Friday, August 31, 2012

When Is Rape, Not a Rape? When Rep. Kline Says So!

A bill that Rep. Kline and Akins co-sponsored last year would have limited the government help available to women seeking abortions in the case of rape to cases of "forcible rape". However...after a huge public outcry, the House Republican party changed it's language....

By now, most of us have heard of Missouri Republican Senate nominee Todd Akin’s statements regarding "legitimate rape" in an effort to redefining and legitimizing rape and incest... bringing into question rape and incest by trying to redefine and de-legitimize it much like the bill that Kline and Akin co-sponsored...

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, [pregnancies from rape are] really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Kline has declined MPR's request for comment on Akin's remarks...so unlike the GOP leadership that has soundly condemn Akins and asked for Mr Akin to withdraw his candidacy for Missouri's Senate seat...we can assume that beside trying to redefine rape...Kline supports the beliefs..... If that is the case, shouldn't Kline also be asked to withdraw his candidacy and be held accountable for the same beliefs and lack of empathy toward the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year?

Even Mitt Romney has pointed out how wrong these views are:
“Congressman’s Akin comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong, Like millions of other Americans, we found them to be offensive.”


Rep. John Kline (R-MN2) "No Comment"
Yet, Kline refuses comment...still...

Speaking for myself and my daughters...rape is rape...it has no level of acceptances, there isn't nor should there be "legitimate rapes".  Nor should rape victims continue to be victimized by outdated and wrong views. As Mike Obermueller says:
"Rape is a heinous, disgusting crime... and the bill they've co-sponsored gives the impression that some rapes are not as bad as others, and to me that's really offensive,"

Kline is out of step on this with science, his own party, and most voters. It's time for him to go. Rape is rape...for Rep. John Kline to try and redefine it for his own agenda and war on women is unacceptable.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Kline Is A Leader In 112th Do-Nothing Congress!

This is the least productive Congress ever according to USA Today...and Kline is one of it's leaders!


'Do Nothing'  Congress with John Kline

Since the GOP has gained back House majority in 2010, the 112th Congress has adopted the logo of 'Do Nothing' and 'Obstruct' using Kline's personal mantra of let's  'Roll Back'....from education, to health care, to minimum wage...Kline would rather see no progress than reach across the aisle and work with Democratic colleagues...

According to a USA Today analysis of records since 1947 kept by the US House Clerk's office, the lowest number of laws to date has come out of the 2012 congress....just 61 bills. This combined with Congress's historically low approval rating of 10 percent (Gallup poll) shows that the 112th Congress covering 2011-12 is the least productive since WW ll....


As John Kline votes 97.7% with the GOP  preferring to focus on party needs over national well being while he holds a leadership position in chairing the powerful Education and Workforce Committee; We can only assume Kline is in major part to blame for the 'Do Nothing' Congress! With economic issues, several wars, and infrastructure needs, Kline has set up roadblocks rather than work across the aisle with Democrats to find common ground and solutions.


The Democratic Congress of 2007-09 was able demonstrated their ability and willingness to work with President Bush (R). Working together, by the end of 2008, President Bush signed 460 laws passed by the Democratic Congress moving America needs forward...unfortunately with the current GOP leadership including John Kline, this Congress plays partisan games of obstruction over addressing the serious issues facing our nation.

It doesn't have to work this way....there is an alternative to Kline's inability to lead and put America first in Congress...his name is Mike OBERMUELLER!

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Top 5 Reasons Rep. Kline Refused To Attend Farmfest

Top Five Reasons John Kline Missed Farmfest 


5. Stayed up all night tweeting “Obama bad; Kline has the commonsense solutions”.


4. Why? Not enough lobbyist money left in farming, for-profit schools is the wave of future Kline funding.


3. Got wrong directions from David Gerson.


2. Forgot to ask permission to attend from John Boehner.

                        ....and the #1 reason:


1. Mike Obermueller (Democratic challenger running against Kline) can walk the talk as he grew up on a small family-run dairy farm and knows the importance and value of hard work, honesty in word and deed, and working together as a community to meet common goals.



Wednesday, August 01, 2012

'For Profit' Rasmussen Buys John Kline

A recently released Harken senate report says many 'for-profit' schools, including three in Minnesota, result in a lot of student/family debt but not in a degree. Among the three schools in Minnesota is Rasmussen Inc. which just happens to be among the top five contributors to John Kline's 2011-2012 campaign committee! Below is a partial list of donors and the amounts they've given to Kline from 'for profit' schools:

 2012 Contributors to John Kline:
  •  Assn of Private Sector Colleges/Univs  $17,500
  •  DeVry Inc  $16,750
  •  Education Affiliates  $15,000
  •  ITT Educational Services  $14,855
  •  Rasmussen Inc  $13,419
For-Profit Education is at the top of all industries in giving to Congressman John Kline ($215,224 in 2011-2012 alone!). It's no surprise that Kline chairs the House Education & Workforce Committee, but how can that amount of money not be seen as a conflict of interest? Especially in lieu of Kline's continue support to repeal existing regulations?

According to the two year investigative report, Rasmussen colleges 'took in tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to boost their marketing and profits', while many of their students 'dropped out in large numbers' often burdened with enormous debt. The report accuses the schools of spending public money "intended to support student educational opportunities" on marketing and to buttress profits. Also noted in the report was the fact that Rasmussen's programs cost several times what similar degrees cost at public colleges... Meanwhile, student dropout rates and loan default rates run many times higher than at public or nonprofit schools

Rasmussen's posted a dropout rate of 63 percent in its associate degree programs, the government said, and its bachelor's degree programs had a dropout rate of 64.2 percent. "Both rank amongst the 10 worst in the sector," the report stated. Beyond its generous marketing and recruiting budget, the report accused Rasmussen of giving credit for clearly plagiarized assignments to undercover investigators who enrolled in the college.

Yet Congressman John Kline continues to endorse for profit groups whose programs have a high student dropout rates and high loan defaults! Kline has even touted visiting Rasmussen college so either Kline (a) doesn't have a clue, or (b) doesn't give a heck about the fraud and misspent federal dollars at taxpayer expense. Kline has even gone as far as to try to kill reform and repeal regulations for these schools!
As chair of the House Education & the Workforce Committee, John Kline has a responsibility to the people that elected him to office to ensure the quality of education services and a fair and manageable cost, but John Kline has done neither.  Instead Kline has accepted thousands of dollars from the very people he should be protecting our students and education system from while eliminating reforms and regulations that would regulate the industry! Just as Kline has sold out to the 'for profit' schools, he's sold out American taxpayers.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

No Comments Kline?

While John Kline (MN-R) continues his vow of silence regarding anything outrageously wrong uttered by fellow peer Michele Bachmann like her recent comments accusing a State Department official of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood....he seems to have a lot to say regarding other's comments....


So which is it, did his campaign spokesman Troy Young lie when he said "He [Kline] doesn't comment on other people's comments," , or did he just want Kline to dodge an ideology bullet of supporting Bachmann's far right unreality?

Wouldn't it be nice to see Kline show real leadership instead of pathetically having his campaign spokesperson falling on the 'no comment' duct tape?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."










Friday, July 13, 2012

With Record Low Support For Congress, Kline Must Go.

According to a new Gallup poll:
"A record-low 10% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, down from 13% in January and the previous low of 11%, recorded in December 2011. Eighty-six percent disapprove of Congress, tying the record high for disapproval set in December."
The poll goes on to report that both Democrats and Republicans score equally low scores...That indicates that there is a very strong disapprove for what Congress is doing...or moreover...what it has NOT done... I noted just recently that while Congressman John Kline, along with his colleagues, has done NOTHING to create jobs, he continues to waste tax payer money making symbolic procedural votes calling for the elimination of our health care (note: not his government subsidized health care!). To quote John Kline's own words....
"Sadly, the President [Congressman John Kline] once again chosen to put politics before policy, touting a plan [worthless symbolic voting] that will do nothing to help the nation's unemployed workers"
Is it any wonder Americans are fed up with Congress and Kline? Minnesota voters in the Second District will soon have an opportunity to vote his worthless leadership out of a job. After years in office, John Kline needs to be removed...for countless reasons...

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

John Kline, All Hat, No Cattle

 The House, (aka Congressman John Kline - MN-R)...will be voting (again)  to repeal the entire 2010 health care law later today. The vote is seen as symbolic (as are the other 31 votes American lawmakers have made in the last 2 years).

There will be no surprise as to how our own Minnesota groundhog day representative Kline will vote NO no NO...sigh...

Perhaps I wouldn't be so angry with Kline if he was on record voting and voting and voting again and again....against his own government provided and subsidized Cadillac health care program instead of ours!

Wouldn't it be nice to see Mr. Kline sponsoring bills and voting to create jobs instead of making silly symbolic gestures over and over and over....? While America burns Kline fiddles on..Kline has lived and graduated from school in Texas, so he would know this Texas phase that fits him so well...All Hat, no Cattle.



Thursday, June 14, 2012

How Bad Is John Kline?

John Kline (MN2-R) is so bad... he even faces a GOP challenger!!! Funny thing is...I agree with much of what challenger David Gerson says about Kline...calling John Kline as part of the problem since he's been in office since 2002...was in office during GOP held presidency and yet, still acts like he's not accountable for America's current economic melt down and policy failures...

Press Statement: June 6, 2012 from David Gerson,Primary Challenger to Kline within the GOP party.


While the Democrats and Republicans blame each other for the state of the economy, 46.5 million Americans, comprising 20% of U.S. households, are on food stamps and the average real income is lower than it was in 1998.

Yet Americans know that among this plight there have been significant winners. And that those winners are lining up to donate nearly $1 billion to each party’s presidential campaign in order to maintain their privileges and to keep the benefits flowing.

The bounty for the crony capitalists and their puppet politicians who serve them has been the following:

•During the Bush expansion (2002 to 2007) the top 1% of income earners captured 65% of the income growth.

•During the Great Recession recovery (2009-2010), the top 1% of income earners captured 93% of the income growth.

It is time to hold our complicit incumbent politicians accountable for this legalized plunder for the benefit of the special interests.

John Kline has been in Congress since 2002; and for having provided a loyal rubber stamp for the Republican party establishment he will receive several million dollars in campaign support to continue to play by their rules.

If you are happy with the leadership of the Republican Party over the last 10 years, vote for John Kline as he has voted with them on every substantial issue.

However, our newly transformed Republican Party of Minnesota will no longer tolerate the transgressions of John Kline. Our party stands for the hard-working, productive citizens who comprise our great community. We are a party of the people - for the people and we will not tolerate those who compromise our principles.

And though there are no lobbying groups and massive super-PACs representing the people’s interests, we will stand behind the power of our ideas and the strength of our values to re-energize our base and gain grassroots support.

My campaign’s focus is to help establish the new identity of our Republican party and exorcise the transgressions of those who have misrepresented our ideals.

My team is dedicated to providing a voice for the people and we will make no apologies for disrupting the status quo in representing them.

I am honored to have been asked to take a stand and represent the great people in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District and play a part in this historic transformation.




Thursday, May 31, 2012

While America's Education DeKlines...

While Second Congressional Rep. John Kline (MN-R) is Chairman of the US House Education and Workforce Committee....
  • Federal and state support for colleges have crumbled to a new 25 year low, down 24% since 2004.
  • College tuition in the last 4 years has risen at triple the rate of general consumer spending. In 1991, tuition made up 26 percent of state educational revenues. It now make up 36 percent.
  • 94 percent of students who earn a bachelor’s degree borrow to pay for higher education — up from just 45 percent in 1993
  • School costs have skyrocketed....the average undergraduate student loan debt is nearing $20,000. Add an additional $30,000 for those who go on to graduate school. Law and medical students report an average accumulated debt from all years (undergraduate and graduate study) of $91,700!
And while Kline supports privatization of schools and a tax payer voucher system...
  • Private schools pay higher faculty salaries than public universities.
  • Private schools don't have the same accountability as private schools...many do not have to follow the same regulations and bureaucratic processes that govern (and sometimes hinder) public schools.
  • Private schools can 'cherry pick' eliminating those students that cost more with learning or physical disabilities.
  • 80% of all private schools are affiliated with a religion. Should the government support educational systems designed to further specific religious goals? Often these views are not only rather narrow, but gloss over or avoid any ideas that do not conform to their specific views.
  • One year at a private colleges if spiraling costs in higher education continue, is estimated to reach $100,000!
Even with a college degree, many graduates are not finding jobs (Where's the jobs Kline?). According to a Rutgers University poll of 571 graduates from 2006 to 2010, just over half had full-time jobs and about half of those jobs were low-paying jobs that didn't require bachelor's degrees.

Unfortunately, many of the cash-strapped colleges today have goals to retain students and thereby keep tuition money coming in...Many  of these colleges -- primarily private unaccredited religious colleges -- that provide little in the way of a true university education.

Rep Kline has had YEARS to draft and present legislative reforms to No Child Left Behind, but instead has allowed our public education to flounder while taking big donations from private for profit schools.  Among the top two PACs giving to Rep. John Kline campaign in 2011 is DeVry Inc and Rasmussen Inc, both 'for-profit' education organizations, for a total to date of 28,169. And the top industry contributing to John Kline in 2011 is education for a whopping $154,774!

Kline is bilking taxpayers enjoying his cushy career in government...
and sigh...America's education contines deKlines...

Thursday, May 24, 2012

How John Kline Isn't Working Very Hard For Voters


Rep. Kline's Record in Office Speaks In a Very Tiny Voice: He sponsored 12 bills...but ZERO have made it into law including one to fund expenses of the Education and Workfoce Committee he presides over.... "not more than $8,346,254 shall be available for expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2012, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2013." 

Kline's has Major Case of Laryngitis: He co-sponsored 264 bills...but only FOUR have made it into law. That would rank Kline 406 out of 440 in congress for enacting into laws bills that Kline has co-sponsored.

The Kline Motto of Party First...CD2 Voters and Country Last: Kline votes with the GOP 96% of the time...and 100% of the time with John Boehner.

Kline Stands Against the Enviroment: He wrote a letter on May 7, 2012 - In an effort to put the Keystone XL pipeline on the fast track and avoid any EPA efforts.

Kline has been in office since 2002... Are you better off for the years he's spent in office? Is the economy, schools, government, roads...? There is a better alternative.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Women Fear Me!




Women love...er...fear Rep. John Kline. Wonder why?
4/27/2012:

Another great moment from Congressman John Kline was so vehemently defending the Republicans' excellent treatment of women, by... well, you watch this video  that shows how his words don't match his not so Minnesota nice behavior...

REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MN: What we're talking about is using a slush fund that is provided to the Secretary to spend as she sees fit. And that is perceived as an attack, somehow, on women. What a surprise in this election year. (gavel bangs) Another 30 seconds, please.

REP. JUDY BIGGERT, R-IL: I yield...

REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MN: (interrupts her and ignors her) There are adequate....

REP. JUDY BIGGERT, R-IL: (cowers as she sits) 30 seconds.

REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MN: (still ignoring, arrogant, thankless) There are multiple....

Jon Stewart nails Congressman Klines attitude.... 

"We have a great record on women. I need 30 more... shut your fucking trap! Shut your mouth! We're gonna keep going! There's no war on women here!"







Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Thumbs Down For American Health Care

John Kline is against providing Health Care to Americans...While he has the best 'Public Health Care' provided and underwritten by Uncle Sam...Mr. Kline doesn't want the same for you or your family. Kline votes continually to repeal patient protections and currently affordable health care provisions. In the past he has voted against any health reforms and in recent months he's voted to repeal mandatory funding provided to states in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.




Kline currently supports the Ryan Budget Bill which would gut Medicare and puts more seniors at risk by denying them affordable health care. He's even voted against the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act!


While Kline seems to be okay with the government giving money to low income families, he wants it to be through for profit private health insurance companies...In other words, instead of government run health care designed to save money, Kline believes that while more expensive, private health care needs to be in charge! (Charge it to our taxes!).


In the last election cycle Kline has received more than $100,000 from PACs in the health industry including insurance, pharmaceuticals and health professionals. They give him money to buy a vote that continues to provide Americans with no choice but pay for high priced coverage.


No Reform + No Options + High PAC monies + High Premiums + Increase Taxes =