DUMP JOHN KLINE

If It's Good Enough For John Kline....

2011-02-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Since Minnesota Congressman John Kline (R-02) voted last month to repeal Health Care, perhaps he would 'walk the talk' and lead by example: Kline should opt out of his own government provided Health Care before taking ours away. It would go a long way to show his total commitment to this free and open Health Care business market he keeps telling us he supports (but doesn't actually live!).

If it's good enough for John Kline, tell me again...why should we be against it!

Kline Votes To Remove Your Health Care!

2011-01-21T05:38:00.000-08:00

Rep. John Kline (MN-R-02) receives some of the best health care benefits in the country, much of it (up to 75%) paid for with taxpayer dollars. Yet he seems unable - or unwilling - to extend similar protections to the rest of America. Despite Kline receiving great Health Care at the taxpayer’s expense, he's done little of nothing on behalf of those who cannot afford or cannot get health care. Currently 1 in 6 adults and 10.6 billion children are without Health Care coverage.

By his vote against HCR this week, John Kline voted to raise our health insurance premiums, take away prescription drug benefits for seniors and lower doctors salaries. In other words, Kline voted to take away those same Health Care protections that he can enjoy. John Kline gets affordable Health Care with protections against insurance companies denying him (or his family) coverage...he has no life time limits, no waiting periods, no annual caps, no pre-existing conditions...in other words, he gets the Health Care coverage that he's denying the rest of us!

Call Rep. John Kline at(202) 225-2271. Let Kline know that the same health care protections he has through Congress is good enough you! That if he's really wants to eliminate Health Care, let him start by eliminating his own Health Care! With his vote against HCR, Kline is allowing the following:

- Allowing insurance companies to deny coverage to 129,000 to 333,000 individuals, including 9,000 to 39,000 children, with pre-existing conditions.

- Rescinding consumer protections for 463,000 individuals who have health insurance through their employer or the market for private insurance.

- Eliminating health care tax credits for up to 19,800 small businesses and 176,000 families.

- Increasing prescription drug costs for 11,700 seniors who hit the Part D drug “donut hole” and denying new preventive care benefits to 122,000 seniors.

- Increasing the costs of early retiree coverage for up to 11,100 early retirees.

- Eliminating new health care coverage options for 3,800 uninsured young adults.

- Increasing the number of people without health insurance by 78,000 individuals.

- Increasing the costs to hospitals of providing uncompensated care by $7 million annually.

While we are asked to sacrifice our affordable Health Care, Kline doesn't mind keeping his.

John Kline Paid To Pick HCR Side!

2011-01-20T05:26:00.001-08:00

Health care special interests and lobbyist have invested millions in the campaigns of House and Senate leaders, chairs and ranking members of committees with primary jurisdiction over health care legislation. Minnesota's Second Congressional District Congressman John Kline is among those who has benefited from their money. CREW's (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics) data shows that John Kline has received at least $197,250 from Health Care special interests and lobbyists.

Since the Republicans have been in office, on average, they spend almost half their time trying to pass bills directly related to either repealing all or some of the Affordable Care Act or defunding it so it will fail. While Kline states the HCR is full of backroom deals and that 'the people' are 'imploring us to start over"...it would more accurate if Kline said: 'the people who are lobbyist, special interests and insiders don't want reform and are paying me to change things back before reform '.

Hypocrisy Thou Name Is Congressman John Kline

2011-01-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

Hypocrisy: The state of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie.

Example:

Republican Congressman from Minnesota's Second District, John Kline voted today to repeal your health care while retaining his own knowing that the cost of repealing it would add to the federal deficit!

John Kline Increases the Deficit

2010-12-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

Conservative Representative John Kline (R-MN-02) has repeatedly voted against extending unemployment benefits to 2.5 million Americans by stating:

"We can't fund everything."

By comparison, Kline supports continuing to fund tax breaks for the richest 2% of American millionaires and billionaires.

Kline is voting to borrow 700 billion dollars and increase the deficit to extend tax cuts to the richest Americans while cutting money away from the poorest. I suppose it's a question of priorities, do you support average working Americans, or the wealthiest among us? Kline decided to support the wealthy and by doing so increases the deficit.

In his fourth term in Congress, Congressman Kline has been a active participant in America's budget and deficit, as he states:

"The Washington’s culture of taxing, borrowing, and spending is doing nothing to stem the tide of lost jobs and economic uncertainty"

Now Kline owns that culture of 'taxing, borrowing and spending' because he supports cut taxes on the wealthy, while increasing the deficit. Kline's loyalties lie with the millionaires and billionaires and not with the average American.

After nearly a decade in office, are you better off today than when Kline took office? No, of course not... unless you are among the wealthiest 2% of Americans. Tell Kline there's a difference between economic well being for all Americans verses economic wealth for a few.

Rep. Kline Pleads For....Earmarks?

2010-11-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) sent a letter to the Labor Secretary asking they use "all appropriate resources" in assisting Lockheed Martin employees that will soon be laid off when the Eagan plant closes. As Kline points out, a lost of this magnitude (1000 jobs) will threaten the overall economic well being of Eagan.

Most of the lost jobs are higher paying engineering level positions that will have a devastating domino affect on the local community. From the lost of homes, jobs and services, Eagan will have a difficult time recovering. The closing of the Eagan Lockheed Martin plant will see millions in lost revenue for the local community.

"I am deeply concerned by the implications of closing the Eagan facility. Job loss of this magnitude not only threatens the economic well-being of the workers currently employed at the facility, it also threatens the economic well-being of the broader Eagan community and the state of Minnesota."

Given Kline's anti-earmark stance, one wonders just what Kline is asking for from the Labor Secretary? It's no secret that Kline will be chairing the House Education and Labor committee starting January, so we will have an opportunity to see first hand how Kline's 'no earmarks' and 'no government involvement in business' will play out in private businesses like the Eagan Lockheed Martin plant closing that threaten the economic health of the community. Especially if that community is in Rep. John Kline's district!

Does John Kline's letter to the Labor Secretary signal a change of values for Kline, or just so much expected ~~lip~~ letter service when something of this magnitude happens locally? Perhaps Kline is willing to host another job fair to address his economic concern! (laugh out loud here) In the past, Kline has presented these low paying, entry level job fairs as part of his solution to the high unemployment rate.

Will Kline be mindful of his administrations ballooning budget deficit that gives tax breaks to the wealthy, but denies unemployment benefits to millions of Americans? In the last two years John Kline has repeatedly voted to deny extending unemployment benefits to millions of Americans but vows to support all of Bush's tax breaks including those for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.

With Kline's strong stances against earmarks, it's hard to imagine that he would support any additional or 'special' incentives for a local community but his letter seems to imply just that by asking for immediate attention and special treatment from big brother government.

Will Rep. John Kline Continue To Cut Taxes For The Wealthiest 2%

2010-11-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

Representative John Kline (R-MN-02), needs to make a decision... Will he be voting to continue to cut taxes on the wealthiest 2% while taxpayers pick up the tab, or will he allow them to pay their fair share like the rest of us?

The Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of this year if Congress does nothing. Some of those tax cuts allow the wealthiest two percent of Americans to not pay their fair share like the rest of us. The theory was what they didn't pay in taxes would 'trickle down' to the rest of us in the way of more jobs, less costs, and magical wands we could wave during parades...but it hasn't worked and it won't ever work...

We have lots of independent studies that show there is no trickle down, just bigger windfalls for the greedy and less Americans able to work. Over a decade plus of 'trickle down' has show that reality is: Large companies making large profits that benefited fewer and fewer Americans.

Take for example any oil company operating in the United States, the larger ones made billions ($000,000,000) in profits but most didn't pay taxes. Exxon/Mobil paid zero (0) taxes in the United States for 2009. In spite of record profits for Corporations and incredible CEO pay increases, rest of us Americans declined in wealth substantially in wealth.

The price tag ($700 billion) for extending the Bush cuts for the wealthy is more than 16 times the cost of Obama’s infrastructure proposal. That $700 billion is what the nonpartisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates it would cost the Treasury to continue tax cuts for top earners over 10 years. That's a lot of taxpayers supporting the very wealthy and polls show a majority of Americans are against this.

Cutting the existing tax breaks for the wealthy (or letting them lapse back to pre-2001 level) would save billions of dollars and also pay for the middle class and poor to continue their tax breaks...

One of the most common objections to letting the cuts expire for those in the highest tax brackets is that it would hurt small businesses. As Rep. John Kline likes to point out often because facts don't matter, allowing the cuts to lapse would amount to a job-killing tax hike on small business....

But this often repeated Kline claim is false and misleading at best. If, as proposed, the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire for the highest earners, the vast majority of small businesses will be unaffected. Less than 2 percent of tax returns reporting small-business income are filed by taxpayers in the top two income brackets -- individuals earning more than about $170,000 a year and families earning more than about $210,000 a year.

According to the Washington Post: If the objective is to help small businesses, continuing the Bush tax cuts on high-income taxpayers isn't the way to go -- it would miss more than 98 percent of small-business owners and would primarily help people who don't make most of their money off those businesses.

Voters will soon know if Rep. Kline represents them or just the wealthiest 2% of Americans by his vote on Bush's tax cuts as his 'hurt small business' argument is just more elitist manure.

Rep. John Kline To The Unemployed, Bah Humbug

2010-11-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

In an MPR interview this week, Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02), the incoming chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced he doesn't support an extension in unemployment:

"We simply don’t have the money to keep extending unemployment benefits indefinitely. We just don’t have the money."

But Kline does supports and is willing to pay for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. By budget standards, we have John Kline saying $830 billions to finance tax cuts for the wealthy is acceptable, but $12.5 billion to extend unemployment benefits 3 months when they are now due to end during the holidays is too expensive.

Is there any doubt who John Kline is working for during this financial crisis? The unemployment extension could be paid for by not allowing the tax credits to continue for the wealthy and as the majority of Americas don't approve of the wealthy tax breaks, shouldn't Kline also be supporting that?

Instead Kline wants to extending the Bush tax cuts for the rich. In Kline's world, $830 billion to finance tax cuts for the wealthy is fine, but $12.5 billion to extend unemployment benefits for three months is too expensive. Pat Garofalo at ThinkProgressive sums this up perfectly by pointing out:

"In the last forty years, the U.S. has never allowed extended benefits to expire with the unemployment rate above 7.2 percent, far below today’s rate of 9.6 percent. Plus, there are currently five unemployed persons for every job opening in the country. In fact, there are so few job openings, that even if every open position in the country were filled, four out of five unemployed workers would still be out of work. But for Kline and the other House Republicans, extending tax cuts for the rich is much higher on the priority list then ensuring that these households have an adequate safety net"

Because Kline and Congress voted down a three month extension of unemployment yesterday, 2.5 million Americans will run out support during the holiday season. By Kline's insistance in supporting a renewal of the tax cut for those who absolutely don't need it, America loses $830 billion over ten years, or roughly $83 billion per year. That would easily pay for unemployment compensation until the jobs situation improves...

What's more important to Kline, 2.5 million unemployed Americans or a few rich friends? Which is better for America?

Will Rep. John Kline Give Our Social Security To The Pentgon?

2010-11-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) has repeated often that 'in these tough economic times Americans need to tighten their belts'...and he also says 'everything is on the table' from taxes to social security, education to veterans benefits...but does that include the Department of Defense budget? In the past Kline has been totally rescind in considering the Pentagon budget when discussing budget cuts.

Take a look at the below graph of US discretionary spending and tell me again Rep. Kline, where should we be cutting? The nearly $1 trillion-a year bloated Pentagon budget needs to be reviewed and trimmed before we even consider looking at cutting currently self-sustaining programs (through 2039) like social security
The United States accounts for 46.5 percent of the world's total defense spending. The next-biggest spender is China, which has undertaken an immense buildup to become a military as well as economic superpower - yet accounts for just 6.6 percent of the world's total.

Additionally we pay for nearly half of all global defence expenditures, while our close allies Britain and France pay just 3.8 and 4.2 percent respectively. Somebody;s getting a free ride while the US taxpayers go belly up!

While John Kline talks about reeling 'out of control government spending', so why ignore the billions of dollars being lavished on the Pentagon annually? The two wars are currently costing approximately 1.1 trillion with no return on our 'war' investment.

The federal budget is expected to run a $1 trillion deficit this year. So while America is borrowing money from China and using it to wage war in Afghanistan, the Chinese are signing contracts and building infrastructure that will let them exploit Afghanistan's vast mineral wealth. Concurrently the Taliban remains powerful and grows in size, President Hamid Karzai and his administration is riddled with corruption, war profiteers still receive 'no bid' contracts and Americans are going broke.

Obama and Gates are calling for an increase in military spending for the next five years. So Rep Kline could have a win-win. One he would help decrease the deficit while cutting the Pentagon's run away spending and two, he could oppose the Obama administration at the same time.

The question is, will Kline recognize that there are no 'sacred cows' in the American budget and take for real the current economic crisis destroying our country or will John Kline take away our Social Security and give it to the Pentagon?

Rep. John Kline Supports Religious School Vouchers

2010-11-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) is expected to chair the House Education and Labor Committee when the new Congress convenes this January. One of the first changes he'll propose is bring back and perhaps expanding the five year experimental program for school vouchers that Obama let lapse last year.

The DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 established the first federally funded private school voucher program in the United States, providing scholarships of up to $7,500 for low-income residents of the District of Columbia to send their children to local participating private schools. While initially the programs was to see if educational attainment and student safety improved, over the five year period, neither happen.

While not boosting student academic achievement, it did serve to prop up financially shaky religious schools at taxpayer expense. Catholics especially have been lobbying for vouchers as it will help to stave off school closings — about 250 a year nationwide. Now that they have a friend in Rep. John Kline, religious groups are pressing hard for the House Education committee to once again approve vouchers.

Most private and religious schools gain with school vouchers, but public schools would be the biggest losers especially with funding. It’s a fallacy that every child in a private school saves the public schools money. There are certain set expenses of public schools that don't change like overhead for the buildings, liability insurance and janitorial needs. And while public schools have to meet certain standards, private and religious schools do not.

Moreover, where is the extra money going to come from to fund the vouchers? Either our taxes will rise, or the public school budgets will be reduced even further making them unable to provide adequate education basics. Most Americans understand the need for an educated workforce and don’t mind paying more taxes for the public schools but they would object to more taxes for subsidizing private, and especially religious school tuition.

While Kline supports removing funds from public schools and sending them largely to church-run parochial schools, at the same time he feels it's grossly unfair to hold those schools to the same standards as public schools.

Public schools are required to meet specific standards like curriculum, teacher certification, facilities, and standardized test scores; private/religious schools do not! Additionally there will be additional cost incurred in monitoring these schools. How will they be compared when public schools and private/religious schools are not on a level playing field?

The vast majority of students in voucher programs attend religious schools rather than secular private schools, which tend to be more expensive. Funneling public tax money into religious institutions violates the Constitutional principle of separation between church and state. Again, while most support public education, many do no want to pay for someone else's religious education. The voucher program subvert the constitutional principle of separation of church and state and threaten to undermine our system of public education.

Rep. John Kline won't let facts stand in the way of advocating for vouchers, or merit incentives, or parent triggers, or charter schools. Now that Kline will chair the House Education committee, look for the education system to be even more compromised and replaced with a less functional and more costly alternatives like vouchers.

I'll blog more on what to expect in the way of changes to education now that Kline will be leading the House Committee later this week.

What Would John Kline Do?

2010-11-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) has campaigned the last several years against excessive govenment spending including earmarks. His stance is to be totally against any earmarks... while letting a few slip in like promoting mega costly but unwanted and not needed F-22s fighter jets! And Kline's earmark ban has cost the people in CD2. They receive only 35 cents which is less than half in terms of returned federal dollars to their district compared with all other Minnesota districts.

Kline has repeatedly told us that earmarks are bad and the Republicans will change how business is done when they control the House, according to John 'it won't be business as usual!' only...oops...guess he was wrong...

His good buddy Rep. John Boehner who spearheaded the no-earmark principle during the Democratic controlled house has now said there will be a moratorium on banning earmarks. According to Boehner: "Only because some things that people call earmarks here, uh, wouldn't classify as an earmark to the American people,"

So it appears that voting for the GOP and John Kline is now back firing...there will be business as usual including earmarks. While it was acceptable to ban earmarks when Democrats ran the House, now that the GOP are in charge of the house, it's now important to bring home the bacon...

For 2 years Rep. John Kline has decried earmarks to hide his real voting record on fiscal issues. In other words, he votde for huge spending increases, bank and wall street bailouts, and to cut taxes for the wealthiest 1 -5% among us but then blasted earmarks. As a result of his incessant demagoguery, just the term “earmark” has become a dirty word for many voters.

It would serve us well to rememeber that when Republicans controlled Congress from 1994-2006, earmark spending went from under $8 billion to over $29 billion, according to watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste.

Rep. John Kline has a decision to make, still ban all earmarks while hurting the people in his district (as not all earmarks are pork and bad, noR does it save the government one cent)...or join the rest of his party and be part of the new GOP spending frenzy (same as the last one)! Looks like a lose - lose decision for John Kline.

Thank You Rep. John Kline, Can I Have Another?

2010-11-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

Congratulation are in order to Rep. John Kline (MN-R-02). It's now official, the Reagan Revolution is complete, the wealth of America has been transferred from the middle class to the top 1% and they couldn't have done it without John Kline's votes!

The top 1% of Americans, now make 24% of the income and own 34% of all American wealth. They (the top 5% of Americans) now own more than the entire bottom 95% of Americans combined! Roughly they own 60% of all of America's wealth!

So be sure to send a big 'thank you and can I have another?" to Rep. John 'we don't need no stinking regulations' Kline. By his votes while in office, he took a country that used to have a middle class and turned it into a nation where only the richest 1% have rights. His insistence on 'trickle down' has turned America into a third rate nation with only two class, rich (top 5%) and super rich (top 1%)!

For those left that even care, besides redistributing wealth, John Kline has also allowed the poor to have more debt... a whopping 73% of debt. For the vast majority of poor Americans, their homes are the most significant wealth they possess but also represents their largest debt:

Now that the middle class has been eliminated, look for Kline to squeeze the poor even harder to make more money/profit/returns for the wealthiest 1%...

Extending Bush Tax Cuts
Kline wants ALL the Bush tax cuts extended...

In other words, Kline wants the wealthiest 1% to continue to avoid their fair share of taxes.

Inheritance Tax
Rep. Kline is against any inheritance tax or as he calls it for PR reasons...a 'death tax'. Yet it's a tax only on 1% of Americans. According to a study published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, only 1.6% of Americans receive $100,000 or more in inheritance. Another 1.1% receive $50,000 to $100,000. On the other hand, 91.9% receive nothing, zero, zip, nada!

Thus, ultra-conservatives like John Kline in eliminating inheritance taxes takes a huge bite out of government revenues for the benefit of less than 1% of the population. Kline's stance can only be seen as anti-American government and only serves the wealthy 1%...but does not reflect the majority or those that are middle class or poor.

Social Security
Even though social security has enough funds to pay for itself though 2039, Kline wants to do away with social security. Yet Social Security has not contributed one dime to the federal deficit – it actually has a surplus of $2.6 trillion today. As it stands today, only the first $105,000 of a person's income is taxed for Social Security purposes, so it would clearly be a boon to the Social Security Fund if everyone -- not just those making less than $105,000 -- paid the Social Security tax on their full incomes.

Given Kline's position on protecting the top 1% of wealthy Americans, look for social security to end under his tutelage.

CEO Pay
If you compare the actual rates of increase of the salaries of CEOs to ordinary workers from 1990 to 2005, CEOs pay increased almost 300% (adjusted for inflation), while production workers gained a scant 4.3%. The purchasing power of the federal minimum wage actually declined by 9.3%, when inflation is taken into account. Yet Kline voted against raising the minimum wage.

The bottom 80% of Americans receive only 6% of all the new financial wealth generated in the United States during the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s (Wolff, 2007). So while Kline goes after unions and collective bargaining units (can you say the shrinking middle class?) CEO's are reaping huge benefits and becoming the wealthiest of Americans. Kline's mantra of 'letting business determine it's own rules' has lead us to fewer jobs, lower pay, higher corporation profits, gross CEO pay and incentives, and lower industry standards of safety.

All in all, the voters decided last week to give up and let Rep. John Kline continue to vote against their best interests and continue down the path of being a third rate nation...so congratulations to Kline, and to all who voted for him. Expect more bridges to fall down, less road repairs, more fees and higher taxes, with less government regulations and rules protecting your community. In other words, expect more of the same since Kline has been in office.

John Kline Must Stop Wasting Our Money

2010-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

John Kline has an opion piece in the Star Tribune telling voters that Congress is wasting our money and he's working for us...but hasn't he been in office the whole time that Congress 'is wasting our money'? Maybe he's right, let's stop Congress from wasting money by voting Kline out!

Rep. John Kline(R-MN-02) has failed the Middle Class. No surprise there. Year after year Kline has voted against the average voter, and for corporations. From bank bail outs, to denying senior/military/children's benefits, Kline has destroyed the American Dream.

During this campaign season, Kline has been MIA. Preferring to raise money for candidates out of state and teabaggers, rather than stay at home and talk with average Minnesotans. He won't discuss the issues, won't debate his challenger, won't make himself available to locals to explain his record and how it supports large corporations while taxing us.

Kline blames 'others' for the high deficit, unemployment, underfunding of programs, bank bailouts... but Kline has been in office now for years (almost a decade!). So can it always be 'the other guy'? Where's the accountability? It's time to stop and consider what Kline has done.

We have wars that Kline has been the main cheerleader for and whole heartily supports. They take over 40% of our budget to maintain and most of that money goes overseas away from America and into the hands of war profiteers and foreigners.

We have wall street and bank bailouts that cost millions, and Kline supported by voting YES. We have record unemployment, and Kline voted NO against extending benefits and the creation of jobs.

Kline doesn't accept earmarks, so while all the other Congressional districts in Minnesota receive double or more from his district, and, roads go unrepaired, jobs go unfilled, and business infrastructure doesn't get replaced.

This Tuesday, please vote. Tell John Kline with your vote what you think about his lack of support for your community, family, and Minnesota.

Let John know that you're aware that Congress has wasted your money, and as Kline is part of that problem, it's time to vote for someone else. It's time for a change from John Kline's wasting money ways.

Rep. John Kline's Pawining America!

2010-10-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Star Tribune reported that Pawn America's licensing fee was slashed in Burnsville from $10,000 to $100 by the Bursnville City Council! In addition, in Burnsville, Pawn America no longer have to pay the $2.50 per-transaction fee to help maintain a database of pawnshop information that the police share.

"And under a new ordinance, fewer kinds of merchandise will be tracked as it is pawned and resold."

Burnsville Police Chief and other law endorsement entities believe the Busnsville policy will restrict investigations and suggest that stolen property will be hard to recover. Additionally, taxpayers will now have to cover the cost of fees.

This is the perfect example of John Kline's motto: Let the business world regulate itself. And how ironic and coincidental (if you believe in it) that Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) has a close relationship with Pawn America and CEO Brad Rixmann. As I've noted before, Pawn America has been one of the biggest donor to Kline's campaign fund.

Besides the above changes, Rixmann (Pawn America) wants is to switch from the current database (APS) maintained by Minneapolis and used by the Minnesota and Wisconsin police to a private one (LeadsOnLine) of a firm in Texas (ah, another coincident! BTW the CEO David Finely also donates to GOP campaigns).

By law in every U.S. jurisdiction, all pawnshop transactions must be recorded and made available to local police. Known as tickets, the records contain the name and driver’s license or state identification information of the person who pawned an item, and a detailed description of the item pawned. Police officers collect the tickets and scan them to compare with reports of stolen property.

This represents big business, but it also represents how unregulated businesses can cost the community. Pawn shops exact a heavy fee because they impose a heavy burden in the communities they operate:

- Incredible high fees:Loans are steep, usually asking 10-20% service fees monthly making them pricier than bank loans or credit cards, and if the fee isn't meet, they can sell the item. A 10-20% fee translates into an annual percentage rate exceeding 300%.

- Increases in crime: With a pawn shop "comes an increase burglaries and break-ins. A pawnshop might give the addicts who regularly buy their drugs on that corner ready access to cash for their habit. A pawnshop might make it hard to woo more respectable businesses to that part of the south side; lower property values; increase gunfire; drive families away"

- With the elimination of pawn shops transaction fees, taxpayers will have to cover the fees!

- More stolen goods go unrecovered: Police report that more stolen goods will be unrecoved due to less reporting.

Rep. John Kline has consistently fought against any legislation that regulates businesses including limits on high interest rates. Kline is against any government regulations or over sight of any business sector including loan sharks and pawn shops. That's why in the eight years of John Kline being in office, we've seen the wall street crash and the banking industry melt down. Kline's adherence to 'no government oversight, regulations, or interference', has made John Kline a Pawn American poster child.

Unfortunately, the taxpayers get stuck with the bill for Pawn America fees while PA makes larger and larger profits and throws some of the profit at John Kline to deregulate them. Ask John Kline to work for the police and not against them.

A Palin/Kline Ticket in 2012?

2010-10-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Like Minnesota Governor Pawlenty, will Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) be running in 2012? If so, can we assume Kline is on Sarah Palin's short list? Is this the future GOP ticket....

Palin Gives Kline $5,000 contribution... PALIN /KLINE 2012 -Forming a 2012 'Falling Down Bridge to Nowhere'.

"With the Palin/Kline...The end is nearer than you think'

Rep. John Kline, The Lying Job Killer

2010-10-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) has been in office since 2002...so let's get a reality check on what he's done...er...or not regarding job creation...

"...Like me, Tom [Emmer] believes the private sector - not the federal government - creates jobs."

Really? So if what John Kline says is true,

He has been in office almost a decade serving four years under a two term GOP administration, and the same along with a GOP MN Governor Tim Pawlenty, so then, just where are the jobs?

John Kline had 'pawlenty of time' and resources at his disposal...

Ah that's right, Kline has voted against: green jobs, stimulus jobs, minimum wage, job assistance, earmark jobs, jobs in education and a whole slew of legislation the would have help create, you guessed it... JOBS!

More of the usual from Congressman Kline, he says one thing, but his action, support, resources and vote does another! Which begs the question of which title fits John Kline best:

KLINE THE JOB KILLER or KLINE THE LIAR?

both....

John Kline's Friday Fables

2010-10-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

'fable' from the latin 'fabula' (a "story"), derived from 'fari' ("to speak") with the -ula suffix that signifies "little": hence, "little story"...

'All Hat No Cattle'
It's good to see the 'good ole boys' in Texas are still backing John Kline's congressional seat! Open secret shows Kline taking almost ten thousand dollars ($9,600) from Houston, Texas. That comes as no surprise since 30% of the money Kline accepts is from out of state...and much of the rest is from outside his district....Makes one wonder why outsiders are trying to buy his position?

DeKlining to Work for CD2
Shelley Madore, the Democrat running in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, points out in an op-ed that federal money is going elsewhere because of GOP Rep. John Kline policy on earmarks. CD2 gets 35 cent back in federal dollars, less than half than any other congressional district in Minnesota and no where near the average federal return.

Still 'Hiding' while seeking Re-election
Congressman John Kline refuses to debate his challenger Shelley Madore..."The image of Marine veteran and self described tough guy Kline desperately running to his car and burning rubber to escape the pesky and persistent Shelley Madore is hilarious!" Unfortunately, hilarious or not, it's not very professional nor does it further the interests of CD2 voters.

Out of Excuses
Kline is notorious for not doing town hall meetings. I'm aware of only two in 8 years. He likes to qualify robo-calling as 'town meetings' but that's like defining catching an ant to big game hunting...the two aren't remotely the same! In a recent letter to Robert Gates, Kline complained that he was 'thwarted, blocked, ignored and stymied by the Department at every turn'.....now Kline knows how CD2 voters have felt since he's taken office!

Failing to Provide for the Future
John Kline's mission is obstruct and delay ... with the thought that a Republican resurgence in November will bring him more power like the Chair of the Labor and Education Committee. While he says one thing, Kline's voting record tells the real story. Kline's future America would provide immense tax cuts to the wealthy, increase taxes on poor and middle class to pay for out-of-controll war spending, privatize or do away with Medicare and Social Security and cut all social spending in education and transportation. A vote for Kline is a vote against families and community.

Why Rep. John Kline Is Too Busy To Debate

2010-10-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline's schedule is just so busy these days! Way too busy to do his job. Just how busy is he? Well, he has no time to debate his DFL congressional challenger Shelley Madore or hold town meetings or allow voters in CD2 to hear about the issues. John Kline (R-MN-02) is just sooooo busy because in his own words....:

"I look forward to campaigning tonight in Clarksville, Tenn., with Stephen Fincher, a conservative candidate for Congress in Tennessee's 8th Congressional district."

Prior to Tennessee, Kline was in Iowa:

"I am campaigning today in Iowa with Ben Lange, who is running for Congress in Iowa's first district.... I am campaigning with Brad Zaun (Iowa-3) tonight and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa-2) on Saturday."

Prior to Iowa, Kline was in Wisconsin and then Illinois:

I campaigned last night in Wisconsin with Dan Kapanke and look forward to joining Randy Hultgren today in Illinois.

John Kline's priority is toward his party, the teabaggers, and himself. Fortunately, Kline doesn't have to come back to Minnesota before we send him back home to Texas . The election will happen even if Kline is still on his GOP/Tea Bag tour.

Rep. John Kline's Refusal To Support Reforms Leads To Record Minnesota Foreclosures

2010-10-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

Most Americans believe in and work toward the dream of home ownership. For over 80% of Minnesota's families, that dream has been a reality. We believe if you work hard and play by the rules, you can afford to support your family and put a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, many are now losing their homes while our elected representatives like John Kline (R-MN-02) continue to vote against banking reforms and legislation that could save homes.

It has now come to light that Wells Fargo, the second-largest U.S. mortgage lender, used a worker who quickly rubber stamped documents without checking their accuracy. The worker said they processed as many as 500 foreclosures a day and only checked for signatures and dates as directed.

At the very same time Wells Fargo also posted up record earnings. Wells Fargo.'s profits jumped 20% from the prior quarter:

"US banking giant Wells Fargo projected Thursday a "record" three-billion-dollar profit in the first quarter, sparking hopes of recovery from a financial crisis that is battering the economy."

While Wells Fargo and other banks are posting up record earnings, and foreclosing on a record number of homes, Rep. John Kline has voted against banking reform that could save family homes (**see the below list of votes against regulations and reforms in the financial industry!). Besides voting against banking reform, Kline has voted for cash bailouts for Wall Street and Banks.

While many Minnesotans are losing their homes, and/or seeing their home values bottom out due to foreclosures, the banking industry is donating record amounts of money to political campaign like MN Congressman John Kline.

The American Bankers Assn has given Rep. John Kline. $20,000, ranking as a top contributors to Kline’s Campaign Committee and Leadership PAC. Additionally, Commercial Banks account for $28,608 toward John Kline's campaign war chest. Still receiving money from banking and the financial industry is not new to Kline, since coming into office, John Kline has always received money directly from Wells Fargo PACs.

Currently Minnesota's Attorney General Lori Swanson along with the other Attorney Generals in the remaining 49 states, is investigating the banking industry's record foreclosures.

While working families struggle to get by, Wall Street CEOs use our tax dollars to enrich themselves and pay out massive bonuses and/or, like Wells Fargo, post record profits. Wall Street bonuses alone could stop every foreclosure in America through 2012.

Nobody is asking for lavish mansions, but Minnesotans are asking for a fair chance at the American Dream of owning a home. Unfortunately, nobody in Minnesota's Second Congressional District will find help from Rep. John Kline. Instead of the American Dream, John Kline has chosen to support the lavish, rich and immoral lifestyle of banking and financial institutions and their CEOs over Minnesota's families and their American dream of home ownership.

**Rep. John Kline voted against authorizing bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of mortgages made on homeowners’ primary residences. The amendment would permit bankruptcy courts to restructure the debt on home mortgages by reducing the principal owed, extending repayment periods, reducing interest rates, and prohibiting, reducing, or delaying future interest rate increases saving countless homes for the working poor and middle class. [H.AMDT. 534 TO H.R. 4173]

**Kline voted against Wall Street Accountability and Consumer Protection...sigh...naturally siding with big business and corporations. [HR 4173]

**Representative Kline voted to bailout our country’s financial sector, but later voted against a bill to strengthen oversight of these TARP funds and make more community banks eligible to receive assistance. [HR384]

John Kline Makes Another Worthless Pledge To Voters

2010-10-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) has taken a "Pledge to America", a 21 page document that was put together by a House staffer who was a lobbyist for powerful oil, pharmaceutical and insurance companies up until April of this year. Under the heading a 'Call to Action' on the 'Pledge' it states it was built through a process of 'listening to the people'. But instead the document was 'outsourced' from 'big business'. In other words, the very foundation of the 'Pledge to America' is built on a lie.

Along with other Republicans, Rep. John Kline pledges to return to the level of government we experienced under Bush. You remember back when these exact same Republicans including Kline were doubling the size of government, deregulate the banking, mortgage and wall street businesses making record profits while ignoring the needs of Americans.

"With our Pledge to America, we proposed bringing the federal budget back to where it stood before the bailouts, government takeovers, and failed stimulus"

The pledge has little to no substance and doesn't even mention balancing the budget! It's a joke and shows that John Kline is still not serious about fair governance or finding solutions to American problems. Eliminating wasteful and applicative programs in government is a good idea, so maybe we could start by replacing John Kline with someone who would actually work for us?

So let's take a look at what Kline's pledge plan will do...

Create more lower paying Jobs...
Keep the minimum wage at $5.25 for another ten years (Kline voted against raising the minimum wage...we're not even talking a 'living wage', while voting against any job creation plans by the current administration.)

Freeze all government growth (Given the majority of new jobs this year were in the government sector, won't that send the American economy into free fall?)

Take care of Corporations...

Give fat tax breaks to his oil company pals (Kline takes more corporate money from oil companies than any other Congressperson in Minnesota.)

Continue to allow the drug and oil companies to make federal policy (Kline is supported by big corporations and votes lock-step with their agenda including wanting to stop health care reform but voting for bank bail outs.)

Eliminate all government regulations so that big business can generate even more profits at our environment and workers expense (Kline's mantras of Self Regulation with Drill, Baby, Drill)

Care for the Wealthy and eliminate the Middle Class...
Extend the Bush/Kline era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% and eliminate the estate tax and $1 trillion in revenue in the process (Kline wants his rich friends to be taken care of, he refuses to support tax breaks for the middle and lower class while supporting extending the Bush/Kline tax cuts.)

Destroy social security (Kline wants to stop all government spending...even those programs that we paid into for our retirement)

Reduce funding for health, education and social services across-the-board (Kline's record clearly shows a pattern of voting against any support programs while voting for any programs supporting war.)

Continue to send troops to die in war, squandering precious military and financial resources that could be used here at home. (Kline has never seen a war he didn't support. Currently over 40% of the American budget goes toward war. That money could fund our education system, put Americans back to work, and pay off our national debt.)

Top Ten Reasons Why John Kline Won't Debate

2010-10-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline (R- MN-02) is really quite good at avoiding public debates with his challenger in CD2, DFL endorsed candidate Shelley Madore.

Kline has refused debates from the League of Women Voters, the Chambers of Commerce and numerous newspapers in the district to arrange debates. It looks like the only time the two will meet face to face is for 25 minutes right before the election on a MPR debate late next month. So one can't help but ask...Why won't Congressman Kline debate his challenger. Naturally I came up with a few reasons:

10. Stuck in traffic in CD2 due to crumbling roads

9. Kline and his supporters don't like to cloud up their brains with facts.

8. His corporate sponsors won't pay for it.

7. Considers debates as 'earmarks'.

6. Needs more time to enact another tax break for the wealthy

5. Schedule for debate thrown off already by too many debate cancellations

4. On deadline to finish his self help book, "How I Got Rich as a Congressman Without Working (or debating)!"
3. Kline never does public services for the people that elected him to office...ever

2. Debate schedule conflicts with tea party

and the number one reason:

1. Must have something to hide!

Rep. John Kline: Another Of His Scams Exposed

2010-09-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia defines a confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle or bamboozle) as an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence.

A master trickster aka confidence man, con man, trickster, or con artist lears the mark in by laying out a story and getting the mark to bite....

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) tells voters of all the current massive wasteful government spending...and who doesn't want to cut that? Don't all good Americans want to cut wasteful spending...Aren't you a good American?

The confidence trick exploits typical human qualities such as honesty, compassion, and naïveté. The common factor is that the mark (victims or CD2 citizens) relies on the good faith of the con artist (John Kline). The victimized individuals come from all walks of life not just the young, elderly or poor.

Don't be fooled by Rep. John Kline's shell game!

John Kline then runs the YOUCUT game (scam, bunko) where you can cut the wasteful spending...'Play along', 'Come on', he shrills, 'You know you want to cut the wasteful government spending!'

Shills, also known as accomplices, help manipulate the mark into accepting the con man's plan

The GOP/John Kline sets up a YouCut websites and polls, they run testimonies, and promote the scam throughout their base...'Come on', they bark, 'YOU CUT the waste', 'Tell us which of the programs we picked to cut', 'You are in control and can make the call'.

The confidence trick (bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle or bamboozle) is then put into play with the desired ending.

Rep. Kline oozes pleasure....'We have a winner! You have spoken (WOW! all one quarter of one percent of registered CD2 voters!) and we will now cut the wasteful spending on the FreedomCar!'

And the scam? Well Rep John Kline and the Bush Administration started the FreedomCar wasteful spending in 2002...As mnpACT! points out:

"It [FreedomCar] was a Republican initiative and it was kept alive by the 2002 and 2004 Republican Congress.(of while Cong. John Kline was a member)."

So the GOP and Kline introduce the waste, then ask CD2 marks to vote it as waste under the Democrats, and then promises to do the job they (GOP and Kline) are paid for by eliminating the waste they introduced!:

'When Congress resumes Tuesday, Sept. 14, Congressman Kline will ask his colleagues to cut the project voted most wasteful by Minnesotans. The “FreedomCAR” and fuel partnership program provides federal funding for research on fuel cell technology, despite existing private-sector research and the market incentives. Eliminating this program would save taxpayers $2 billion over 10 years.'

Really Kline? If you were serious about government waste maybe you could have stopped it in 2002...this is just another gimmick...scam...hustle...scheme. Frankly the residents in CD2 are tired of your gamesmanship. How about just doing the job you were elected to do?

Coming soon to this blog...John Kline's 'A Pledge of America' scam

More Failing Grades for Minnesota's Rep. John Kline

2010-09-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) is the lead Republican on the Education Committee in Congress. And while, he talks of reform for education system, what he has done is offered up unproven mandates in the way of teacher merits raises, increasing charter schools, under funded student loans, and attempts to dismantle the teachers unions.
Through his Education Committee position, Kline has promoted the belief that teachers aren't doing their jobs well. He's even gone so far as to introduced a bill that would establish a 'Teacher Incentive Fund', seed money if you will, for states and schools to reward teachers for improving student academic achievement.

In Kline's own words he wants to:

"break the tenure stranglehold that the teachers unions have had all across the country. ... We [Secretary Duncan ] both agree that we need some way to remove the bad teachers and reward the good teachers."

Like John Kline's other educational suggestions, it's smoke and mirrors but not much in the way of substance and facts. Kline has called publically to decrease spending for unproven educational mandate from the government. But he must be making exceptions if they fall into his ideology of more charter schools, busting teacher unions, or establishing teacher merit pay.

"Challenging economic times are not the time for new and expensive experiments that siphon funds from existing programs and impose massive, unfunded mandates on state and local school officials"

Kline would have you believe that instead of fully funding schools, effectiveness and accountability of teachers is the corner stone to your children's eduction. Part of that equation is advocating against teacher unions while promoting merit pay. However a thorough study came out this week with the research to completely debunk his notion. Education Week published a story Tuesday headlined “Merit Pay Found to Have Little Effect on Achievement.”

Vanderbilt University’s National Center on Performance Issues conducted the teacher compensation study. Researchers followed nearly 300 middle school mathematics teachers in Nashville, Tenn. to evaluate the hypothesis. On average, students taught by teachers taking part in the program did not make larger academic gains than those taught by teachers in the normal wage group.

Merit pay doesn't work but now we have the research and facts to back up the claim. Most teachers would like and are entitled to more pay for the important responsibility of education our children. In Minnesota on average teachers make $45,000 a year, so obviously they didn't get into teaching for the pay! Kline's Bill implies that more money would make teachers better performers which would mean they aren't performing. We now know Kline's reasoning is faulty.

It's time that Rep. Kline put to rest his claim of 'teacher merit/incentive pay' and advocate for fully funding education. I applaud his work for special education and urge him to apply that same commitment to all our children's educational needs not just the ones that fall outside of his far right ideology.

Rep. John Kline Tries To ReRIGHT American History

2010-09-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) attended a 'non-partisan' forum in Watertown last week. This 'non-partisan' event had the inclusion of many Republicans but they forgot to invite Democrats like the DFL endorsed candidate Laura Helmer for senate in SD34 which includes Watertown, and the DFL endorsed candidate from 34A, Leanne Pouliot Kunze. Still word got out and a few Democrats managed to showed up.

For a 'non-partisan' forum, Rep. Kline talked about some very partisan issues that negatively critique the current Obama administration... like criticism for high unemployment, needing smaller government, no more stimulus packages, no more government spending in general and lowering taxes. All in all, it didn't feel much like a 'non-partisan' speech but the one thing that was most upsetting is John Kline's statements on America's history and his focus on religion and fear:

“I’m standing here on this stage with a document [the United States Constitution] that was founded on those Judeo-Christian principles of belief in the almighty and belief in an all powerful God,” he added. “We opened this rally with prayer to that God, but we have many people sometime — nameless, faceless people — who are literally trying to erase God from the public square, from the nation’s capital.”

See John Kline's full speech in The UpTake video below. The Religious Right and John Kline's claims that America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and thus the government can promote those principles is completely FALSE and not based on America's own history. In fact just the opposite is true: The Founding Fathers intentionally create a government that was totally neutral toward all things religious....When Kline is referring to 'nameless, faceless people', he is in fact referring to America's Founding Fathers!

....America's Constitution was crafted specifically by the Founding Fathers to stop a Theocracy. Our Founders wanted ALL men to make the choice for themselves and not be forced to adhere to one religion. That is why we have the FIRST amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"

In other words, the government did not need the permission of the Church in order to act nor did they want the government to be of religion but free from religion. The first amendment enumerates the right to; speech, religion, press, petition and assembly. This is not to suggest that 1st amendment rights are absolute or that they have not been impinged upon time and time again.

The U.S. Constitution is secular and does not contain the words God, Christianity, Jesus, Christ, or Judeo-Christian. The Constitution's only references to religion serve to exclude it from the government, by providing that there shall be no law respecting an establishment of religion, no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, and no religious test for any public office. This was because most all of the Founders were Deists and Unitarians who rejected doctrines like the Incarnation

This is the opposite of what the Religious Right and John Kline's are claiming. Kline's claim that America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and thus the government can promote those principle is removed from the reality of what U.S. history has been. Since the earliest days of the nation until now, efforts have been made to amend the Constitution to include a recognition of God and Christianity. The repeated failure of those attempts has led to a new strategy in recent years, including what John Kline is doing by rewriting the history and claiming that God and Christianity have always been in the Constitution.

What John Kline is doing is trying to ~~rewrite~~ reRight America's history...as a elected Representative to Congress, he among all people, should know better. Like our Founding Fathers, it is imperative that the church-state separation be maintained. This single principle has allowed for the freedom of all religions. Regardless of what Teabaggers and John Kline claim, America's history is based on separation of church and government.

By the way Mr. Kline, even the phase 'In God We Trust' on our money and in our pledge were added on later (1950s) ...Below are some information and quotes from America's Founding Fathers regarding government and religion...

Thomas Paine was a pamphleteer whose manifestos encouraged the faltering spirits of the country and aided materially in winning the war of Independence:

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of...Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."

George Washington, the first president of the United States, never declared himself a Christian according to contemporary reports or in any of his voluminous correspondence. Washington championed the cause of freedom from religious intolerance and compulsion is shown by his embracing Freemasonry

John Adams,a Unitarian and the country's second president, was drawn to the study of law but faced pressure from his father to become a clergyman. He wrote that he found among the lawyers 'noble and gallant achievements" but among the clergy, the "pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces". Late in life he wrote:

"Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!"

It was during Adam's administration that the Senate ratified the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which states in Article XI that "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."

Thomas Jefferson,a Unitarian and third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, said:

"I trust that there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die a Unitarian."

He referred to the Revelation of St. John as "the ravings of a maniac" Thomas Jefferson held most clergy and organized religion in low regard not so much for theology, but for abuse of power and attacks on liberty.

James Madison, fourth president and father of the Constitution, was not religious in any conventional sense.

"Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."

"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."

Ethan Allen, whose capture of Fort Ticonderoga while commanding the Green Mountain Boys helped inspire Congress and the country to pursue the War of Independence, said,

"That Jesus Christ was not God is evidence from his own words."

In the same book, Allen noted that he was generally "denominated a Deist, the reality of which I never disputed, being conscious that I am no Christian." When Allen married Fanny Buchanan, he stopped his own wedding ceremony when the judge asked him if he promised "to live with Fanny Buchanan agreeable to the laws of God." Allen refused to answer until the judge agreed that the God referred to was the God of Nature, and the laws those "written in the great book of nature."

Benjamin Franklin, delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, said:

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion...has received various corrupting Changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his Divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the Truth with less trouble."

He died a month later, and historians consider him, like so many great Americans of his time, to be a Deist, not a Christian.

All of these Founding Fathers had two things in common, they had the American government recognize your right to participate freely in the religion of your choice, and they insisted that religion be separate from that government. Rep. John Kline apparently doesn't know America's history or doesn't share those same time honored values, or just plain wants to ~~rewrite~~-reright our American history.

CD2 Voters Reject John Kline's Latest Gimmick

2010-09-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) sent out an emailing touting his six weeks of effort that resulted in less than half a percent of registered voters in Congressional District Two participating in his latest gimmick 'YouCut'.

"Throughout the past six weeks, more than 1,000 Minnesotans like you have shared their thoughts and concerns by participating in my YouCut initiative. ...I received more than 1,400 votes and hundreds of suggestions regarding how the federal government could save money."

Yes, clearly the voters have spoken but not by participating as Kline infers but by rejecting John Kline's methods of turning our Democracy into nothing more than a “American Idol” gimmick — Clearly CD2 voters want real dialogue, with real solutions, not more of the same partisan obstructive behavior from Congressman Kline who offers PR gimmicks in lieu of solutions.

For all his effort in the last six weeks only 1,400 people played along with Kline's latest 'YouCut' gimmick. That's less than one half of one percent (.5%) of the registered voters in CD2. Being a registered voter wasn't a requirement to play so in all likely hood, participation was even less than one half of one percent! While I don't know the identity of those that played along, it's not hard to imagine that most were the radical fringe group of teabagger that the game is geared toward and John Kline seems to be positioning himself more and more with in ideology.

The last six weeks Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) spent his Congressional time and energy trying to get Minnesotans in his district to participate in his latest GOP gimmick, the 'YouCut' game. As Kline and his party has no ideas, no solutions, and no accomplishments, it's easier to chose to obstruct instead of working across the aisle to find solutions. While other Congressmen are working at finding compromises and solutions, Representative Kline is tosses out spitballs.

Given the extremely low participation in Kline's latest gimmick, obviously his credibility with CD2 voters is running on empty. It's time Rep. Kline stops with the political chicanery that isn't serving his community and get back to working for his district. NO is not a solution, obstructing is not a solution, and wasting time on gimmicks is not a solution!

BTW, according to Kline

"The FreedomCar program was chosen by more than 55 percent of those who participated in my YouCut online vote."

So that would mean that less than a quarter of the one percent (.25) of the voters in CD2 voted...That's not much of a mandate and a huge waste of time and tax payer's money. If Kline really wants to be fiscally responsible, he would have been doing his job all along while in WA, DC, and making cuts throughout the last decade and not spending tax dollars playing games to determine a spitball that the majority of voters reject.

Rep. John Kline, Host Of Partisan Games

2010-09-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

Republican Congressman John Kline (MN-02) is shrilling for a new partisan game show called "You Cut." Briefly, five items are listed that Republicans like Congressman Kline promise to bring 'the winning item' to the floor for an up or down vote in a drive to reduce spending and bring the deficit down. That said, this is unfortunately just another gimmick intended solely as a partisan political game we've become so accustomed from Congressman Kline.

Instead of getting a professional representative, CD2 voters now have Rep. John Kline, the game show host of the 'You Cut' project. While Rep. Kline touts the event as 'listening to the people of his district' and voting accordingly, the exploitation of the 'You Cut' project belies that effort. The five items listed weren't chosen by the people in his district, instead they were picked by the GOP leadership as programs THEY want to get rid of...any one of the five would be welcomed by them. This is a win-win GOP game.

If Rep. John Kline was really interested in listening to the people of his district (including the majority which is made up of Democrats and Independents) then the issues on the table should have come from us. Like how about a Congressional benefits and pay decrease? Fair taxes? Campaign finance reform? Lobbyist influences? War Funding? But no, the game has been fixed so that the outcome is one only benefiting the GOP leadership!

This is just another gimmick meant to intentionally polarize the elective base, while promoting a GOP agenda under the guise of everyone having a 'chance' to participate! Next thing you know, if you believe that John Kline will have a bridge he'd like to sell you along with some swampland in Florida!

If in fact Kline was doing his JOB, instead of spending his time as a partisan game show host, he would have spent the last 10 years in office actually bringing real cuts to the floor instead of the excessively wasteful spending he's voted for and supported including this gimmick!

John Kline's Taxing Problem

2010-09-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Citizens for Tax Justice, a non-profit, public interest research and advocacy organization focusing on federal, state and local tax policies and their impact on our nation has rated Rep. John Kline at 0 (ZERO). Rep. Kline continues to support and vote for the special interests of the corporations and the wealthy, and against the middle class and low-income families. CTJ used the following criteria in determining their rating of Rep. John Kline:

Requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share
Closing corporate tax loopholes
Adequately funding important government services
Reducing the federal debt
Taxation that minimizes distortion of economic markets

Soon the Bush tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 are scheduled to expire. House Republican leaders have offered an alternative plan: freezing tax rates for two years and cutting back government spending to 2008 levels. But almost half of Americans polled (44 percent) are in favor of President Obama's plan to extend the Bush-era tax cuts benefiting the middle-class, according to a new survey by Gallup, but allowing cuts for the wealthiest 2% to expire. As President Obama says:

"We're prepared to give the middle class, who haven't seen a wage increase, haven't seen incomes increased, who are most likely to spend any tax cut and recirculate in the economy to help grow the economy. We're prepared to do that right now."

It makes no economic sense for Rep. John Kline to claim a $50 billion investment in America’s infrastructure is a budget-buster, yet at the same time push to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans. The price tag ($700 billion) for extending the Bush cuts for the wealthy is more than 16 times the cost of Obama’s infrastructure proposal. That $700 billion is what the nonpartisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates it would cost the Treasury to continue tax cuts for top earners over 10 years.

By proposing business tax breaks that, according to nonpartisan analyses, would do more to stimulate the economy than extending the Bush tax rates for the wealthy, maintaining tax cuts for the middle class, and allowing tax cuts to expire on the wealthiest 2%, Obama is proposing a fair taxing policy that promises to repair the economic taxing damage over the past decade.

The argument most used by Republicans is that all the Bush tax cuts should be extended for two years because even letting those for the wealthy lapse would be “a blow to a very fragile economy”. Wasn't that similar to the argument used to fund the massive wall street bank bailout? They were too large to fail and would take down our 'fragile economy'. We now know better.

Rep. John Kline says letting the cuts expire for those in the highest tax brackets would hurt small businesses, amounting to "a job-killing tax hike on small business during tough economic times." But that is misleading as most small business income (98%) would be unaffected. Less than 2% of small business incomes are filed by taxpayers earning more than $210,000 a year. If Kline's objection is based on helping small businesses, then the tax cut isn't the way to go as 98% of those small business owners would not benefit. Also according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, a bipartisan group, stopping the Bush tax cuts on the richest 2 % would raise $36 billion a year. And it raises the tax rates of the wealthy to just 29.9 percent, which is still a historic low.

Rep. John Kline's demand for keeping tax cuts for the wealthy 2% reveals the underlying truth of the Republican party, which has very little real interest in reducing the size of government, balancing the budget or helping the middle class and everything to do with protecting the rich.

Rep. John Kline Signs On To Trading Our 'Essential Liberty' for 'Temporary Safety'

2010-09-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Going into the Labor Day Weekend, Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) along with Rep. Michele Bachmann were among 66 other Congressional Republicans members who signed an amicus brief in support of Arizona's controversial immigration Law (SB 1070). Currently Judge Susan Bolton of Federal District Court has issued a preliminary injunction against sections of the law that called for police officers to check a person’s immigration status.

In many ways I'm not surprised by Rep. John Kline's position. He's always been willing to trade our Constitutional Rights for more political posturing on imaginary security/safety concerns. Kline has always favored protecting us with bigger- better- badder- boarder corporation, business, or military rights by trading away our basic civil rights. But John Kline would do well to remember the wise advise of one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin:

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

While Kline may be willing to give up our essential liberties, Americans are not so willing to just yet throw away the Constitution. The Arizona immigration law's premise is that in giving up our constitutional right, we will be more secure. The law essentially legalizes racial profiling...

The law puts communities of color in the cross hairs by requiring state and local government workers to determine if a person is illegally in the United States based on a “reasonable suspicion.”=
Legal experts maintain that the law will result in racial profiling in a very diverse state with multiple generations of U.S. citizens. Three out of every 10 Arizonans are Hispanic, 1 out of 10 is American Indian, and 13 percent are foreign born.

The law undercuts our American Constitution and imbues local police with federal authority...another area that Rep. John Kline seems to think is okay...To Kline, it's okay under this law to not require search warrents or even suspect that some illegal action has occurred! It even makes solicitation of work criminal even though it is protected speech under the First Amendment.

As Judge Susan Bolton cites:

“There is a substantial likelihood that officers will wrongfully arrest legal resident aliens by enforcing this statute, Arizona would impose, a distinct, unusual and extraordinary’ burden on legal resident aliens that only the federal government has the authority to impose.”

“Requiring Arizona law enforcement officials and agencies to determine the immigration status of every person who is arrested burdens lawfully present aliens because their liberty will be restricted while their status is checked,”

It's nice and neat to think that if we trade away just a few civil rights that we'll be protected and safe. But the question we need to ask, who will protect us once we have no more liberty? Reps Kline and Bachmann may feel it's okay to trade our Constitutional rights for so-called boarder safety/security problems but most Americans don't.

I find it ironic that these modern day Tea Party members conveniently forget Patrick Henry's speech 'Give me Liberty or Give me Death' following the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Our forefathers and nation founders understood and risked their lives for the US Constitution that John Kline and Michele Bachmann are so lightly trading with for their political gamesmanship in the name of safety/security. How disturbing is that?

The law will harm the state and local economies

Arizona already spends over a billion dollars annually on immigration related expenses, almost sending the state running for cash advances...can it realistically afford the massive cost of this law? Kline often uses the term fiscally conservative to define himself but there is nothing conservative about this unconstitutional law according to AmericaProgressive:

■The National Employment Law Project pointed out that smaller-scale anti-immigrant ordinances have cost individual localities millions of dollars. The Texas-based Perryman Group calculated that if all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Arizona, the state would lose $26.4 billion in economic activity, $11.7 billion in gross state product, and approximately 140,324 jobs.

■The Immigration Policy Center noted that, “with Arizona facing a budget deficit of more than $3 billion,” the new law will “further imperil the state’s economic future.”

The law will be expensive and take cops away from community policing

■The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police firmly opposes the law for fiscal and public safety reasons, noting that fear of government officials will diminish the public’s willingness to cooperate with police in criminal investigations and will “negatively affect the ability of law enforcement agencies across the state to fulfill their many responsibilities in a timely manner.”

■Local taxpayers will bear the heavy costs of lengthy court litigation.

■The costs to arrest, detain, process, and transport undocumented immigrants out of Arizona will drain local government treasuries. There were an estimated 460,000 undocumented immigrants in Arizona as of January 2009, making up 4 percent of the state’s population. If the federal government were to handle the entire undocumented population, the cost would be approximately $23,148 per person, based on a recent study by the Center for American Progress.

John Kline's Special Interest PAC Problem

2010-09-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

As Shelley Madore challenges incumbent John Kline for the right to represent Minnesota’s Second District in Congress, it will become important to stay focus on ethics reform as a central issue. She’s got a good reason for doing so. Congressman Kline is so caught up in taking money from special interest PACS then voting their interests and against campaign finance reform, that he’s strayed far from the values of the people that have elected him to office.

Kline is owned by a series of PACS including health care lobbies, oil lobbies, banking lobbies and defense lobbies. In all of these areas John Kline's voting and campaign record show him taking big money PAC donors then voting their interests over the needs of the citizens in Minnesota’s Second District.

Raising over a million dollars of which 40% came from these special interest PACs, in the last two years, Kline has repeated voted in favor of their interests against the interest of the people who elected him

RETAILERS SPECIAL INTERESTS

So far this year Kline has taken in almost half a million ($450,701) from special interest PACS including $31,000 from misc. retailers like Target ($5,000), Best Buy ($3,500), and Home Depot ($8,500).

Kline siding for retailers and against Americans:

Kline failed to vote for H.R. 2, a bill to increase the minimum wage, which is currently at its lowest point since the 1950s. The bill would only have returned the minimum wage to a level comparable to that of the 1980s, which is in turn much lower than the minimum wage level of the late 1960s. It is a shame that Representative Kline does not even have the respect for America's workers that they deserved 20 years ago.
Recently Kline voted against eliminating loopholes which encourage companies to move operations offshore to avoid paying taxes and other purposes. in H.R. 1568
Kline voted against H.R. 1257, a bill that would permit shareholders of public corporations to cast an advisory, non-binding vote to approve or disapprove executive pay packages, golden parachutes, and gigantic bonuses.

DEFENSE SPECIAL INTERESTS PACS

Besides retailers, John Kline has also taken in a whopping $47,200 from defense contractors like Lockheed Martin ($10,000), Boeing Co ($7,000) and Raytheon ($7,000). Kline has continued to support defense profiteers by his voting record.

Kline Votes for Defense Special Interests Every Time!

H.R. 897 is a bill that was killed in committee when the GOP controlled congress. It would have required Congress to be provided with descriptions of all contract work in excess of 5 million dollars performed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Apparently Kline and his special interest defense donors are comfortable with hidden contracts and not having Congressional oversight.
John Kline supports major funding for all our wars. Kline has continued to vote for additional supplemental spending for the wars, including money used for no-bid military contracts, voting for unwanted war jets, or simply lost and unaccounted BILLIONS in war money.

FINANCE AND BANKING PACS

Banking has contributed big to John Kline, giving $133,658 of which $86,000is from PACS in areas like insurances ($27,000) like USAA ($8,000) and Bankers like American Bankers Assn ($10,000) and US Bank Corp ($3,000).

Rep. John Kline voted against authorizing bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of mortgages made on homeowners’ primary residences (H.R. 4173). The amendment would permit bankruptcy courts to restructure the debt on home mortgages by reducing the principal owed, extending repayment periods, reducing interest rates, and prohibiting, reducing, or delaying future interest rate increases saving countless homes for the working poor and middle class.
Kline voted against Wall Street Accountability and Consumer Protection...sigh...naturally siding with big business and corporations. [HR 4173]
Representative Kline voted to bailout our country’s financial sector, but later voted against a bill to strengthen oversight of these TARP funds and make more community banks eligible to receive assistance. [HR384]

Banking Votes against Minnesota Voters

H R. 1490: Rule Providing for the Consideration of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 4173, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Kline voted against Wall Street Reforms.
H R 5982: To Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to Repeal the Expansion of Certain Information Reporting Requirements to Corporations and to Payments for Property, to Eliminate Loopholes Which Encourage Companies to Move Operations Offshore, and for Other Purposes
H R 964: Providing for Further Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 4173) to Provide for Financial Regulatory Reform, to Protect Consumers and Investors, to Enhance Federal Understanding of Insurance Issues, to Regulate the Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets, and for Other Purposes, Kline voted No against implementing these oversights.
Rep. John Kline voted against authorizing bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of mortgages made on homeowners’ primary residences (H.R. 4173). Kline voted against Wall Street Accountability and Consumer Protection...sigh...naturally siding with big business and corporations.

Kline is Dr. NO!

2010-08-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

Rep. John Kline (R-MN02) has a record of voting NO against legislation that would help Minnesotans. Senate District 35 has done a poster with everything John Kline has voted against in the last year. His vote record makes it obvious that Kline is an obstructionist partisan naysayer that votes against the best interest of his district in an attempt to make the government (both local and federal) fail rather than see success with a Democratic majority in the house. Kline has become a Pavlovian Republican who opposes anything the Democrats propose without regard to value, community need, or merit. The only exception is Kline's support of legislation for his top donor lobbyists like the war profiteers or weapons manufacturing.

Americans have the same basic goals of wanting the future to be better for their children. They are turned off by Kline's political obstruction, his far right ideology of dubious facts and continued partisan voting. John Kline, instead of servicing the public interest as he was elected to office to do, is the poster child of the big monies special interests and political right wing ideology. Instead of common-sense consensus, Kline offers more of his extremist record that has led him to NO votes for: job creation, extended benefits, stronger financial regulations, stronger ethic regulations, reduced dependency on foreign oil, a living wage, limits on executive pay, limits on oversees war expenditures.

Download the SD35 version of the poster (minus my Dr. NO artwork!) and post it up around your district. Let the people know just who John Kline (aka Dr. NO) represents (or doesn't) by his voting record of NO!

Rep. John Kline Voting Against Minnesota's Middle Class Families

2010-08-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

Since 2003, Rep. John Kline (R-MN02) has consistently scored a failing grade 'F' for voting against bills that would enrich the middle class and allow more working Americans to join their ranks. The list of programs Kline has voted against that would help the working class in his district goes on and on....from not supporting financial reforms like credit card reform, to siding with big business interests over the working class including the economic stimulus package for jobs, energy and infrastructure.

The website 'themiddleclass.org' shows the long list of Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) voting record against the working middle class. Kline's voting records clearly shows he isn't fighting or voting for Minnesota's middle-class families.

In the last year Kline voted less than 12% of the time for legislation that would help the middle class. He voted NO on legislation that was key to working Minnesotans like Wall Street Reform, Banking Reform, or the American Recovery Act.

Showing his contempt for working class families, Kline voted against Jobs for Main Street, Affordable Health care, and Unemployment Compensation, all the while voting to give more tax breaks to the wealthiest among us, and well as big Corporations. Time and time again, when faced with the choice to between leveling the economic playing field, John Kline has voted against the interests of our working middle class families.

Some recent John Kline votes:

-Rep. John Kline voted against authorizing bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of mortgages made on homeowners’ primary residences. The amendment would permit bankruptcy courts to restructure the debt on home mortgages by reducing the principal owed, extending repayment periods, reducing interest rates, and prohibiting, reducing, or delaying future interest rate increases saving countless homes for the working poor and middle class. [H.AMDT. 534 TO H.R. 4173]

-Kline voted against Wall Street Accountability and Consumer Protection...sigh...naturally siding with big business and corporations. [HR 4173]

-Representative Kline voted to bailout our country’s financial sector, but later voted against a bill to strengthen oversight of these TARP funds and make more community banks eligible to receive assistance. [HR384]

Kline voted less than 12% for legislation that would help the middle class

When you go to the polls this fall, remember it's not what Kline says, it's what his voting record shows. Kline's record shows a totally failed record on voting for Minnesota's working middle class families.

Rep. John Kline's Self Promotion Cost Local Communities More Money

2010-08-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

Since Rep. John Kline (MN-R-02) has been in office the dollar amounts being spent by local governments in his district searching for more federal dollars has grown. Kline's stance on earmarks has lead to other Representatives having to request necessary funding for projects in his district like transportion and roads. It has also led to an increase in spending by local mayors and county commissioners in an effort to bring federal dollars back home. As Kline's Democratic opponent and candidate for Congress Shelley Madore cites:

For every Federal tax dollar paid in our Congressional District, only 35 cents is spent here in our community.[verses 77 cents in other Minnesota districts] At the same time, John Kline voted for the bill that included the 'Bridge to Nowhere' in Alaska, among many other bills that included earmarks for other states."

One of the biggest spenders in search of federal dollars is Scott County which falls in Kline's district. According to the Pioneer Press, so far in 2010 Scott County has spent $60,000 looking for additional federal funding. Their total expenditures for Federal lobbying since 2006 has been $815,000!

The practice of local governments lobbying for dollars is not new. In 2009, local, state and territorial governments spent more than $83.5 million of taxpayer money lobbying federal lawmakers and public officials. It would stand to reason that the amounts would rise as the needs increase. But it is interesting to note that Scott County is at the top of the list with significant spending even over the metro areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the counties of Hennepin, Anoka, and Stearns combined!

Scott County has a greater need than other districts to replace the federal funds that Rep. John Kline won't bring home. John Kline's anti earmark stance has eliminated any chance for federal funding of projects for local city and country governements for transportation, bridge and road repair and other critical projects.

"In a visit with the Scott County board, he defended his decision to no longer seek special funding for pet projects -- even those that benefit his district. Board members offered sympathy, but they also voiced frustration."

Earmark spending doesn't change the amount of money Congress spends...it just determines where that money will go and what it will be spent on. As Representative Tim Walz states

“Any funds not reserved for specific projects through the Congressional earmark process would instead be left for federal bureaucrats in Washington to distribute, in accordance with federal law, as they see fit.”

John Kline's practice to eschew earmarks doesn't mean less money is spent, it just means the money isn't spent in his district. While ignoring the immense needs of his local area, Kline has transferred our federal tax money to other states. His refusal to bring federal funding back to Minnesota has caused local city and county governments like Scott County to spend more in lobbying for critical federal dollars.

With the economy still slow, unemployment numbers still up and the need for federal aid persistent, the stakes are high for municipalities seeking help -- particularly after Kline's self promoting stance of 'no earmarks' which make up less than 1% of the total budget! John Kline is hurting local communities, costing family safety, business adequate infrastructure and ultimately costing local taxpayers more dollars while cities and county's try to replace the missing earmarks needed to fund necessary projects.

For Profit Schools Is Newest Windfall for Rep. Kline

2010-08-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

As the ranking Republican on the Labor and Education Committee, Rep. John Kline (R-MN-02) has consistently advocated for legislation allowing 'For-Profit' colleges and trade schools to gain millions of federal subsidy dollars without bothersome federal regulations. There is an awful lot of money being pushed into the hands of people like Rep. John Kline right now by 'For Profit' schools which can only mean they want to influence legislation.

Over at MN Political Roundtable, MNCentral describes Kline as the Corinthian College mascot of a CASH COW because the windfall from 'For Profit' colleges like California's Corinthian College that funnels thousands of dollars to GOP PACs like Kline's Freedom and Security PAC.

But unlike his completely blind support of 'For-Profit' schools, John Kline has voted against funding to public schools and teachers while he continues to bemoan or vote against federal dollars that go to public schools including money to the school lunch program...think of that...Kline begrudges giving a lunch to a hungry child! Kline wants the program to account for the increase dollars (a measly 10 million over 7 years!) by cuts in other social programs while increasing the cost of war til it's now 43% of our total budget.

But if you are a 'For Profit' schools, Rep. Kline doesn't want regulations to interfere with the spending of millions of federal dollars (our taxes) even though the General Account office is sounding the alarm on high interest rates on student loans, worthless degrees, marketing scams, and the looming student loan financial crisis...almost sounds like the mortgage industry with it's deceptive practices and gouging ballooning fees.

The problem is not the rising cost of schools, it's the rising cost of 'For Profit' schools and the burden they put on us with excessive costs underwritten by the federal government. The student loan default rate is three times higher at a 'For Profit' colleges, while the direct-loan program to students from these schools is three percentage points higher and they cost more to attend (11.9 percent more).

Yet Rep. Kline still supports 'For Profit' schools as alternatives to public schools and advocates for no regulation. Meanwhile, Kline voted 'NO' this week on public school funding through the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. The Act provides $16.1 billion to extend the Medicail assistance to states and 10 billion in funding for states to create or retain public teachers' jobs. (BTW-the bill passed).

Yes Kline has become a cash cow to special interests including 'For Profit' schools over public schools. Save your money now for your kid's college needs because with John Kline in office schooling costs will continue to balloon out of control while Kline continues to reap part of their profits and taxpayers like us pay the bill.

Oh Look! Another Gimmick From MN Rep. John Kline

2010-08-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

In the typical 'oh look a bright shiny object' mentality, Rep. John Kline hopes to distract voters from his dismal record by offering up a new stunt . Most of us are aware of the lack of leadership coming from Rep. John Kline's office but his latest 'gimmick' is so disingenuous it's an embarrassment. Kline wants to empower you to make selections of programs to cut within our government, but not all programs are offered up for cutting and of course there will be no cuts! It's another klimmick (kline+gimmick) being offered to voters to keep them occupied while Kline spends us into deficit hell with his ever growing massive defence budget.

First, Kline wants us to cut only programs his far right ideology finds acceptable. While the biggest expenditure in our government right now is the out of control massive spending on war, it doesn't even appear on his list of 'to be cut'. The areas he wants you to cut (better know as 'bright shiny objects!) don't amount to more thank pennies compared to our war campaigns in Afghanistan and Iran.

Secondly, in the typical 'oh look a bright shiny object' mentality , Kline hopes to distract voters from his dismal voting record and lack of true leadership. Kline talks about massive failure of the government to cut wasteful spending but isn't he responsible for that problem? Rep. Kline has been in office now for four terms! Surely long enough to have made a difference. Only difference Kline has made is to increase our spending on a massive military budget overseas while cutting programs here at home.

Kline website touts:

Additional details about the four programs are included on the YouCut page on Kline’s website. While there, participants can also submit their own recommendations for cuts. Kline will continue to collect votes and suggestions until Sept. 9.

My recommendation is we cut Kline off the government dole by voting him out of office. At the very least we stop his klimmicks at voters expense!

Kline's Eight Year $pending $pree Out of Control

2010-08-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Congressman John Kline (R-MN2) repeatedly says the government is overspending especially since the Democrats have taken control of the White House.

"The debt crisis is the greatest national security threat we face," ranking Republican John Kline of Minnesota said. "The cost of this legislation cannot be ignored."

But it's just another partisan speaking point for John Kline to look good while ~~spending~~ voting BILLION$ of our money down the military drain. How do we know? Well for starters, he didn't get ~~religion~~ his position on spending until he finished voting to run up a record debt under the GOP Bush years. Then his recent House votes also show his inability to separate ~~pigs from pigs~~ spending from spending...for example...

In the past week John voted for $58.8 BILLION of our tax dollars for one of his favorite government charities...war. Then earlier this week Kline voted for another $141.1 BILLION of our tax dollars for construction projects for another of his favorite government charities...more war.

In the same week, Kline voted against $126.3 billion funding for the Department of Transportation and Housing where the money would at least be used locally to fund infrastructure like roads, bridges and transit.

If deficit spending is associated with war, then Kline is all for it...He doesn't care about the cost or the fact that the money is used in no-bid military contracts, voting for unwanted war jets, or simply lost and unaccounted BILLIONS in war money.

There is no limit to the amount of money Kline is willing to allocate to war profiteers like Defence Electronics and Defense Aerospace, that have all donated to his campaign war chest...collectively almost $50,000.00!

http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechartFY2009.pdf

Analysts differ on how much of the current US debt stems from government military spending; many groups estimate 50% to 60% but without military spending, there would be no national debt! Our military spending is the largest amount allocated from the US budget...a whopping 43% of our current US spending. All total, the US defence budget now makes up almost the whole world's military budget combined!

As a Congressman, Kline will vote unquestioningly to raise the federal debt on needless military spending while questioning the need for and voting against anything else like funding the Department of Transportation, school lunches for children, and wanting to dismantle Social Security so money can be spent on...more war.

No wonder bridges fall down in Minnesota! Maybe if we make school lunches weapons of mass destruction Kline will vote the puny $8 Billion over ten years for them like military spending...without complaining about the cost...

Minnesotans Tired of John Kline

2010-07-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

The headline on Rep. John Kline's website reads "Minnesotans Tired of Borrowing, Spending, Bailouts, and Takeovers". And Kline should know. In his eight years in office Kline's policies have brought us to supporting two major overseas war that cost $1.03 trillion in fiscal year 2010 alone, voting to bailing out the banking industry, giving tax breaks to the wealthiest 1 %, and cleaning up BP spills after voting for lowering oversight and regulations and being Minnesota’s top recipient of campaign contributions from BP, taking in nearly $130,000 !

Yes we're tired of borrowing, something John Kline does repeatedly to support the 3 W's: war, wealthy and wall street!

Kline has worked in Washington DC for the past eight years during which time the problems in America have escalated, our pay hasn't kept up with inflation, the top 1% have gotten wealthier while the middle class has collapsed. This is Kline's leadership!

Yes, I guess Minnesotans are tired of Kline.

The Worse Kind (Kline) of Republican

2010-07-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

In a interview with AP, former Rep. Bob Inglis (R -SC) a conservative who helped lead the impeachment of Bill Clinton, said the Republican Party had become poisoned by demagogues and racists. Inglis singled out the oft-repeated (but false) claim that there were "death panels" in the health care reform bill.

"There were no death panels in the bill ... and to encourage that kind of fear is just the lowest form of political leadership. It's not leadership. It's demagoguery,"

Inglis said voters eventually will discover that you're "preying on their fears" and turn away and that it distracts for the real problems that politicians should be resolving like the deficit.

For the past year, Congressman John Kline’s critiques of President Obama’s health care plan has centered on issues such as 'death panels', coverage for illegal immigrants, subsidies for abortion, and proposed Medicare cuts. Taken together, these types false criticisms have helped to build confusion and opposition to many Democratic initiatives and reforms, but they have done nothing to advance any alternative vision for reform or resolution of issues. Their sole purpose is to drive a wedge into the issues, cause anger, and allow misinformation, hysteria, and the politics-of-fear tactics to prevail over debate and discussion and resolution.

Instead of engaging in honest and rigorous debate about the economic (insert your issue here!) and policy issues related to reform, John Kline has kept the conversation stuck on fear rhetoric like 'bureaucrats and government growing out of control', or 'crippling deficit'. There are too many legitimate concerns, issues, and problems to let blatant falsehoods, fear mongering and wedge policies mire down the conversation with false and misleading tactics. Promoting delusion, half-facts and conspiracy theories aren't leadership traits instead it's the worse KLINE of Republican!

Kline and Bachman = Peas In A Pod

2010-07-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Kline on Bachman
Kline said Michele Bachman (MN-R) has become a national voice for Republicans and has lots of admirers among her congressional colleagues.

“She certainly has a very ardent following,” and “She’s unafraid to speak up,” said Kline

Far right tea party loonies stick together!

Kline/Bachman on Extending Unemployment
In the last couple of weeks, we seen a dizzying array of Republicans like Kline and Bachmann made it their official stance that $33 billion to extend unemployment benefits must be fully paid for, but financing a $678 billion extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy with deficit spending is just fine with them.

“I think we need to be paying for all the spending that’s going on,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann. “But when people can keep more of their own money that shouldn’t be considered a cost.”

Ah, I get it, I can pay more in taxes so the wealthy can keep more of their money! That old failed trickle down economics.

Kline/Bachmann Working Together
Reps. Michele Bachmann and John Kline were among a group of Republican members of Congress who signed on to a lawsuit that would force the District of Columbia to put gay marriage to a vote. The lawsuit was dismissed but look for them to team up again to take rights away from the GLBT community. Congress has the ultimate authority over law-making in the District.

Both hold very similar views that would outlaw gay rights, unions, and women rights. When they use the freedom (and they do that a lot when speaking... they don't mean your freedom!)

Kline/Bachmann on Big Business ~~Hand~~ Bail Outs
Both John Kline and Michele Bachmann support big businesses, corporate America, and not taxing the wealthy. Both Kline and Bachmann voted for the bank bail out. Hard to believe when they taut fiscal responsibility while siding with bankers (that would be bailed-out bankers) and voted against reforming Wall Street.

Both believe that the free market should be just that...totally free of regulations, government oversight and legislation. No wonder larger corporations and banks represent their donor base.

Kline and Bachmann...peas in a pod

Kline's Party of NO!

2010-07-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

John Kline has consistently voted against any legislation proposed by the Democrats. According to The Washington Post, Republicans have embraced being the 'Party of No' strategy for re-election hoping to once again control the legislative branch. Instead of working for solutions, the GOP just vote 'NO'...which doesn't resolve, improve or change anything.

"And the barrage of "no" votes from the GOP has not abated. Republicans are nearly unanimous against nearly every legislative initiative brought up by Democrats."

Every 'NO' vote that Kline makes, he frames by saying he objects because it would increase the deficit (although he backs the continued massive funding of our Middle East wars which is now topping around 43% of our total US budget!). Kline even voted against financial regulatory system reform (although he did vote yes to the massive bank bailout!). John Kline could be the poster child for 'NO' since he opposes any legislation or policy involving social, economic or political progress.

Polling suggest that Kline can continue to oppose all Democratic initiatives by just saying it would increase the deficit and grow government. Unfortunately for Republicant's like Kline, NO and business as usual aren't solutions. Kline's choosing obstruction over progress, recovery and reinvestment, leaves Americans in worsting economic conditions and calls into question his lack of leadership.

Re-election by 'NO' doesn't represent good leadership nor does it represent vision and solutions.

Targeting John Kline and Tom Emmer

2010-07-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Lots of blogging today regarding Target supporting GOP Tom Emmer's TV ads...but Target has a long history of supporting far right 'don't tread on me' ideologist that support zero government involvement, regulation or oversight into any businesses. It doesn't take a genius to know why...just ask BP, or Goldman Sachs, or the housing market lenders.

I've mentioned in previous blogs about Target funding far right demagogues like John Kline. All businesses want an elected official that believes that government has no business trying to regulate them. .

Now that the Supreme Court allows businesses like Target to spend unlimited funds on political campaigns, do you think they will take care of the community by self regulation, or do you think they will do whats good for their profit margain? I suspect that Target will be giving even more to elected official and candidates like John Kline and Tom Emmer who support self-regulation instead of oversight and safety.

As John Kline says he's "Against taxes and regulations that stifle job growth and destroy small businesses" ' "Against a union-driven push to strip workers of their right to a secret ballot" .

Kline is willing to see living wages turn into lower wages and workers safety turn into business profits...all in support of profit. Just as Emmer wants, we'll to see waitstaff wages lowered to help business. Yet the end result of that greed will be bank buy outs, environmental disasters, and worsting tax burden.

The real war in America is not a class war. It is People vs Corporations. Now those Corporations have unlimited spending to buy politicians like John Kline with their mantra of Greed, War, Power and Corruption.

John Kline's Indefensible Vote NO

2010-07-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

By all estimates millions are about to join 14 million other unemployed Americans without extended unemployment benefits. Congress’s failure to renew the program that provides extended benefits to the long-term unemployed has caused more than 2 million unemployed workers to lose their unemployment insurance benefits in the last six weeks. Rep. John Kline's NO vote on extending unemployment during this crucial time to America's families is indefensible.

Rep. John Kline (MN-R)cited, among other things, the deficit as his main reason for voting NO in extending benefits, even though Kline has voted YES repeatedly to extend unemployment benefits during the Bush era! (yes there was a deficit then too). Unfortunately Kline's willingness to give away America's economic future for his far right ideological point is unexcusable.

Unemployment benefits fulfills two important national needs: assisting those most hurt by the recession and, as one of the most efficient mechanisms available for injecting spending into the economy, generating jobs. In essence, Rep. Kline is voting against Americans.

There are at least five unemployed workers for every current job continue to need assistance to weather this economic calamity. Unemployment benefits is a crucial lifeline to those families most hurt by the downturn. But instead of voting to help the economy and provide for 2 million Americans, Kline throws a job fair the serves only a handful of people (at best!).

It's no surprise that 750 people attended Kline's sponsored job opening,meaning many of those who are unemployed have and will fair.June's unemployment rate was 9.5%, and 45.5% of the unemployed have been seeking work for more than six months. The current economy needs more of a boost than a local job fair made up of business donors to Kline's campaign! There are 4.7 unemployed persons for each job available in America. People are out of work and there aren't enough jobs. But, at best John Kline's job fair will provide less than 3% of the 750 attendees with entry level low paying jobs. That's a far cry from helping our nations 2 million unemployed with extended benefits.

Besides providing a crucial lifeline to those families in need of extended benefits, a YES vote would have injected spending into the economy and generated jobs on a national level. The reasoning is so simple even John Kline could understand.... "Those who are unemployed are experiencing a major challenge to maintain anything close to their regular standard of living, so any assistance they receive will be spent on necessities, not saved. The spending that results as the unemployed pay their rent, buy groceries, and so on saves and creates jobs throughout the economy."

Kline is using this crisis to further his personal ideology, reward businesses that contribute to his campaign, and further the recession hardships for America rather than take the leadership role he was elected to and make real change in creating jobs. Kline's current lack of leadership will have very real consequences on our country's economy. While many lose their jobs, homes, and families, John Kline argues for a across-the-board tax cut (like the one that helped get us into this mess). He spins an argument trying to make a tax cut case but with 50 years of history, we know there is no trickle down. His actions shows a lacks empathy and any real sense of responsibility for others. It's void of true leadership, and simply put, indefensible.

Being Pawned By Congressman John Kline

2010-07-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's really an amazing coincident that Congressman John Kline's big show (his hosting of a job fair) reads like his donor list...er...well lets take a look at the relationship Kline has with one of the job fair participant and major donor to Rep. John Kline re-election campaign...Pawn America (CEO Brad Rixmann) which contributed $10,100 .

For those not acquainted with pawn shops, they make money by giving short term loans of one to three months to customers based on the items they put up for collateral such as jewelery, electronics, musical instruments, hand tools... Loans are steep, usually asking 10-20% service fees monthly making them pricier than bank loans or credit cards, and if the fee isn't meet, they can sell the item. A 10-20% fee translates into an annual percentage rate exceeding 300%.

Additionally, many feel with pawn shops "comes an increase burglaries and break-ins. A pawnshop might give the addicts who regularly buy their drugs on that corner ready access to cash for their habit. A pawnshop might make it hard to woo more respectable businesses to that part of the south side; lower property values; increase gunfire; drive families away"

Pawn America has a majority of the pawn-shop business in Minnesota, both with stores and a variety of spin off subsidiaries such as Payday America, Pal Card Minnesota, Gunbroker.com and Cash Pass Network. Each carries a service fee for their 'services'. Business is really good.

"Loans are up 20% to 25%," estimates David Crume, president of the National Pawnbrokers Association. Because of the GOP ideology of 'no government interference' and the subsequent banking melt down, pawn shops have experienced a mega boom. Because of this pawn shops also want to overcome any obstacles to their doing a profitable business and that means being able to have legislators lobby on their behalf against legislation.

Gold, as in jewelery, is the biggest item for pawn shops. In recent years, more people are pawning jewelery, not meeting the jacked up service fees, and pawn shops reap the reward. But with Washington taking a look at lending practices in the fallout of the banking bailout, pawn shops see their biggest obstacle to business at that potential reform legislation. According to Time:

More worrisome to investors is the potential power of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, part of the financial-reform bill recently passed by the House and under consideration in the Senate. Under the current versions of the bill, the agency would not have the power to set interest rates. But public anger with America's financial industry is rising, and that raises the possibility that extremely high interest-rate charges could ultimately be subject to federal limits.

When we talk about financial reform that means extremely high interest-rate charges like those charged by pawn shops could ultimately be subject to federal limits. To Pawn America a 9.5 percent service fee for two weeks works out to be an annual percentage rate higher than 200 percent. Not bad for a few minutes of work! It is also the reason Pawn America contributes to John Kline's campaign.

Rep. John Kline has consistently fought against any legislation that would limit high interest rates. Kline has made no secret that he's against any government regulations or over sight of any business sector including loan sharks and pawn shops. That's why in the eight years of John Kline being in office, we've seen the wall street crash and the banking industry melt down. Kline's 'drill baby drill' mentality, and his adherence to 'no government oversight, regulations, or interference', has made John Kline a Pawn American poster child.

Isn't it past time to tell Kline he works for us and not Pawn America?

Congressman John Kline Declining to Support Safety for American Workers

2010-07-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

Coal miner Josh Napper had a sick feeling something wasn’t right at his job, so he put his thoughts on paper for those he loved the most before heading back to work. It would be his last communication with them.

His handwritten note read: “If anything happens to me, I will be looking down from heaven,”

This week Representative John Kline(MN-R) went on record saying instead of enacting needed mining safety regulations, just enforce the existing ones. Unfortunately it’s difficult if not impossible to shut down a mine with poor safety records under the current appeals process. Additionally the government oversight agency has no power to subpoena documents or testimony, and even if it could, there is no whistle blower protection. American mine workers put themselves, co-workers, family and neighbors at risk by reporting problems.

In April of this year, the Upper Big Branch mining disaster left 29 workers dead. The accident brought to light numerous violations..a grand total of 1100 violations in the past three year against the mine. In the months prior to the accident, the operating company, Performance Coal Company, a subsidiary of Massey Energy was fined $382,000 for serious violations cited for 57 safety infractions. Just the day before the explosion, the mine received two citations and in the year preceding the explosion the mine had been closed 60 times.

There were lots of reports posted regarding the serious myriad violations within the mine over the last three years. And while their number is overwhelming, unfortunately the mining company can point to having a better than industry average for six consecutive years. Which begs to question of: a low thrust hold for mining safety regulations if they are better than others!

In addition the company has contested nearly a third of the violations since 2005. The appeal process has both delayed penalties and delays the process which could potentially stop any unsafe mine from closing for years!

This speaks to a serious problems with the enforcement of regulations (MSHA, Mining Safety and Health Administration) and oversight. Now that the Democrats want to pass improve legislation for miner’s safety, John Kline is opposing it. Just as with “drill, baby, drill”, Kline would have the industry ‘self regulate’. BTW John, how’s that working out with BP?

“Democratic lawmakers, seeking to prevent another mine disaster like the April explosion that killed 29 workers in West Virginia, proposed sweeping new legislation Tuesday that would make it easier to shut down mines with poor safety records”

As with most all the other Democratic legislation that John Kline opposes, Kline has no specific recommendations other than asking for stronger enforcement of existing regulations. Which is ironic considering it was under the Republican’s administration that MSHA was gutted and made worthless.

The bill introduced this week would boost penalties, grant regulators expanded access, and protect whistle blowers. As demonstrated by the numerous mining accidents and the human toll, how can Rep. Kline be so shallow as to think that’s ‘overreaching’?

Unlike the Democratic summary of the proposal, Representative Kline doesn't believe “All workers deserve to come home safe after work each day.”

John Kline Is Feeding At The Trough!

2010-06-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Congressman John Kline is not a fiscal conservative. Conservatives wouldn’t continue to borrow against, and add to the United States deficit, especially for funding their own private partisan agenda. Yet John Kline continues to 'feed at the trough' of government waste for his own altruistic motivation.

Would a Conservative....

Enjoy government subsidized health care that most American’s can only dream about while leading the rally to take health care away and deny health care for the rest of us!
Deny unemployment benefits to millions of Americans saying we all need to tighten our belts during tough economic times, while spending more public tax money on his staffing.
Let bridges fall down, Americans don’t need no ‘stinking earmarks!’..er..unless it’s for big corporations to build unwanted and not needed war toys like F-22s fighter jets.
Use random polling from self-selected anonymous web users at tax payers expense, instead of the American constitution to determine his political party’s policy and issues.

John Kline has been in office for eight years with all the responsibility and authority that comes with his position. He would like us to believe he is all about stopping wasteful government spending but in fact, he’s part of that problem. While Kline has been asking us to prepare for the coming economic downturn, he hasn't bother to tighten his own belt...just ours. The message is clear, Kline can't walk his own talk when it comes to being a fiscal conservative.

Kline Allows Americans To Face Disaster

2010-06-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Congressman John Kline voted against extending emergency unemployment benefits. As a result, 1.2 million people will lose their jobless benefits by the end of the month, joining millions of “99ers” who have already seen their benefits run out.

It wasn't really a surprise as about the only thing Rep. Kline votes to fund is the war(s) now over 600 Billion a year, and giving tax breaks to the wealthy. Unfortunately, with 14 million Americans out of work, Kline siding with other Republicans to make a bad situation worse isn't in the best interest of this country. In fact the only thing it furthers is his ideology which is not going to put Americans back to work or feed it's children or stop the worsting depression.

As Senator Durbin stated:

“There used to be bipartisan sentiment that when America faced a disaster, we would pull together… we have a national emergency with this recession and 14 million Americans out of work,”

John Kline and the House needs to provide us with living-wage jobs, here in our local community instead of funding wall street business and war profiteers. I'm outraged that John Kline is willing to take down the people of this country over his own party politics. You know John, there are republicans are out of work too!

For the millions unemployed, unemployment benefits have provided a way to keep a roof over head and food on the table in one of the worst job markets since the Great Depression. In essences, Rep. Kline has voted to continue the Depression.

Message to Congressman Kline: NO Is Not A Solution!

2010-06-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Party of NO!

For the past year, Congressman John Kline’s critiques of President Obama’s health care plan has centered on issues such as “death panels,” coverage of illegal immigrants, subsidies for abortion, and proposed Medicare cuts. Taken together, these criticisms have helped to build some opposition to Democratic initiatives, but they have done nothing to advance any alternative vision for reforming the health care system. In a nutshell, that is what’s wrong with John Kline stance on issues. He can go on for hours being reactionary and sprouting off on what’s wrong with health care reform (or minimum wage, or labor organizing, or public schools, or civil rights …) but offers no real alternatives, changes or solutions. Instead of offering constituents leadership with solutions, Congressman John Kline throws the health care bill to the floor like petulant child while screaming NO!

The Party of No Solutions!

In 1994 the GOP defeated President Clinton’s health care proposal and took back congress, only to spend the next 15 years with no resolve to the health care crisis facing our country. While in power the GOP has done nothing to help families and businesses get a hold of health care costs and bring them down. Instead of reform, the GOP along with Kline have screamed ‘death panels’ and plotted challenges against anyone who would even consider saying anything but NO to health care reform or changes. That 'NO' is their same message today.

The Party of ‘R’s (Repeal, Reactionary, Reject)

John Kline would have us believe that the broken health care system that Americans struggled with for the last decade is better than the current reforms . Like Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Joe Wilson, Congressman Kline offers only a reactionary rhetoric of 'NO' fueled with imaginary fears of the sky falling. Kline has rejected change, wants to repeal reforms and would have us believe partisan ideological hacks that only sprout 'NO'. The ‘real fears’ Americans have is with our Health Care crisis instead of the current mumble jumble of fears compiled by conspiracy tea baggers.

The Party of More NOs!

Kline had the opportunity to participate in the health care reform bill and shape the bill with real bipartisanship leadership but instead he continues the monologue of ‘NO’. If John Kline thinks that offering more of the same nothing is acceptable then he’s out of touch with the average American. Families and businesses want solutions over roadblocks, made up fears, and slogans of ‘NO’.

NO is not a solution!

John Kline's Failing Grade In Education

2010-06-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

A StarTribune article that touts Congressman John Kline's record as working for ~~cough~~, 'bipartisan' ~~cough~~, agreement regarding the House Education Committee. If by 'bipartisan' the StarTribune means Kline wants to strip teachers from collective bargaining and promote charter schools that don't have the same standards as public schools, then yeah, I get it.

Kline who was named the ranking Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee has the sole goal of leading the fight against the Employee Free Choice Act, which seeks to make unionization easier and break federal controls over education with more failed charter schools? Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. In addition to poor academic performance, there have been many cases of financial and administrative failures. From USAToday: 'Independently run, publicly financed charter schools perform no better than comparable public schools, long-awaited federal data suggested Tuesday',

John Kline along with Mark Kennedy and John Boehner held meetings with Minnesota's school administrators to promote NCLB 'no child left behind'. Kline, who admits to promoting 'no child left behind', now says he soured on it after fielding persistent complaints from educators and parents....which just happen to coincided with Bush leaving office...hmmm...And even though he says he no longer supports NCLB, one of it's main tenet was establishment of charter schools encouraging states to hand over failing schools to commercial companies and nonprofit community groups that want to run them as charter schools. Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes, or CREDO, finds that charter schools significantly underperform overall compared to the traditional public schools they are supposed to improve on.

Once again, John Kline is still supporting failed policies to promote his own private agenda of braking unions and public schools. Instead of offering real solutions to education issues in America, John Kline would have us believe that less federal funding, more teacher oversight, less unionization, and more failed privatization will help. Kline hasn't been paying attention during his lessons on critical thinking regarding the failed lessons of NCLB and charter schools, no wonder NEA gives Congressman Kline an 'F' in education.

More Kline Double Speak

2010-06-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

More Double Speak from Kline!

What Kline said:

"...more and more Minnesotans share with me their frustrations over the increased partisan rancor in Congress..."

The Truth:

Four term Congressman Kline is as much to blame, maybe even more to blame, as his vote record shows...Kline has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 94.6% of the time during the current Congress.

What Kline said:

"I have been pleased to work closely with Democrats and Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense bill that serves as the budgetary blueprint for the Pentagon."

The Truth:

The budgetary blueprint that the House Armed Services Committee voted on shows close workings with military-industrial corporations and war pirateers. It included provisions and funding that the Bush, Obama, and Pentagon didn't want like $485 million for GE/Rolls Royce's engine that Kline included.

What he said: "Congress decides how to spend many of your hard-earned tax dollars through an "earmark" system that is both broken and corrupt. Any member of Congress can request funding for a project -- no matter how outlandish it may be."

The Truth:

Outlandish or not, Kline votes for earmarks all the time...for example last week Kline voted for an earmark from Todd Akins (R-MO), that gives the Navy eight additional F/A Hornets (for a total of 17 in the last two years which the Pentagon does not want!). Naturally, Boeing is one of the top contributors to John Klines's Freedom and Security PAC.

Congressman Kline Bamboozles Taypayers

2010-05-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

Say what? Let me get this straight, Congressman Kline sends out an announcement for the GOP's new interactive website: 'America Speaking Out", but taxpayers get to pay the bill?!

I don't have a problem with wingnuts and commies posting up to their new venue but really, in a time when my kid's school can't afford text books, we (yes you too!) are paying for it?

Hmm....tell me again how you are a fiscal conservative with our tax money Mr. Kline...

As Steve Benen says:"...Republicans will argue that all of this -- the website, the social media, the town-hall events, and the document to be released in September -- has nothing to do with the party's campaign efforts in the fall. They have to maintain this fiction with a straight face, in order to justify use of our money to pay for the effort.

This probably isn't the ideal way for the GOP to prove it can be trusted to spend the public's money wisely."

I shouldn't be surprised when John Kline used a quote from wingnut Sarah Palin's facebook account to promote their new taxpayer underwritten website. This is just one more in a long line of Kline gaffles to bamboozle the public...only this time, taxpayers get to pay for it...If you just would meet with your constituents when they request meetings, you wouldn't have to resort to campaign tools that taxpayer fund to find out what we want.

From Wiki: Definition of a confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle or bamboozle) is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. The victim is known as the mark, the trickster is called a confidence man, con man, confidence trickster, or con artist, and any accomplices are known as shills. Confidence men or women exploit human characteristics such as greed and dishonesty, and have victimized individuals from all walks of life.

In Kline's Own Words, He's Guilty of Dereliction of Duty

2010-05-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Congressman John Kline in remarks delivered to his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives said 'Congress is guilty of Dereliction of Duty'....I couldn't make this stuff up folks and couldn't agree more in regards to John Kline! John Kline, an eight year member of Congress, says "It is a dereliction of public duty for this Congress to deliberately fail to pass a budget".

So when can we expect Congressman Kline who has repeatedly failed to meet the duties of office and provide for the citizens of CD2 to resign? Hopefully soon.

John Kline's Failure To Help Working Class

2010-02-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

Over at SEIU.org is a fact check on Rep. John Kline's opening statements at the House Education and Labor Committee Hearing with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. His comments reads like a failing report put together by a disinterested student minutes before it's due. Instead of citing sources and being accurate, Kline gives us more of the political gamemanship and partisan retortic that is hurting working families and accomplishing nothing.

The article shows that Rep. John Kline runs to the aid of Big Corporations while kicking working Minnesotans to the curve. Wouldn't it be nice if Kline actually did his homework for a change and got the facts straight? And wouldn't it be even better if our elected official actually fought for the working families instead of billionaire corporations?

"Claim: Representative Kline (R-Minn.) said current policies run counter to job creation.

FACT: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created more than 12,200 jobs in Minnesota with more than $9 million awarded to-date to his hometown of Lakeville. (Source: www.recovery.gov)
Claim: Representative Kline said that policies like the Employee Free Choice Act would harm small businesses and workers.

FACT: Corporate CEOs obviously want to hold on to a system that works for them. But no one has anything to fear from a process that is fair, neutral, and promotes compromise instead of confrontation. By allowing neutral, independent auditors to decide a deal that works for everyone if the parties fail to reach a mutual agreement, this bill ensures that everyone benefits from America's prosperity, not just CEOs. It protects workers' right to choose whether or not they want to form a union and ensures that CEOs can't intimidate workers or delay elections to deny workers' rights. And it gives workers a chance to get a fair deal, providing them with the raises they need and deserve. (Source: House Education and Labor Committee)
Claim: Representative Kline said that efforts to create green jobs only benefited labor unions. He has even introduced HR 2026, designed to siphon funds away from joint labor-management training programs to ones created solely by industry.

FACT: Under the Independent Energy and Security Act, labor management partnerships are eligible to receive funding for job training programs. This law ensures that workers are an equal partner and are eligible for green job training funds. Creating new green jobs, and finding way to do existing jobs like building cleaning in a new green way, will drive the development of new, green jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced. Everyone benefits from career paths to good paying jobs and from a green economy, not just businesses and not just labor unions. (Source: House Education and Labor Committee; www.bluegreenalliance.org)
REP. JOHN KLINE -- BAD FOR WORKING FAMILIES "

But we already knew that!

Kline Supported O'Keefe, Does He Still?

2010-01-27T05:29:00.000-08:00

Last year, James O'Keefe, a conservative activist, posed as a pimp and filmed the undercover videos that led Congress to defund ACORN. John Kline was among thirteen members of Congress who signed a resolution praising the work of James O'Keefe, who was arrested on Monday.

ACORN and its allies at the time insist that O'Keefe told a one-sided story, using shady editing and cherry-picking a few bad workers to paint the entire organization as corrupt. However, O’Keefe was defended as a fearless investigative journalist and Congressmen like John Kline jumped to defend him by signing on to a resolution praising his work in exposing fraudulent activities. Now we need to ask…if he is willing to break the law, wouldn't he be willing to shade the truth in the ways the ACORN supporters have always accused him of?

His ACORN video featured shots of O'Keefe dressed as a caricature pimp, with a similarly attired "prostitute," asking ACORN workers for help setting up prostitution rings, trafficking in children, and evading taxes. The message was ACORN perfidy; the sub-text was: "Not only are these people corrupt, they're too stupid to see an obvious set-up".

According to FBI Special Agent Steven Rayes, O'Keefe was loitering around Senator Landrieu's office when his two alleged accomplices, "each dressed in blue denim pants, a blue work shirt, a light fluorescent green vest, a tool belt, and carrying white, construction-style hard hat," came in, claimed they were from the phone company, and asked for access to the phones in Senator Mary Landrieu’s office in New Orleans. James O'Keefe used his mobile phone to film them.

Congressman John Kline praised O'Keefe and his partner Hannah Giles in setting an example for concerned citizens across America. Now it looks like O'Keefe probably did break the law, shaded the truth and cherry picked video cut outs while Congressman Kline, praising his work, used it to disenfranchise an organization that helped the poor.

Kline Endorses Deceitful Behavior Of Mike Parry

2010-01-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

Kline endorses Mike Parry in the Senate special election in MN Senate District 23? What’s not to understand…
Congressman Kline apparently thinks it’s okay to refer to Obama as a “"Power Hungry Arrogant Black Man” and hoping the kids aren’t tainted by the President of the United State! Both John Kline and Mike Parry share the same extreme ideology of being bigoted, racist, anti-gay, ignorant of facts, and then willing to cover up and lie when confronted with the facts. While Parry's postings and scrubbing of posts with offensive materials on his twitter account bothers many of the voters, apparently Kline is fine with the less than professional behavior.
Kline and Parry seem to use the same paranoid behavior to drive their ideology, so no surprise that Kline would endorse Parry.

Rep. Kline Upset With Using Democracy For Workers

2009-11-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

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.

A Penny for Kline’s Thoughts

2009-10-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

How Representative John Kline makes decisions:

War Heads: Must do it now…fast, hurry up, no time to waste, don’t think about it, now is the time for action…

“The failure to take action sends a loud and clear statement to the world about America's commitment -- or lack thereof …”

Health Tails: Stop, Slow down, push the reset button, let’s rethink this, please start over, don’t be rash…

“It’s not too late to start over. It’s not too late to do better,”

John Kline's Fabrications

2009-10-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

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

Kline Seeks Incentives for Underperforming Teachers

2009-10-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

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...

Kline's Sickness

2009-10-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

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. "

'Dr. No' John Kline

2009-09-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

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....

Rep. Kline and The Party of NO

2009-05-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

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:

Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 - Vote Passed (233-193, 7 Not Voting) The House passed the conference report for the 2010 fiscal year budget resolution.

Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act - Vote Passed (249-175, 10 Not Voting)The House approved this bill that would provide local jurisdictions with funds to prosecute hate crimes.

Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009 - Vote Passed (357-70, 7 Not Voting)The House passed this bill that intends to place new restrictions on credit card companies.

The Party of No and it's mascot John Kline can try and rebrand themselves is like putting lipstick on the pig...but it's still a pig...

Kline Sides With Loan Sharks Over Middle Class

2009-05-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

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!

Kline's Obstructionist Voting Record

2009-04-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

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.

John Kline's Pork Spending

2009-04-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Kline Wants To Eliminate Medicare

2009-04-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

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?

Kline Is Predictably NO!

2009-04-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

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.

Kline Sides With Outsiders Against Minnesota's Voters

2009-04-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

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...

The GOP Budget Plan - DO NOTHING!?

2009-03-30T12:01:00.001-07:00

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 Champion of Employer's Workplace Coercion

2009-03-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

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 than 3,000 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

Unions enable their members to have jobs that are capable of sustaining a middle-class standard of living, with dignified wages, leave policies, health care, and retirement plans. Workers represented by unions earn, on average, 30% more than nonunion workers. And 79% of union members have employer-provided health insurance, compared with 50% of nonunion workers. The rates are nearly identical for employer-sponsored retirement plans. The benefits of union membership are most pronounced for people of color and for women

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

John Kline, King of Obstructionist Partisanship

2009-02-25T07:14:00.000-08:00

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 et al. When Kline talks about 'ineffective legislation'...he's just being laughable in a way only a obstructionist partisan hack can be....

John Kline Votes Against Keeping Children Healthy

2009-02-10T06:21:00.000-08:00

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.

Fair Pay Act Passes Without Kline's Support

2009-01-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

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.

Unfortunately Congressman John Kline doesn't believe women are entitled to equal pay as he voted against it. Again...why does Congressman John Kline hate women?

Nuff said...but apparently Kline is continuing to cling to his idealogy over solutions (or civil rights...) Kline continues to cling to ideology over real solutions

Why does Congressman John Kline Hate Women and Children?

2009-01-16T05:12:00.000-08:00

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

Congressman Kline Is Okay With Discrimination Against Women

2009-01-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

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?

John Kline Must Hate Women

2009-01-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

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.

Congressman John Kline's First Act of Congress

2009-01-05T06:05:00.000-08:00

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...

The Star Tribune Dismisses CD2 Voters

2008-10-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

The Star Tribune changes their ‘rules’ regarding endorsements, sigh…this time to ‘balance’ the Congressional delegation. In an arrogence surpassed only by thier disregard for voters the Star decided to back ~~Darth Vader~~ John Kline:

With Democrats expected to pick up House seats this election, Kline will provide needed balance in the House. His calls for fiscal responsibility will be particularly welcome. Also valuable is Kline's level-headed approach to foreign policy. Throughout this election, Kline has stressed the role of diplomacy and the power of economic sanctions.(Strib)

Hmm, so in essences, the Tribune says we need Darth Vader to 'balance' all those pesty good guys? Give me a break! The Star didn’t even bother to interview his challenger Steve Sarvi !….It’s so pathetically stupid and perverse. What's missing from their ‘endorsement’ is an in-depth look or even a summary comparison of Sarvi’s and Kline's stands on the issues. In other words, they don’t do endorsements, just try and level the field? I’m sure the voters appreciate their shallowness. In fact it reminds me of another previous endorsement in CD2 that was ‘fixed’ for Kline.

Referring to Kline, the Tribune cites his 'level-headed' approach but doesn’t remind readers that Kline has voted against children’s health, against veteran’s programs, against adequate protection for troops, and even against the I35 bridge funding but for massive overspending that profited the war industry and give us a record deficit. The Tribune never once mentions the war, corporate tax breaks, big gas company subsidies, or Kline’s support of Bush's failed agenda. Remember Kline even wanted to 'privatize Social Security'...

You know you can agree or disagree with individual positions and issues but it's the lacking values that make John Kline wrong for Minnesota and the fact that the Tribune would endorse him for ‘balanced’ is all but laughable.

I could say more but I need to cancel my newspaper subscription…in an effort to ‘balance’ the ‘just how moronic do you think your readers are’ level. In the past I could justify the paper as ‘fire starter’ but there isn’t enough solid content for even that now.

Kline's Secretive Partisan Do Nothing-ish

2008-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

John Kline's recent ad about being against earmarks (which make up less than half a percent of the federal budget) and his attempt to focus on it during debates shows his lack of concern for voters. While CD2 cities burns...Kline fiddles...His extremist stance doesn't change one iota anything or save one dime. What it does is exclude Minnesotans and CD2 voters from needed funding for projects.

John prefer 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. It grand stand on empty issues that don't improve our status or save money but does distract from the real issues.

Only since the Democrats took control of the House has Kline been against earmarks. Prior to that, Kline was all for them including Alaska's bridge to nowhere. Under scrutiny it appears that Kline's stance on earmark is a way to vote against bills that would otherwise help our communities.

There's no better indication of this obstructionist stance than Kline's vote regarding earmark reform legislation in January of 2007 (when the Democrats took control). 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 reform, Kline voted against the House Resolution 6 on January 5, 2007 .

To date the earmark process has been an efficient way for congress to fund small projects around the country that would not warrant the costly and lengthy process of separate bills. When done openly, the process allows for scrutiny of the merits of these projects and puts the proposing legislator in the position of defending their request as well as recording it for the public.

Total congressional earmarks for fiscal year 2008 were worth $18.3 billion. The Department of Defense appropriations bill gobbled up $7.9 billion of that $18 billion. So, 43% of earmark money—almost half—goes to military “uses” that our military never sought in their own proposed budget! Maybe “earmarks’ for parks, bridges, children’s hospitals, and, yes, children’s museums—analyzed by local leaders—are not a scandal, but a positive function of government.

Which leads us to these conclusions:

Kline favors earmarks but only if done secretly, without names attached so the public can't truely monitor the process excessives as it was during the GOP lead House...or,
Kline much like throwing himself under the wheels of partisanship to obstruct funding of such projects like the I35 bridge, wants to blocking all Democratic Legislation regardless who it may help or what it will fund but not saving a single dime of earmarks overall (it will just go to another Congressional district!).
Kline just needed to have something other than his dismal record to discuss during election time and debates

Secretiveness, do nothing and partisan blockage... traits or next CD2 Congressman has promised not to do.

Outrageous Kline Round Up

2008-10-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Once again, John Kline feigns outrage... Gee for a big tough soldier, John Kline certainly can get 'outraged' easily…Reminds me of another bumbling, self-serving bureaucratic Colonel...

How 'outraged' is Kline? Wonder if he's outraged enough to send out fundraising letters like he did when he was 'outraged' last time. Oh, and would you send him some money to fight that major injustice. How pathetic is that? Well almost as pathetic as his current 'outrage'

John Kline can't seem to work up any outrage at jobs being loss and outsourced, selling America's infrastructure to foreign countries, bridges falling down, giving tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting services to working families, freezing pell grants, slashing funding to veterans, crumbling financial market and taking money from criminals, but he's 'outraged' at Ashwin Media. That's right a DFL candidate not even running against him!? (Tell me you don't think of Colonel Klink when you see John Kline get outraged over this crap instead of real issues?)

Wonder if John is still outraged or if he apologized?….check out Minnesota Blog

" OMG, talk about conduct unbecoming of an officer! " Blue man in a Red district

"...Republicans and John Kline are bad for small business!" http://www.mnblue.com/node/2341

"...John Kline is a huge hypocrite. Some things never change. " Minnesota Campaign Report

Kline To Avoid Solutions While Being GOP Attack Dog

2008-10-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

By his own admission Congressman John Kline no longer works for his constituents. Kline talks about "rational priorities" yet chooses to fight partisan windmills while the rest of the country falls into economic chaos. John Kline became the GOP attack dog to go after CD3's congressional candidate Ashwin Media. Toward that end Kline emotes outrage at Ashwin Media for showing in a TV ad he was a Marine like... hmmm... well... just like in Kline's TV ads...

Showing disdain for his own district's constituents by ignoring the massive problems they face like home foreclosures, soaring gas/energy prices, inadequate funding of education and infrastructure, plus the financial crisis, Kline goes on a personal attack for the GOP.

Really, John, really? Is this the best you can do? Is this really the best the GOP can do?...

An incumbent Congressman with no credibility left because he won't work to fund projects in his own district, who smiles when racial slurs are issued (see pic) by his supporters like Gayle Quinnel (Shakopee) at a McCain rally, who voted lock step with the Bush administration, who instead of addressing the very serious issues facing Americans and looking for solutions, he becomes an attack dog for the GOP. No wonder Kline avoids open town hall meetings.

Voters are fed up with this blantant anti-soical partisan behavior. Voters want a honest discussion of the issues with real solutions, it's past time for such antics...it's time for change...

Two Thumbs Down To Kline TV Ad

2008-10-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Congressman Kline has a new TV ad which is a lot like the Congressman...big on promises but short on support...

...As pointed out on MNPUBLIS

"Kline voted against the independent panel on ethics, voted against earmark reform in January 2007, and actually has been the beneficiary of earmarks many times before, as well as voting for earmarks that have nothing to do with Minnesotans"

Kline did vote to fund the infamous 'bridge to nowhere' earmark porker...but that must have been before he saw the light...Meanwhile Kline has voted against any Democratic sponsored bill including voting against a resolution to suspend the rules so the emergency aid to fund the I35W bridge could be considered. But ultimately he had to vote for funding the bridge (earmark) because of the ruckus it caused among Minnesotans.

So let's recap...

U.S. economy in the toilet and Kline is consumed with earmarks that represent less thank ONE PERCENT of the federal budget.
All pork is not equal...at least in John Kline's world where he'll gladly vote for a bridge to nowhere but not Minnesota's I35 Bridge rebuild.

Not much of a TV ad...much like Kline isn't much of a leader.

Had Enough of Kline?

2008-10-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

John Kline needs a big 2do like this Friday's McCain visit to bolster his fading numbers. Even his own faithful are deserting him like Kevin Masrud. Over the last several weeks many republicans have contacted the Sarvi campaign saying the can no longer support Kline's lack of leadership, his fiscal irresponsibility, and his lack of community support. In short, they've had enough.

How about you?

Kline Has $780,000 Reason To Vote For The Colossal Taxpayer Bailout

2008-09-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

The House on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency taxpayer bailout for the nation's financial system, ignoring urgent warnings from President Bush and congressional leaders of both parties that the economy could nosedive without it. Rep. John Kline (MN-R) voted for the colossal taxpayer bailout which in reality is little more than taxpayers footing the bill for Wall Street and Washington mistakes during Kline's time in office. Not much of surprise here -given Kline has taken $780,000 from wall street. While Kline says his vote was in the best interest of Americans, ultimately those that gain the most are the special interests on wall street that have been very generous ($780,000) to Kline over the years.

According to research produced by MAPLight.org, House members who voted yes on the proposed bailout package received 54 percent more money from banks and securities than members who voted no:

"[O]ver the past five years, banks and securities firms gave an average of $231,877 in campaign contributions to each Representative voting in favor of the bailout, compared with an average of $150,982 to each Representative voting against the bailout – 54 percent more money given to those who voted Yes."

Kline even admits to hearing from thousands of folks in Minnesota's second district voicing concern about having to bail out wall street (private profits/socialized losses) and the billions it would cost Americans. But in the end, having received over 3/4 a million from Wall Street, Kline is beholding for his vote to Wall Street and not Main Street.

"The liquidity measures are a stopgap … You’re funding the banks’ balance sheets, but nobody wants to lend money to them because they’re all afraid of insolvency.” -Laurence H Meyers of Macroeconomic Advisers notes

It's ironic that Kline having grossly profit from Wall Street can even pretend to represent us. If Kline really was representing the second congressional district he would immediately return the $789,000 from Wall Street.

Now that another attempt at a taxpayer bail out has been turned back, hopefully we can have reform included in the next attempt. Let's see a plan that better targets aid..not the blank check, has reform and oversight built into it, that provides for a 'trickle up' approach that takes care of us over corporations.

Kline Continues To Said NO To Seniors

2008-09-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Representative John Kline(R- MN) has consistently voted NO against programs that would help senior citizens. Basically his lifetime score for voting for programs that would help seniors is 4 percent. His NO votes have allowed seniors to suffer, and big business to thrive on their suffering. A sampling of these votes are:

NO... to allowing Seniors to negotiate Drug Prices
NO... to Pro-Retiree Budget
NO... to Stop Price Gouging
NO... to SCHIP/Medicare Advantage
NO... to Limit Drug Reimportation

Last year alone senior citizens in poverty jumped to 3.6 million, or 9.7 percent of all seniors. With the declining economy adversely affecting most senior retirements and increasing health care costs, older Americans are more at risk than ever. Yet Rep. John Kline continues to vote against them.

These are American folks just like us. They have worked their whole life, paid taxes, brought homes, raised families and contributed to the community.

Kline has retirement, a pension, and life long health care through the congressional office. Yet Kline won't vote for our seniors to have a smidgen of that same secure in their old age.

Wall Street Payday For Rep. John Kline

2008-09-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

There's one thing that continues to worsen our economic crisis...it's lack of confidence in our leaders. We expected them to look out for our interest, to help preserve our homes and the future of our children but instead find out they were looking out for wall streets interests.

To belay fears and address this lack of confidence even George Bush addressed the nation. Agree or disagree, at least Dubya presented his bailout position. But our congressional representative Mr. Kline has been silent on the bailout. That's because the $780,000 he's received from wall street has brought his silence.

When Representative John Kline should be looking out for us, he's taking care of special wall street interests. Kline has promoted and voted for wall street's agenda calling for deregulation and privatization within their industry. Allow them to make billions while American's pay the cost...Kline even wanted to do the same (privatize) to Social Security!

Now we're expected to foot the bill to bail out wall street while our homes, jobs, and families suffer. Maybe Kline would like to apply $780,000 he's accepted from Wall Street toward that bill.

Like most of what John Kline has done....he has squandered his leadership in exchange for $780,000. Unfortunately we are paying the consequences for his lack of leadership. Isn't it time for a new direction?

Oh Look! Kline Has Some Shiny Old Medals

2008-09-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

Kline is fighting back...yawn...as usual by trying to paint himself as a victim...this time from those bad veterans that look at his voting record rather than his shiny old medals...

When his opponent Steve Sarvi, himself an Iraq War veteran, claims that Kline is getting rock-bottom ratings from -- of all people -- veterans groups...Kline has his staffer whine...'but that's not what he meant!'

And when Kline suggested that the military is paying too much attention to post-traumatic stress syndrome in a congressional hearing, again...Kline's staffer said that's 'not what Kline meant!'

Ah yeah, poor Kline...how it must hurt his feelings when veterans get tired of his false promises and shiny old medals and actually look at his record. But we know....it's not what Kline meant!

Kline Is Picking Your Pocket For Big OIL!

2008-09-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Kline once again voted the wishes of OIL CORPORATIONS in voting no on H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act. Kline is picking our pockets to feed enormous profits to the Oil Industry at a time when Minnesotans have a 22 year record high unemployment rate!

Just to put it in perspective:

GAS
2002 =$1.47 a gallon
2008 =$3.79 a gallon

Oil Company profits
2002=$30 Billion
2008=$160 Billion

Pete DeFazio (D-OR) explained the finances behind the bill and why almost every Republican in the House opposed it.

"The oil and gas industry contributed $166 million to the Republicans since 1990, 75% of their political contributions. In fact, when President Bush took office, gas cost $1.47 a gallon. Today, gas costs $3.79. In fact, in 2002, the oil companies made $30 billion in profits. In 2008, it's projected they will make an unbelievable record $160 billion of profits, every penny extracted from American consumers and American small businesses and borrowed from overseas, putting us in huge trouble. The oil companies took care of the Republican cronies and the Republicans legislated on their behalf."

Big Oily Kline

2008-09-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

There was never any doubt about where Kline stood. Voters in CD2 are figuring out what we knew all long...Kline doesn't represent their interests. Instead John Kline plays partisan politics, that is, when he isn't playing puppet for Bush or front man for major oil companies.

Check out the recent polling...and remember you can't fool all the of people, all of the time. And now we have John's vote for Big Oil's way...

“In case there was ever any question, John Kline proved today that it’s Big Oil’s way or the highway, never mind America’s need for gas price relief or an energy plan for the future. The bill Mr. Kline voted against will bring down gas prices and invest in a clean, renewable energy future. It also will provide America with an American-owned energy policy – something that the Bush-Kline Republicans failed to deliver in all their years in power. But, at least we know where John Kline stands: with Big Oil, not with the American people.” -Steve Sarvi, Kline’s opponent in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District