers are underperforming now and therefore will do better if they have an incentive.
Most teachers would like and are entitled to more pay for the important responsiblity of education our children. In Minnesota on average teachers make $45,000 a year, so obiviously they didn't get into teaching for the pay! But Kline's Bill implies that more money would make teachers better performers which would mean they aren't performing now!
Most of us have had teachers that made a real difference in our lives. They encouraged us to learn, provided us with knowledge, resources, inspiration, and a life long love of education. But under Kline's Bill how would this be measured and quanified? Besides insulting teachers, with this bill Kline wants to introduce another "Leave no child behind' bill that is problematic because incentives can't effectively be measured.
It's more of the same we've come to expect from Kline...lack of vision but plawenty of grandstanding...
Rep John Kline's health care report is getting a second opinion being by the Alliance for A Better Minnesota where they show Kline:
Votes against health care for children
Opposes the public option
And has taken big bucks from the health industry to be their lackey.
What they forget to mention is Kline receives really great health care...provided by the government-tax payers. In addition, up to 75% of his premiums are subsided while ours keep going up....
What's not to understand, Kline receives better health care provided by the government, and Kline doesn't want the rest of us to have what he has!.....did I mention that Kline receives lots of money from his friends the pirates private health care industry?
"John Kline has spent his years in Congress blocking any reform to our broken insurance system. It is clear that he'd rather keep up this sick scam than advance any real agenda. Share this information with your friends today and fight back against this sick scam, the time for real health insurance reform is now. "
Rep. John Kline is still voting NO on everything...if we followed his lead, there would be no schools, no streets to drive on, buses to ride on, air to breath, water to drink, and certainly NO Health Care!...er...well except for his tax payer -super funded- government provided health care...
"As soon as members of Congress are sworn in, they may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The program offers an assortment of health plans from which to choose, including fee-for-service, point-of-service, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In addition, Congress members can also insure their spouses and their dependents.
Not only does Congress get to choose from a wide range of plans, but there’s no waiting period. Unlike many Americans who must struggle against precondition clauses or are even denied coverage because of those preconditions, Senators and Representatives are covered no matter what - effective immediately.
And here’s the best part. The government pays up to 75 percent of the premium. That government, of course, is funded by taxpayers, the same taxpayers who often cannot afford health care themselves "
Yeah that's the ticket...Kline gets only the best government based care...meanwhile the rest of us can read his lips...NO.
Recent House Votes Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (331-83, 18 Not Voting)The House passed this bill that would extend by 13 weeks unemployment benefits in states with a jobless rate over 8.5%.Rep. John Kline voted NO......
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2010 - Vote Passed (217-190, 25 Not Voting)The House approved this $4.66 billion bill that funds the legislative branch for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill also includes a continuing resolution to fund government operations after the current fiscal year ends on September 30, as this is the only one of the 12 annual appropriations bills to have been completed.Rep. John Kline voted NO....
While President Obama's characterizes of Republicans as "the party of no", we in Minnesota have learned that the 'party of no mascot' is Rep. John Kline. His voting record alone shows Kline's inability to work across party lines. So it comes as not surprise when suddenly the Rushpublican'ts decide to 'rebrand' their tarnished and whacked image.
Take note when they say "The Republican congressional leadership is also slated to travel the country and attend town-hall meetings as part of the new effort".
Does that mean we'll see John Kline in another town meeting. That would bring his attendance up to....let's see...ah yeah....two!
If this was a serious attempt then Rep. John Kline would meet with the voters in open public forums instead of controlled screened telephone meetings (which as far as I can tell has happen only once!)
Additionally, John Kline would have a voting record the shows his genuine support of long-term solutions to current problems instead of long-term complaining, partisan obstructionism and finger pointing. As an example look at his vote record from just last week where Kline voted NO on each of the following bill that passed:
The DCCC is targeting House Republicans who voted against the credit card reform bill --sending out a raft of press releases to local media saying that the reps "voted to protect big credit card companies at the expense of responsible consumers who play by the rules.”
John Kline voted NO on credit card reform bill. When asked for a comment by reporter Kevin Diaz," Kline's office declined to comment on the DCCC attack” (wow guess the honeymoon between them is over! Wonder if the *cough* independent voice *cough* of Laura Adelmann has aced Diaz out of his stenographer job with Kline)
The bill was portrayed as a way to help consumers level the playing field against banks. The legislation won broad bipartisan support in the House, with 105 Republicans, including freshman Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen, joining 252 Democrats in support. Two Minnesotans voted against the bill: Republicans John (The Party of NO) Kline and Michele (Democrats caused Swine Flu) Bachmann.
Kline continues to support the unscrupulous banking industry practices of credit card lending that victimize the working middle class and poor. His NO vote on the credit card legislation shows us: 1. John Kline is not willing or able to work along non-partisan lines. 2. John Kline is a 'tool' of the banking industry, at the expense of his constituents.
Rep. John Kline decided (sigh) once again to stick it to the people while protecting banking corporations that charge upward of 30% interest rates. The average credit card debt in America according to the Federal Reserve is $7,300 and many of these debts carry retroactive interest rate increases, hidden fees, come-ons to minors and young adults, and short term teaser rates with murky terms of use. In short, banks many times are offering credit cards loans that would rival any street loan shark. This bill eliminates such practices that seek to victimize the working class...but Kline sided with the loan sharks...no surprise there!
In his pattern of voting against anything that doesn’t further big corporations or the very rich….John Kline continues to vote NO for any bill that would enrich or improve the lives of constituents.…
John Kline voted NO…against the COPS Improvement Act of 2009. This act would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program. This would authorized a five year $1.8 billion funding for the Community oriented Policing program. Fortunately the motion passed by a 2/3 yes vote.
Kline voted NO on HR1746, (Jim Oberstar’s attempt to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to reauthorized FEMA’s pre-disaster mitigation program) read more on this at DownWithTyranny.
Isn't it ironic that Rep. John Kline uses 'franking priviliges' in sending out a full color four page advertisement to tell us how he's against earmarks and standing up for Minnesota's working families. I guess Kline doesn't consider a couple of hundred thousand dollars of taxpayers money paying for his self-promotion as 'pork'!?
Rep. Kline should take his own advice and not waste taxpayer's money..."[Kline] strongly opposes" wasting tax dollars "at a time when so many of our neighbors are struggling". So is it okay to waste taxpayer's money when it goes to his self promotion?
The four full color pages were labled has a 'report on the economy from Congressman John Kline" but 3/4 of the 'report' was pictures and graphics unrelated to the economy. This 'report' was meant to be a soft promotional piece used in campaigns.
Kline says "we should expect our government to do the same thing" as families that have to cut costs and make sacrifices...so how about it Kline?...You stop using taxpayer money for your self promotion! That's a load of crap pork we can't afford.
There must be $49,000 worth of reasons Rep. John Kline (R- Fantasyland) wants to eliminated the current government-run Medicare program for people under the age of 55 — replacing it with a system of private insurance. Hmm.. once again Kline wants to see off Medicare so that private insurers are ensured more profits. Wonder why?
John Kline has become predictably out of center in his voting record. His vote record this session has shown a pattern of being unwilling to work across partisan lines to further the needs of American people. His obstructive pettiness is putting his radical ideology ahead of the community good is hurting people and contrary to the needs of our country. Let examine his vote record from last week...each of the below bills did pass...fortunately not all republicans are obstructionist:
Rep. John Kline voted NO on the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act. This will reauthorize and reform the national service laws. Guess John doesn't believe in volunteerism or Education.
Rep. John Kline voted NO to amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 208. This act prohibits unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not based on performance standards. The bill intended to curb bonuses of executives at financial institutions that receive Troubled Asset Relief Program money. Kline must of thought that voting against limiting fat cat's million/billion bonuses might affect hi fundraising....afterall...can't have CEOs mad at Kline for limiting their outrageous compensations?!
Rep. John Kline voted NO to the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This bill gives the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco, but would not allow the agency to ban cigarettes or other tobacco products. John must feel that there's no reason to protect the public health.
Rep. John Kline voted NO to the Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year 2010. This is where the house pass their version of the national budget for fiscal year 2010. SO in essence he couldn't work as a team with his own body to reach consensus.
Right now people are deeply worried about staying employed and taking care of their families. Democrats with the help of moderate Republicans are trying to set right our economy and improve the country. They are reaching across partisan lines to make a difference by working as a team. Meanwhile...Kline is stuck in his old ways of 'my way' only....sigh...it's going to be a long predictable year for Kline. Unfortunately his allegiance to ideology hurts his all of us.
Why does Congressman Kline continue to side with those from outside the state that want to block voter's wishes and keep Minnesotan's from having adequate representation in the U.S. Senate?
GOP operatives outside Minnesota and John Kline are encouraging Coleman to be as litigious as possible in taking his losing fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, even though they know he has no chance of winning! This continues to deny Democrats the 59th Senate seat that Franken would represent while also ignores the democratic process used in elections. To them it's just partisan game to deny voters and further thier ideology at Minnesotans expense.
“I hope the governor, and I expect he will, will do the right thing. The right thing is to get this through the courts and get a definitive answer. I’m sure the governor is as concerned as I am that this process has got so many discrepancies and disparities in it that it needs to go through the courts and be resolved.”
Kline knows there was an election and recount. There was a 3 judge panel that looked at the recount to make sure it was fair and followed the law. There were republicans on the panels, so what discrepancies and disparities is Kline referring to? The process was fair to both, translucent, open, and done according to law.
Someone should point out to John Kline that the United States Constitution guaranteed two senators for the state of Minnesota. That is what really is at stake here...constitutional rights verses GOP ideology's abuse of a process that allows for never ending lawsuits. John Kline's hatred of democracy and partisan obstructionism is really something to behold...
It's blue and glossy...and empty just like their promises!
If Kline and the GOP really believe Americans prefer an economic meltdown while they do NOTHING, then they weren't paying attention during the last election.
Congressman John Kline last week introduced the Secret Ballot Protection Act (better know as The Employer Fear, Coercion and Intimidation Act). It is legislation that ensures businesses retain The Right to FORCE its employees to be subject to a 42 day Union Busting Campaign.
John Kline says his act would prohibit unions from coercing employee through a 'card check' system...which Kline describes as "notorious for coercion and intimidation". So I did some checking....
The facts tell a completely different story. In the last 60 years there have been 46 cases of Union Coercion while in the last year alone there were more than3,000 cases of Employers Coercion ...hmm...Yes there is coercion Mr. Kline, but the facts show it’s on behalf of employers against workers and union organizers!
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections are also characterized by an extraordinary level of illegal activity… One out of every 17 eligible voters in NLRB elections is fired, suspended, demoted or otherwise economically punished for supporting unionization. Most end up losing their jobs while employers continue to practice these illegal and harassing activities t0 further their interests of a union-free workplace.
Kline would have you believe that a secret ballot is a fundamental principle of America, but the employer company controlling and running a secret ballot actually makes the process less democratic. The current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election system is a secret ballot election—but in fact it's not like any democratic election held anywhere else in our society. It's really a management-controlled election process.
The corporations control the information workers can receive and routinely poison the process by intimidating, harassing, coercing and even firing people who try to organize unions. No employee has free choice after being brow-beaten by a supervisor to oppose the union or being told they may lose their job and livelihood if workers vote for the union.
And in case you're wondering why Kline and Big Corporation want unions to stay out of their business consider this:
Union workers are 63 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance.
Union workers are 77 percent more likely to have short term disability benefits
In areas where unions represent a high proportion of workers a particular industry, they can even help to raise industry standards across-the-board: improving wages and job quality even for workers who aren’t members. Not surprisingly, as union membership has declined over the past decades, the middle-class squeeze has intensified.
Unlike like John Kline's FEAR Act, the Employee Free Choice Act would restore that right, streamlining the process for employees to decide on union representation. Predictably, corporations and those that are their flunkies like John Kline would rather not pay higher living wages or contribute to employee health care. Presently the system to form a union under the Employee Free Choice Act would remain the same if passed. The only difference is the Employees NOT the Employers would decide which method to be used to form a union. Either a Secret Ballot Election or a Card Check.
The Employee Free Choice Act streamlines procedures for employees to decide on union representation and bargain a first contract. Under this bill, a union would be automatically recognized in a workplace when a majority of employees sign cards stating that they want to be represented by that union. To facilitate agreement on a first contract for employees after the union is recognized, the bill enables either the union or management to refer any disputes about the contract to mediation if an accord has not been reached within 90 days after bargaining begins. If the mediator is unable to reach a deal within an additional 30 days, the dispute will go to binding arbitration.
Finally, the bill increases penalties for violations of labor law: raising fines, tripling the amount of back wages employees can receive if they are illegally fired or discriminated against for exercising their labor rights, and requiring the courts to seek injunctions against employers, as well as unions, that violate labor laws
When President Obama last night talked about an approach that will put an end to the 'era of profound irresponsibility', he was referring to the last several years of the GOP ideology policies that brought us to where we are today. So I find it more than annoying that after a whole 30 DAYS into Obama's administration Kline is already spouting off about 'ineffective legislation'.
John Kline is a poster child for ineffective policies and legislation. Who better to know about failing policies than someone who supported an administration for eight years that:
Create only 3 million jobs (net) in 8 years verses the 23 million jobs created under President Clinton.
Borrowed more money than ALL the previous Presidents combined!
Gave us the lowest GDP since 1931.
Skyrocketed our national debt by policies like:
Lowing taxes on the rich, contributing to revenues dropping in 2004 to the economic level of 1950's and creating record deficits.
Deregulating Wall Street under the mantra of 'greed is good' and 'business will police itself'. (yeah that worked well?!)
The cost of a pre-emptive unnecessary war, that the GOP controlled Congress didn't even factor into the budget (funny fuzzy accounting just like the failed banks!)
Growing the government to the largest size...ever...
The damages done by Congressman Kline's willing support of Bush's failed policies will haunt us for generations. Our entire nation is less secure economically as they pushed through billions of tax breaks for the rich and special interests like Big Oil companies, but failed to extend deductions for college tuition, teacher's expenses, early education or any programs that benefited the middle class.
Kline has zero credibility left to criticize. His record is totally bereft of any positive talking points and that alone makes his opinion as worthless as the policies he supported from the Bush administration.
When Obama talks about ending 'an era of profound irresponsibility', he's talking about Congressman John Kline etal. When Kline talks about 'ineffective legislation'...he's just being laughable in a way only a obstructionist partisan hack can be....
Why does John Kline hate women and children? I know we've asked this before but without answer. This time Congressman Kline voted no on The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.
The Act expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and reauthorizes it through 2013. SCHIP currently provides health insurance coverage to 7 million children from low-middle income families that cannot afford private health insurance but are not eligible for Medicaid benefits. The program is jointly financed by the federal and state governments and is administered by the states.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the legislation’s increased funding would enroll in SCHIP 1.6 million children who would otherwise be unenrolled and uninsured, would prevent 1.8 million children from losing their coverage, and would enroll about 700,000 children newly eligible for coverage under the bill’s broadened enrollment criteria.
Expansion of SCHIP is crucial to ensuring that more children do not fall into the ranks of the uninsured as the economy worsens and states cut important programs in the face of severe budget crises. Indeed, 22 states including Minnesota have already implemented or are considering cuts that will affect low-income children’s or families’ access to health insurance.
It's funny how Kline votes to supporting tax cuts to the wealthy, giving tax breaks to corporations, funding war profiteers, and funneling trillions on the war but he's okay in NOT provide basic health care coverage to our children.
While in office the economy has deKlined, wages have deKlined, benefits have deKlines, our standards of living have deklined and if left up to John Kline, our children would deKline! Fortunately his no vote wasn't enough to keep others from doing the right thing and providing coverage to uninsured children.
President Barack Obama signed an equal-pay bill into law Thursday before cheering labor and women leaders who fought hard for it and the woman whose history-making lawsuit gave impetus to the cause.
Obama, choosing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as the first bill to sign as president, called it a "wonderful day" and declared that ending pay disparities between men and woman an issue not just for women, but for all workers.
The measure, which amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act, also applies to discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, national origin, disability or age.
This week John Kline vote against providing needy children with health insurance (S-CHIP). Yet forty mainstream republican joined Democrats in passing the bill (289-139). There are thousands of uninsured children in Dakota County alone. Kline should be watching out for their welfare but, instead Kline decides to vote against providing them healthcare.
John Kline’s voting record AGAINST equal rights for women, not once but twice already this session, and now his vote AGAINST healthcare for children not only marks him as an extremist but blind and uncaring to the needs within his own community. Minnesota has about 82,000 uninsured kids (under 18). The number stands at nearly 10 million nationwide. Children’s health and mental problems need to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to avoid future problems and costs to the community. Without coverage, the impact on community services is greater, children are more at risk both medically and socially, and costs increase with delays.
Still Kline prefers to vote AGAINST women and children (our friends, family, and neighbors) and continue to accept money from the health insurance industry: (Insurance $44,700 and Health Products $32,400). The health and welfare of our families are too important to come second to the whims of Kline’s extreme right wing ideology
John Kline Speak: "Especially in this economic climate we cannot afford to enable endless litigation of potentially staggering record keeping requirements on employers."
Translation: Wage discrimination against women is okay. I'm fine with paying women less than men, even when they have the same qualifications and work the same hours. Women will sue when they find out they are paid less for the same work as a man, so let’s not pass this legislation. John Kline is okay with discriminating against women. Women can continue to earn less, and government can continue to support unfair and unequal wages because employers shouldn’t be liable for their actions. The only thing that’s staggering here is Kline’s total detachment from working families that depend on women’s deflated wages.
In the current economic climate that so adversely affecting women, how could he not support pay equity? Over half of the 37 million Americans living in poverty today are women. And women in America are further behind than women in other countries—the gap in poverty rates between men and women is wider in America than anywhere else in the Western world.
Please tell me Congressman Kline... I really want to know why is it better to allow women to continue to struggle economically than let corporations be accountable for their actions?
Congressman John Kline and the GOP have become obstructionists to fairness by supporting corporate discrimination over American women. Instead of allow women equal pay for equal work, Kline voted NO on both the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
Today, on average, a working full-time woman earns 77 cents to every dollar earned by a man. This is wage discrimination. Over the course of a woman's lifetime despite limiting current spending, it will adversely affect benefits by lowering Social Security and pension plans payouts.
The continue disparity in wages over the last 40 years between men and women signifies the need for stronger equal pay laws. Many recent reports show working women continue to earn less than men even though statistics indicate they are better educated. As a result of this, working families lose about $200 billion in income every year because of this pay discrimination.
It is clear that equal pay helps everybody. What’s not clear is how John Kline can continue to justify his obstructionist vote to the women in Minnesota’s second congressional district.
Facts About Pay Equity
In 2005, women's median annual earnings were only $.77 for every $1.00 earned by men. For women of color, the gap is even worse – only $.71 for African American women and $.58 for Latinas.
The General Accounting Office compiled data from the Current Population Survey regarding the ten industries that employ 71 percent of U.S. women workers and 73 percent of U.S. women managers. In seven of the ten industries examined, the pay gap between full-time male and female managers widened between 1995 and 2000.
If women received the same wages as men who work the same number of hours, have the same education and union status, are the same age, and live in the same region of the country, then these women's annual income would rise by $4,000 and poverty rates would be cut in half. Working families would gain an astounding $200 billion in family income annually.
Pay equity in female-dominated jobs (jobs in which women comprise 70 percent or more of the workforce) would increase wages for women by approximately 18 percent. Fifty-five percent of all women work in female-dominated jobs (jobs in which women comprise 70 percent or more of the workforce) whereas only 8.5 percent of all men work in these occupations. However, the men working in female-dominated jobs still receive about 20 percent more than women who work in female-dominated jobs.
Women are paid less in every occupational classification for which sufficient information is available, according to the data analysis in over 300 job classifications provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics.
In 1963, the year of the Equal Pay Act's passage, full-time working women were paid 59 cents on average to the dollar received by men, while in 2005 women were paid 77 cents for every dollar received by men. In other words, for the last 42 years, the wage gap has only narrowed by less than half of a penny per year.
John Kline talks about earmarks yada yada yada….with earmarks less than half a percent of the total budget, it’s like worrying about the range fan venting when the house is burning down…
Kline prefers to champion earmarks instead of address all the issues that now face us -from housing, economy, health care to education and gas prices that do significantly make up the federal budget. He instead wants to focus on meaningless crap!
"As my first act of the 111th Congress, I will ask Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader John Boehner to put an end to the wasteful earmarking process. Our constituents demand increased transparency and deserve the assurance that federal spending decisions are based on merit."
His heartfelt need to cut earmarks came only after the Democrats took controlled of congress...which is rather like finding g*d after committing murder…what a putz! There is no better indication of John Kline's obstructionist stance than his vote against 'earmark reform legislation' in January of 2007.
In the 2007 the Democratic 'earmark' reform bill would require any bill with earmarks contain the name of a legislator who introduced the inserted earmark, tax or tariff benefit be included in a report attached to that bill. Instead of voting for this reform, Kline voted against the House Resolution 6 on January 5, 2007. I can only suppose Kline needs a soapbox because he ain't gonna be doing anything productive for us or the failing economy!
To use a phrase coined by George H.W. Bush, this is "voodoo economics," based more on wishful thinking than on hard data or carefully considered policy proposals which brings us to the first thing that Congressman John Kline really will be doing when congress convenes this week...
As his first act in congress, Kline will be giving himself a raise …did I mention how John Kline voted against raising the minimum wage for the rest of us?
Here's more information on how earmarks are being used as Funny Numbers to cut spending only from programs they (neocons like Kline and Bush) don't want while the American economy meltdown further under their leadership. If this were the 1800's Kline would be holding a pitch fork, feeding the flames while burning women as witches and science books...
Rep. John Kline issued a release that called it a radical proposal that adds “to a troubling perception that federal agencies have embraced a culture of union favoritism.” Hmm...interesting take...so if we extend that to CD2 voters, then can we say...everyone who doesn't vote is a 'no' vote for Kline...if that's the case my wish has come true! Really that's radical...not the notion of counting only those that cast votes.
