The Kline Line: The Issue That Brought Right and Left Together

The Issue That Brought
Right and Left Together

Dear Friend,

I never thought I would find myself agreeing with MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews. But when it comes to reviewing the President’s remarks from the Oval Office earlier this week, I agree with the MSNBC talking heads who declared the speech “a failure to lead.”

  • Chris Matthews: “I don’t sense executive command.”
  • Keith Olbermann: “Nothing specific at all was said.”
  • Howard Fineman: President should be acting like a “commander-in-chief.”

Sadly, as oil continued to ooze into the Gulf of Mexico for a 57th day Tuesday, the President chose to use the tragedy to promote his job-killing national energy tax. Rather than focus on ramming through cap-and-trade legislation that will tax every American, Americans want Washington to focus on stopping the oil leak and figure out how to prevent this from happening again.

‘If You Like Your Health Care Plan You Can CANNOT Keep It’

Remember when the President promised: “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” Earlier this week, a shadow of doubt was cast on that promise when it was revealed that White House officials now estimate up to 69 percent of workers could be forced to buy a new health care plan because their current plans would not meet the new requirements of Obamacare.

Even the New York Times reported, “the rules appear to fall short of the sweeping commitments President Obama made while trying to reassure the public in the fight over health legislation.” It is no wonder most Minnesotans who contact me agree with the majority of Americans who continue to oppose the new health law.

The one-trillion dollar bill kills jobs in Minnesota; radically increases government spending; raises taxes on families and small businesses; cuts Medicare for seniors; forces you out of health coverage you like; and allows for taxpayer funding of abortions.


We Owe $13,000,000,000

Two weeks ago, the national debt topped $13 trillion according to the U.S. Treasury Department. At a rate of one dollar per second, it would take you close to 412,000 years to rack up $13 trillion in debt. Check out the alarming up-to-date debt “clock” by clicking here.

Cottage Grove, Farmington, and Faribault Parades: Saturday, June 19

If you have a few hours to spare this Saturday, Vicky and I would love to see you at any of the three parades we will be participating in this weekend: Strawberry Fest in Cottage Grove (9:30 a.m. lineup), Dew Days in Farmington (noon lineup), or Heritage Days in Faribault (5:30 p.m. lineup). Please bring your family and friends and join us in continuing to kick off the 2010 Kline for Congress campaign. If you are able to join us, please let the campaign office know by calling (952) 890-9430 or emailing parades@klineforcongress.com.

If you would like to see our updated parade schedule for this year, please click here. Thank you for all you do for our team!

Keeping in Contact with You

Please feel free to share this update with your friends and family. You can also keep up to date by visiting my Kline for Congress website or posting comments on my Facebook wall. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail me or visit the Kline for Congress website.

Sincerely,

John Kline

This email was sent by john@klineforcongress.com
Kline for Congress | 101 W Burnsville Pkwy, Suite 104 | Burnsville | MN | 55337

Kline`s Corner Alert: Setting the Record Straight

June 08, 2010
White House Tries Yet Another
‘PR Reboot’ of ObamaCare

Dear Friends,

The President is (re-) re-launching his effort to sell a skeptical public on the new job-killing health care law today with a telephone town hall meeting in Wheaton, Md. Complicating matters for the White House are news accounts of mounting evidence the new law is killing small business jobs at a time when our economy can least afford to lose them.

Yesterday, I held a roundtable discussion with constituents at Savage City Hall. During the meeting, an Apple Valley woman (at right) who owns a small business and employs five people shared with me her frustrations regarding Obamacare. Because of the recession, she hasn’t taken a penny of salary this year. “I don’t want to lay off any of my employees,” she said. “And this health care bill will kill us, absolutely kill us… The federal government has to stop looking at the small business as the ‘evil guy.’ We’re tired of legislation that penalizes the companies and ultimately kills jobs.”

Instead of taking real action to address similar fears being voiced by men and women across the nation, the White House is trying yet another public relations reboot. This time, their PR efforts are aimed at seniors, who have been especially skeptical of the new health care law and its Medicare cuts and cost hikes. Unfortunately, the Administration’s spin fail to alleviate some of the largest fears facing seniors:

1. Medicare Cuts. At a town hall meeting last August, the President said, “I just want to assure [you] we’re not talking about cutting Medicare benefits.” But according to the President’s own actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS), the new health care law includes roughly $575 billion in Medicare cuts. As a result of these cuts, enrollment in the popular Medicare Advantage program will be slashed in half. There seems to be some truth behind Sen. Harry Reid’s statement last year that “Medicare Advantage is gone.”

2. Jeopardizing Access to Care. The President repeatedly promised that under his plan, “if you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor.” But the CMS actuary also determined that as a result of these substantial Medicare cuts, “providers might end their participation in the program (possibly jeopardizing access to care for beneficiaries).” In fact, one out of every six hospitals, nursing homes, and other similar providers could be operating at a loss by 2019.

3. Higher Costs. One of the benchmarks the President set for the new law was that it would lower Americans’ health care costs. This especially matters for seniors on fixed incomes. But the CMS report found the new law will actually increase the nation’s health care tab. The actuaries also asserted price increases “should be considered plausible and even probable” after the law’s enactment.

4. Rationing of Care. Last summer the President essentially mocked claims his health care plan would lead to rationing. But his nominee to take over CMS, Dr. Donald Berwick, has previously indicated his support for federal restrictions on medical treatments that are too costly. He has noted that because “we have a limited resource pool…the decision is not whether or not we will ration care – the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open.” Is it wise to have the leader of one of the government agencies responsible for implementing the new law be someone who endorses rationing?

5. Protecting Medicare. The Administration recently distributed a mailing stating the new law will “keep Medicare strong and solvent,” but CMS has already concluded these deep Medicare cuts cannot be used to make the program more efficient or solvent. How can the Administration make a claim like this when the Democratic Congress cannot even pass a budget to deal with the growing debt that is increasing the strain on our entitlement programs?

Each day, House Republicans distribute updated information on the impact the new health care law has on small businesses, families, and all Americans. Click here for more information.

Repeal and Replace Current Health Care Law

According to a recent survey, the majority of Americans continues to support the repeal of the new health care law because they know it will increase costs, destroy jobs, and lead to steep Medicare cuts that will hurt seniors. House Republicans have proposed legislation to repeal this government takeover of health care and replace it with commonsense reforms focused on lowering costs and protecting American jobs. To read more, click here.

I encourage you to share this important information with your parents; grandparents; and any other friends, family, or neighbors who are seniors so they too can better understand what impact the new health care law will have on them.

Best wishes,

John Kline
Member of Congress

Office Locations
Minnesota Office
101 West Burnsville Parkway #201
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: (952) 808-1213
Fax: (952) 808-1261
Washington, D.C. Office
1210 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2271
Fax: (202) 225-2595

Kline`s Corner: We Honor Those Who Gave Their Lives to Defend Our Freedom

May 31, 2010

Honor Our Fallen Heroes
by Supporting Our Veterans
of Today and Tomorrow

Dear Friends,

As I travel throughout the 2nd district in Minnesota and visit with constituents, more and more Minnesotans share with me their frustrations over the increased partisan rancor in Congress. Whether it’s Washington’s inability to recognize the need to enact legislation that helps create private-sector jobs, or the big-spending, overreaching, backroom-dealing culture that has engulfed Congress, I share my constituents’ frustrations.

Americans deserve better.

Fortunately, some of the most important business we do in Congress is still conducted through good old-fashioned respect and cooperation. In recent weeks, 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.

As the father whose son is currently serving his second tour in Afghanistan, the husband of an Army nurse, and a 25-year veteran of the Marine Corps, I was pleased to craft and support legislation that supports our troops, veterans, and their families. Together, members of the Armed Services Committee are sending a unified message to our troops: We continue to support you in your mission.

Included in this year’s defense bill is an amendment I introduced that improves the Yellow Ribbon program, which is modeled on the Minnesota National Guard’s “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program.” My amendment encourages cooperation among members of the Armed Forces; increases awareness among communities and local organizations; promotes a greater emphasis on families; and encourages their participation in reintegration programs. I have closely monitored the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon program in Minnesota, and I am pleased to have been able to make the national program even better – especially in the wake of the recent announcement that approximately 2,700 Minnesota National Guard troops will deploy to Iraq in 2011.

The defense bill also includes my amendment to deploy additional life-saving combat enablers to Afghanistan. This will provide our troops with the force protection; medical evaluation; and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance assets necessary to accomplish their mission and return home safely.

During these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to ensure our troops receive the support and assistance they need when they return home to their families, communities, and jobs. While national unemployment hovers near a troubling 10 percent, the rate for unemployed veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is significantly higher – 21.1 percent according to the Department of Labor. In light of these figures, I am pleased my amendment to help our wounded warriors compete for good jobs by expediting bureaucratic delays was included in the defense bill.

I still remain concerned that this bill could do more to defend America and protect her citizens. We could go much further in making a robust commitment to missile defense; strengthening our overall nuclear defense posture; preventing the transfer of terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay to American soil; and refusing to address the future of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. There is still time for Congress to address these shortcomings before a final bill gets sent to the President, and I will work to that end.

This Memorial Day, we once again honor those who gave their lives to defend our freedom. What better way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and preserve the legacies of these heroes whom we owe so much than by meeting the needs of our veterans of today and tomorrow.

Best wishes,

John Kline
Member of Congress

Office Locations
Minnesota Office
101 West Burnsville Parkway #201
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: (952) 808-1213
Fax: (952) 808-1261
Washington, D.C. Office
1210 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2271
Fax: (202) 225-2595

The Kline Line: Democrats Put Politics Ahead of Our Troops

Democrats Put Politics Ahead of Our Troops

Dear Friend,

It was with great disappointment and frustration that moments ago I cast my vote against the national defense bill. Sadly, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressional democrats decided to use this legislation of critical importance to the success of our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to rush through Congress a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

The Secretary of Defense and top military leaders agree Congress should take no action on this policy until the Pentagon completes its current review. In an April letter to the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said any effort to repeal the law before the Pentagon has had an opportunity to complete a review “would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns, and perspectives do not matter on an issue with such a direct impact and consequence for them and their families.”

Top military leaders, including Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force General Norton Schwartz, Army Chief of Staff General George Casey, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, and Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps General James Conway: agree with Sec. Gates.

I am truly saddened by the decision of Congressional Democrats to put politics ahead of the needs of our men and women in uniform.

Stimulus III: Throwing More Taxpayer Money at the Problem
is t
he Typical Democrat Solution

While Congressional Democrats claim they are getting “tough” on spending and deficits, in reality they continue to pass bill after bill using their tried-and-true tricks of higher taxes, increased spending, and Enron-like accounting gimmicks. Consider the “debt extender” bill passed today. Many Democrats were hesitant about the latest stimulus, according to today’s New York Times: “House Democratic leaders ran into stiff resistance from rank-and-file members uneasy about supporting the approximately $143 billion tax and unemployment measure. More than $80 billion of it would be deficit spending.” Unfortunately, the stimulus package still passed, causing our national debt to balloon even further.

Morristown Dam Days Parade: Friday, June 4

If you have a few hours to spare next Friday night, June 4, Vicky and I would love to see you at Morristown Dam Days for our first parade of the year. Please bring your family and friends and join us in kicking off the 2010 Kline for Congress campaign. If you are able to join us, please let the campaign office know by calling (952) 890-9430 or emailing parades@klineforcongress.com.

If you would like to see our updated parade schedule for this year, please click here. Thank you for all you do for our team!

Keeping in Contact with You

Please feel free to share this update with your friends and family. You can also keep up to date by visiting my Kline for Congress website or posting comments on my Facebook wall. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail me or visit the Kline for Congress website.

Memorial Day: Paying Tribute to American Heroes

As you celebrate the long holiday weekend with family and friends, please pause to honor a select few: those who gave their lives to defend our freedom. Memorial Day is a day to celebrate their ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. It is a time to honor those who left us too soon when their lives were cut short on distant battlefields. Today and every day, let us not forget to pay tribute to those true American heroes to whom we owe so much.

Sincerely,

John Kline

Kline for Congress | 101 W Burnsville Pkwy, Suite 104 | Burnsville | MN | 55337

Kline`s Corner: AmericaSpeakingOut.com Gives You a Voice Again

May 25, 2010
AmericaSpeakingOut.com:
Giving You a Voice Again

Dear Friends,

For far too long, Washington has failed to listen to the American people. Whether forcing a government takeover of health care, passing a national energy tax, piling up record deficits, or exacerbating our nation’s jobs crisis, the actions of this Congress have run contrary to the will of the American people.

America is ready for a new agenda in Washington and deserves a Congress that listens to the American people. House Republicans plan to offer the nation a new set of solutions to our nation’s challenges that reflect your priorities. Accordingly,
I am joining my colleagues today in launching an exciting initiative that instantly gives you, the Minnesotans I represent, a voice in creating our national agenda.

AmericaSpeakingOut.com is an interactive website through which you and other Americans can share your ideas for how best to address the many challenges facing our nation. This project will feature innovative web tools and mobile applications that will bring virtual town hall meetings directly to your doorstep.

Changing the course of our nation and putting an end to the big-spending, overreaching, backroom-dealing culture of Washington will require your help. Through AmericaSpeakingOut.com, the people will once again have a voice in Washington, and my colleagues and I stand ready to act on your behalf. Please take part in the new initiative and make your voice heard.

YouCut: Defeating the Culture
of Runaway Spending in Washington

“America Speaking Out” isn’t the only exciting project we have introduced recently to amplify your voice in Washington.

Last week, the House Republican Economic Recovery Working Group launched YouCut, a first-of-its kind initiative that empowers people with the ability to vote online and on their mobile devices for spending cuts they want the House to consider.

Everyone knows that Washington has a spending problem. YouCut is an effort to start addressing the culture of spending in Washington that has produced a formidable national debt.

Since its launch, YouCut has been an unprecedented success. In just more than one week, more than 450,000 votes have been cast and the first YouCut vote has already been brought to the House floor. Start voting now at http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut/

‘HouseLive’ TV Increases
Transparency and Oversight

Now more than ever, Americans want maximum transparency and increased oversight on what their elected officials in Washington are doing on their behalf. Anyone with a computer can now watch live streaming video of the U.S. House of Representatives through “HouseLive.”

Much like C-SPAN TV, HouseLive gives visitors to http://house.gov a way to watch the chamber’s proceedings live. But HouseLive also has an easy-to-use archive stretching back to January 2009 – along with a summary of each day’s legislative action. In addition, it includes joint meetings and sessions of Congress.

IRS Open House Saturday, June 5
in Minneapolis and St. Paul

The Internal Revenue Service is hosting a nationwide Open House on Saturday, June 5 to help small businesses and individuals solve tax problems. The Minneapolis Taxpayer Assistance Center at 250 Marquette Avenue, and the St. Paul center at 30 East Seventh Street are among approximately 200 IRS offices hosting the open house from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

IRS staff will be available on site or by telephone to help taxpayers work through their problems and walk out with solutions. They will be equipped to handle issues including notices and payments, return preparation, and audits. At a similar nationwide IRS open house in March, nearly 90 percent of the taxpayers who sought help had their issues resolved the same day.

Best wishes,

John Kline
Member of Congress

Office Locations
Minnesota Office
101 West Burnsville Parkway #201
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: (952) 808-1213
Fax: (952) 808-1261
Washington, D.C. Office
1210 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2271
Fax: (202) 225-2595

John Kline’s Pork Report: America Losing Its Taste for Bacon

America Losing Its Taste for Bacon

Dear Friend,

Last week, the Washington Times published a story on America’s growing disdain for pork. This November, thirteen members of the nation’s leading pork producer – the Senate Appropriations Committee – will be up for re-election. Seven of the 13 pork project distributors have already announced they will retire or have lost a primary challenge.

In the House of Representatives, Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey (Wis.) announced he won’t seek a 22nd term in office. Rep. Allan Mollohan, an appropriations committee veteran hailing from what the Washington Times describes as “one of the most pork-barrel-friendly states” of West Virginia lost earlier this month in a Democrat primary.

An excerpt of the article follows:

Is America losing its taste for bacon?

When it comes to the congressional variety, members of the powerful appropriations committees are finding that holding the nation’s purse strings – and the power the positions afford in doling out pork-barrel projects back home – are no guarantee these days for re-election…

“They expect to be thanked” for pet projects back home, said Mike Connolly, a spokesman with the Club for Growth, a conservative group that pushes for limited government spending. But “the American people are figuring out that, while they’re getting a little bit for their state, they also know that they’re paying for the stuff in the other 49 [states], too.”

You can read the entire story by clicking here.

STP Weekly Waste Watch: $40,000 in Stimulus Funds for 10 Trash Cans

Each week the Weekly Waste Watch page on the Stop the Pork website identifies a new example of how Washington is wasting your hard-earned money. This week’s example is in Bloomington, Ind., where the City Sanitation Department recently spent $40,000 of stimulus funds on 10 solar-powered trash compactors. Coming in at $4,000 apiece, the 10 trash cans were installed throughout the downtown area of Bloomington. Shelby Walker, the city’s Director of Sanitation, says the new solar-powered trash cans resemble “green mailboxes,” and the city will eventually install more units. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that $40,000 worth of “waste” cans created a single new job in Bloomington, or Indiana, which struggles with a 9.9 percent unemployment rate.

Keeping in Contact with You

If you aren’t already, please become a Facebook “fan” and encourage your friends and family to do the same. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail me or visit the Stop the Pork website.

Sincerely,

John Kline

Kline for Congress | 101 W Burnsville Pkwy, Suite 104 | Burnsville | MN | 55337

The Inside Scoop – 5/24/2010

THE INSIDE SCOOP – Session WrapUp
5/24/2010
Rep. Patrick Garofalo

- LEGISLATURE FINDS NEW WAYS TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
- WHAT IS TEACH FOR AMERICA?
- PREVIEW?  COURTS TO FORCE SPENDING INCREASES?

LEGISLATIVE-FAIL

The legislature adjourned the day after the May 16th deadline with an 11 hour special session.  My biggest disappointment is that both political parties essentially agreed to ignore the problems of the next budget cycle.  I’ve enclosed a link to the most recent budget forecast showing the nearly $6 billion dollar problem our state has next session. (Page 7)  The only sustainable solution is for growth in government spending to be kept at or below the growth in personal income.  Any other solution defies the laws of mathematics.  I’m interested in your thoughts on this.

http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/fu/10/summary-feb10.pdf

WHAT IS TEACH FOR AMERICA?

Recently the teacher’s union (Education Minnesota) criticized the Teach For America program and opposed legislation which would have expanded Teach For America’s presence in Minnesota.  Teach For America is supported by President Obama, 4 DFL education chairs in the legislature, and numerous DFL/Republican legislators.  Studies have shown that Teach For America helps reduce the achievement gap between minority and white students.  In my opinion, the union’s opposition to this program is unjustified and wrong.  As always, keep in mind that the “union” doesn’t always speak for local teachers in our area.  I’ve included a link for you to learn more about this positive education movement.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/

COURTS TO DECIDE SPENDING?

A lawsuit was recently filed in California demanding the court order higher funding for education in the state.  As budgets continued to get stressed, look for more lawsuits to guarantee funding for other types of spending as well.  Sadly, I believe we could see such a lawsuit filed in Minnesota as well.

http://www.examiner.com/x-40581-San-Mateo-County-Top-News-Examiner~y2010m5d20-Lawsuit-challenges-Californias-education-finance-system

ABBY’S JOKE OF THE MONTH

Q: What happened when the dog went to the flea circus?
A: He stole the show!

As always, it is an honor serving as your State Representative.  Please feel free to contact me regarding any issues that concern you.  Thanks!

Rep. Pat Garofalo
District 36B
221 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
(651) 296-1069
1-888-667-3337

The Kline Line: Ban the Bailouts!

Ban the Bailouts!

Dear Friend,

For 16 months, President Obama and Congressional Democrats – appropriately labeled the “Bailout Brigade” by Republican Study Committee Tom Price – have put us on a path of unsustainable spending and skyrocketing debt. Whether it was bailing out Wall Street, taking over General Motors, or “rescuing” Fannie and Freddie yet again, the American people are tired of Washington’s unchecked borrowing and bailout spree.

Adding insult to injury, the President now wants to reach into your wallets for nearly $1 trillion to bailout the Euro. This comes on the heels of American taxpayers like you being asked to share in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $40 billion bailout of Greece. Perhaps not surprisingly, the United States is the world’s largest contributor to the IMF.

Like you, I want to see European nations right their economic ships, but not at our expense. In the coming days, I will join my House Republican colleagues to call on the administration to oppose further IMF bailouts of European nations. Without dramatic spending restraints by our own federal government, the United States is on a path like the one that led to Greece’s financial catastrophe and Europe’s woes.

Cost of ObamaCare Going Up, and Up, and Up…

Two weeks ago the President’s own experts released a report finding that 14 million Americans will lose their employer-provided coverage as a result of the new government takeover of health care, while 7 million seniors – approximately half of all participants – will no longer be covered by Medicare Advantage.

Now, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announced that ObamaCare will cost at least another $115 billion, driving the price tag to nearly $1 trillion. If Congress approves all the additional spending called for in the legislation, it would push the 10-year cost of the overhaul above $1 trillion — an unofficial limit set by the very Obama administration that has eclipsed this lofty target. Perhaps more alarming, costs could rise even higher because the legislation authorizes several programs without setting specific funding levels.

There has been no word yet on whether Washington Democrats are still standing by White House advisor David Axelrod’s comments that fellow Democrats will be better off once the American people find out what’s in this bill.

“I think as the American people become familiar with what this program is and what it isn’t, they’re going to be very, very happy with it.” (Rick Klein, “Axelrod: Public Will Grow ‘Very, Very Happy’ with Health Care Law,” ABC News, 3/30/10)

Keeping in Contact with You

Please feel free to share this update with your friends and family. You can also keep up to date by visiting my Kline for Congress website or posting comments on my Facebook wall. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail me or visit the Kline for Congress website.

Sincerely,

John Kline


Kline for Congress | 101 W Burnsville Pkwy, Suite 104 | Burnsville | MN | 55337

Kline`s Corner: A Chilling Effect on the Economy


Taxing, Spending, and Bailouts
Have Chilling Effect on Economy

Dear Friends,

Last Friday, the Department of Labor reported the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent despite the President’s promise that the trillion-dollar “stimulus” would keep unemployment below 8 percent. The number of long-term unemployed – those out of work for 27 weeks or longer – now account for 46 percent of the unemployed, a new record.

The American people continue to show the strength and determination that will once again lift our nation out of difficult economic times. Yet the latest jobs report is also a stark reminder of the challenges ahead and the cost of the majority leadership’s reckless agenda that has eliminated more than 2.6 million jobs and kept unemployment hovering near 10 percent.

It’s no surprise the American people want their money back and a new direction for our nation. In the past 16 months, Congress passed:

The last thing our country needs is to plunge deeper into debt to pay for even more wasteful government spending. We need robust private sector job creation to give workers the long-term stability they and their families need. That’s why I have joined Republican colleagues in proposing commonsense solutions for job creation including tax incentives for small businesses and tax relief for working families. The sooner majority leadership drops their unsustainable spending schemes and takes up our jobs plan, the better.

Minnesota Students Show Their Artistic Talents

Each year, I have the pleasure of honoring art students throughout the district who participate in the annual Congressional “Artistic Discovery” competition. Montgomery-Lonsdale sophomore Hannah Young won the competition this year with her acrylic painting, “Autumn,” which will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. Faribault junior Marci Lessman was the runner-up and Apple Valley senior Rachel Dietz finished third. I continue to be impressed with Minnesota’s young artists, and I look forward to proudly displaying their impressive artwork in my Minnesota and Washington offices.

Cost of Health Care Overhaul
Growing, and Growing, and Growing…

Recent statements and reports from the administration’s own experts and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office have made clear that supporters of the new health care law were not being truthful about the bill’s full impact on our nation’s finances.

Earlier this week, the nonpartisan CBO released its latest analysis showing that the President’s new health care law will cost at least $115 billion more than originally estimated – more than twice the size originally estimated when the President signed the law in March. The new report nearly wipes out the purported deficit reduction in the law.

This is just the latest in a long line of “somber” analyses, reports, and studies regarding the health care law. Last month, an analysis by the Obama Administration’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a report showing that the new law actually increases national health care costs after President Obama pledged it would not. The American people want real health care reform that will bring down costs, not raise them. I continue to urge my colleagues to repeal and replace this flawed law with the commonsense reform the American people deserve.

Promoting Conservation Efforts,
Preserving Critical Habitat

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of members who are dedicated to promoting conservation efforts and preserving our critical habitat. Recently, members of the caucus gathered for an annual shoot-out in which Republicans and Democrats compete in a trap, skeet, and sporting clay competition.

I was pleased to be named one of Washington’s “sharpest shooters” for the third time in four years when I was named Republican Top Gun. Minnesota is well represented in the caucus with Sen. Al Franken and Reps. Jim Oberstar, Collin Peterson, Michele Bachmann, Tim Walz, and Erik Paulsen also belonging.

Constituents Continue to Ask:
Where Are the Jobs?

On Tuesday evening, I hosted a telephone town hall meeting with thousands of constituents. During the call, I also invited them to respond to a survey question that asked which issue is most important to them. Nearly two-thirds of those responding indicated concern with government spending, the economy, and jobs. The question and results are below:

Which one issue is most important to you?

  • Government spending – 33 percent (114 votes)
  • Economy/Jobs – 30 percent (103)
  • Health care – 19 percent (65)
  • Immigration – 11 percent (40)
  • Taxes – 8 percent (27)

Best wishes,

John Kline
Member of Congress

Office Locations
Minnesota Office
101 West Burnsville Parkway #201
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: (952) 808-1213
Fax: (952) 808-1261
Washington, D.C. Office
1210 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2271
Fax: (202) 225-2595

John Kline’s Pork Report: Ensure Your Voice is Heard Saturday in St. Paul

Make Your Voices Heard at
Tax Cut Rally Saturday in St. Paul

Dear Friends,

This year, federal, state, and local taxes claim nearly 27 percent of the average American’s income. Calculated by the independent Tax Foundation, the average American worked from Jan. 1-April 9 just to pay their 2010 taxes.

Since January of last year, Washington has adopted as law tax increases totaling more than $679 billion, which includes $569 billion for a health care bill marked by accounting tricks, legislative gimmicks, and backroom deals. The tax increases imposed on you by Washington amount to more than $2,100 for every man, woman, and child in the United States.

The horror stories you are hearing out of our nation’s capitol are only the tip of the iceberg: Speaker Pelosi and her team are proposing wide-ranging tax increases – taking money right out of your pockets – to pay for their massive spending programs. They are trying to burden the average household with more than $3,100 in added energy costs and resurrect the death tax and the marriage penalty.

If you are as fed up as I am about the excessive, out-of-control taxing-and-spending ways of Congressional Democrats, you can make your voice heard loud and clear this Saturday at the annual Tax Cut Rally in St. Paul. Last year, more than 6,000 Minnesotans expressed their frustrations with Washington’s runaway spending train.

‘Architect of Failed Stimulus’ Sees Writing on the Wall

Earlier this week in Washington, Democrat Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee David Obey (Wis.) announced he will not seek re-election. Obey, who has been in Congress since 1969, was the architect of the President’s $862 billion stimulus bill that failed to create jobs or spur economic recovery. Despite the massive spending bill orchestrated by Obey that further inflated our national debt, unemployment still hovers near 10 percent.

“This is more than a symbolic retirement – the Architect of the Failed Stimulus has decided he cannot justify his votes in Congress to a district that has elected him for over 40 years.” – Politico, May 5, 2010

STP Weekly Waste Watch: $750,000 for a Fish Ladder

Each week the Weekly Waste Watch page on the Stop the Pork website identifies a new example of how Washington is wasting your hard-earned money. This week’s example is in Easthampton, Mass., where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is spending $750,000 to build a “denil fishway.” The fishway, also known as a “fish ladder,” is 150 feet long and will allow various fish species to reconnect to traditional breeding grounds upstream on the Mahan River. The project had been in the planning stages for 10 years but lacked funding, until now.

To summarize: There hasn’t been enough money to fund this project during good economic years, but now, during the worst recession in decades, with unemployment topping 9 percent and the deficit exceeding $1 trillion, it is apparently  a priority.

Keeping in Contact with You

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Sincerely,

John Kline

This email was sent  john@klineforcongress.com
Kline for Congress | 101 W Burnsville Pkwy, Suite 104 | Burnsville | MN | 55337