Jon Kyl

Jon Llewellyn Kyl, a Republican, has represented Arizona in the United States Senate since 1994. He is the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference for the 110th Congress.

Iran
On September 20, 2007, Sens. Joe Lieberman, Jon Kyl, Norman Coleman, and Lindsey Graham filed a "Sense of the Senate" resolution as Amendment No. 3017 to the FY 2008 Defense Authorization bill "that the U.S. should 'combat, contain, and roll back' Iran’s 'violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq.' It counsels doing so 'through the prudent and calibrated use of all instruments of [U.S. power], including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military instruments.' It also urges the administration to designate the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization."

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Fake conversation included in brief to Supreme Court
In February 2006, Kyl and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) cited a conversation regarding the Detainee Treatment Act in a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. The conversation, however, had never actually taken place. Rather, it was inserted into the official Congressional Record after the debate had concluded. In July 2006, the Supreme Court noted the unspoken conversation in it’s decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Justice John Paul Stevens remarked, "Those statements appear to have been inserted in the Congressional Record after the Senate debate." On July 6, 2006, Kyl defended his actions, arguing that legislators frequently insert material into the record following a debate. 

Anonymous holds
On May 24, 2007, an anonymous hold was placed on the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National (OPEN) Government Act of 2007 (S.849), a bill to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, when it was sent to the floor for a vote. On May 31, 2007, Sen. Kyl "revealed his identity [as the Senator who placed the hold]... days after the bill's backers launched an e-mail and telephone campaign, urging supporters to help in 'smoking out Senator Secrecy.' They pointed out the irony that an open government bill was being blocked using a rule that allowed secrecy." In a statement, Kyl said that "the Justice Department has 'uncharacteristically strong' objections to the bill" and that he would "block a vote until both sides can work out the differences." Kyl faced much criticism for blocking the government transparency bill.

When an anonymous hold was placed on the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, which would require senators to file their campaign finance reports electronically to the Federal Election Commission, Sen. Kyl was one of the two final Senators who did not confirm whether they were responsible for the objection. On April 23, Kyl did eventually issue his denial.

Bio
Kyl was born April 25, 1942, Oakland, Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Arizona with honors. Before entering politics, he was a lawyer and lobbyist with Jennings, Strouss & Salmon in Phoenix. His father, also named John Kyl, was a U.S. Representative for Iowa.

Kyl served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987-1995 and was first elected to the Senate in 1994. He faced a strong challenge from Samuel G. Coppersmith (D), then an Arizona member of the House of Representatives. Kyl replaced Democrat Dennis DeConcini in the Senate after DeConcini retired following his implication in the Keating Five financial scandal.

In 2000, he ran without opposition.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Jim Pederson to face Kyl in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  Kyl retained his seat.

Republican leadership position
In the 109th Congress, Kyl served as Republican Policy Committee chairman. In the 110th Congress, Kyl moved up to the position of Republican Conference chairman. The position had been held previously by Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), who was defeated in his 2006 bid for reelection.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * Senate Committee on Finance
 * Senate Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law
 * Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Senate Committee on Finance
 * Subcommittee on Health Care
 * Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy
 * Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight - Chair
 * Senate Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts
 * Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs
 * Subcommittee on Immigration Border Security and Citizenship
 * Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
 * Subcommittee on Technology Terrorism and Homeland Security - Chair

More Background data

 * See how you compare to Jon Kyl

Resources

 * Official Website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * John W. Dean, "Senators Kyl and Graham's Hamdan v. Rumsfeld Scam: The Deceptive Amicus Brief They Filed in the Guantanamo Detainee Case," FindLaw's Writ, July 5, 2006.
 * Paul Giblin, "Kyl defends bogus brief," East Valley Tribune, July 7, 2006.
 * Billy House, "GOP's Kyl may seek whip job. Senate post is second only to majority leader," The Arizona Republic, August 12, 2006.
 * Daphne Retter, "Sen. Lott Returns to GOP Leadership with One-Vote Victory," CQPolitics, November 15, 2006.
 * standingup, "DOJ - All we really need...Senator Kyl?" ePluribus Media, March 13, 2007. re Bush administration U.S. attorney firings controversy

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * AZ Congress Watch.
 * Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion
 * Daniel's News and Views
 * Western Democrat
 * Blog for Arizona