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About John Kline
From the day he was sworn in to Congress, John Kline has been a conservative voice for the men and women of Minnesota’s 2nd district. John has established a record of representing the views and values of Minnesotans while fighting to reduce the size and scope of government. A true defender of freedom and liberty, John served our country for 25 years in the United States Marine Corps where he retired at the rank of colonel. John and his wife, Vicky, live in Lakeville, Minnesota. He is especially proud of his two children and four grandchildren.
John has been representing the best interests of Minnesotans by:
• Pushing for historic spending cuts by introducing a “Cut, Cap, and Balance” plan that would institute historic spending cuts now; implement statutory caps on how much the federal government can spend going forward; and send to the states a Constitutional balanced budget amendment that will limit federal spending and require Washington to live within its means.
• Continuing the fight for a full repeal of ObamaCare and its unconstitutional mandate that is smothering American businesses and patients.
• Fighting to reduce the size and scope of the government and rooting out bureaucratic waste while advocating for a full audit of the Federal Reserve.
• Keeping our promises to our veterans and their families by championing Yellow Ribbon legislation that helped establish the “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” reintegration program nationwide.
• Standing up to Big Labor: When Obama’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) told Boeing it couldn’t open a plant in South Carolina, John championed legislation to stop government intrusion and prevent the NLRB from dictating where private businesses can create jobs.
• Protecting the unborn and promoting the respect for life; John proudly holds a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee.
• Putting an end to business as usual by refusing to waste taxpayer money on pork projects and successfully leading the charge to eliminate earmarks in Washington.
• Strongly supporting the Constitutional right of individuals to keep and bear arms. John is a life member of the NRA which annually issues him the highest marks for his legislative efforts to protect and preserve Second Amendment rights.
• Representing our conservative values in Congress; the American Conservative Union awarded John with a 100 percent rating in 2009 and a 96 percent rating in 2010.
• Advocating for stronger border security and ensuring those who enter our country illegally do not get rewarded for breaking the law.
During his successful career in the Marines, John distinguished himself as a helicopter pilot and earned the responsibility of flying Marine One, the President’s personal helicopter. John was also hand-picked to serve as a personal military aide to President Jimmy Carter, and subsequently to President Ronald Reagan. John’s responsibilities during this period included carrying the nuclear “football” – the briefcase containing the nuclear war plans and strike options in case of a national emergency. John also commanded all Marine aviation forces in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.
Among his many medals and awards are four Legion of Merit Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, a Naval Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, and the Defense Superior Service Award.
From the day he was sworn in to Congress, John Kline has been an independent voice for the people of Minnesota’s Second District. Throughout the past seven years, he has established a record of representing the views and values of Minnesotans while challenging Washington to bring about real change.
In 2009, John Kline was chosen as the lead Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee, which is responsible for the issues that affect Minnesotans from cradle to grave. From early childhood education to retirement security, this leadership role enables John Kline to amplify the voices of Minnesota students, parents, workers and employers in Congress. Among his legislative priorities is ensuring government keeps its promise to fully fund special education and protecting workers’ right to a secret ballot election when deciding to form a union.
As a retired Marine and member of the House Armed Services Committee, John is committed to fighting for the benefits and resources our troops and our nation’s veterans deserve. He saw his very first bill, the H.E.R.O.E.S. bill, signed into law, ensuring U.S. military reservists called to active duty are not forced to make payments on federal student loans while they serve overseas. More recently, he championed legislation making Minnesota’s “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” reintegration program available to soldiers and families across the country.
Refusing to embrace the politics of the past, John continues to challenge the status quo. In an effort to clean up a wasteful Washington spending system abused by Democrats and Republicans, John has led the charge for comprehensive earmark reform. In January of 2007, John declared his independence from pork projects by refusing to participate in the broken process and pushing for a system that establishes spending priorities based on a project’s merit. John’s position against pork has earned national support.
While serving in Congress, John has been recognized by many for his leadership on a variety of issues important to Minnesotans. John’s committed pursuit of economic growth, job creation, and tax relief have earned him the “Hero of the Taxpayer,” “Small Business Advocate,” and “Spirit of Enterprise” Awards. John also has been honored by the Minnesota TRiO Association for his unwavering support of low-income, first generation, and disabled students and named a “Star of Education” by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. His pro-family voting record also earned the “True Blue Award” from the Family Research Council.
John’s experience includes more than 30 years of public service in the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. House of Representatives. During his successful career in the Marines, John served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, commanded all Marine aviation forces in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, worked as Program Development Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps, and served as a military aide to Presidents Carter and Reagan. His responsibilities during this time included carrying the “nuclear” football – the package containing the nuclear launch codes and advising the President and our country’s senior civilian and military leadership.
Among his many medals and awards are four Legion of Merit Medals, the Defense Superior Service Award, a Meritorious Service Medal, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and a Naval Commendation Medal. He retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Colonel.
John and his wife, Vicky, live in Lakeville, Minnesota. He is especially proud of his son – a father of two who is currently serving as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and has returned successfully from two tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq – and his daughter – a freelance author, mother of two, and creator of the popular PBandJAHM e-zine, which offers community and advice for stay at home mothers across the country.
