John Kline

John Paul Kline has been a Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives, representing the 2nd District of Minnesota since 2003.

Haditha comments
On August 14, 2006, Kline apologized to the Marines under investigation in the killings of two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Kline had said publicly that U.S. Marines were involved in the Haditha shooting and cover-up of the facts. He then emphasized that these comments were taken out of context and that he did not mean to imply the Marines were guilty of wrongdoing. Kline issued the apology as part of an agreement with lawyers for Marine Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, who was threatening to sue, as he did to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for his comments on the matter.

"I am, of course, very concerned regarding any allegations surrounding misconduct by U.S. troops in Iraq…Such allegations must be taken seriously, but we should never rush to judgment before all the facts are known and the military criminal justice process is completed," Kline said as part of his apology. 

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

Contributions from DeLay's ARMPAC
In his campaigns, Kline received $30,000 in contributions from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's political action committee ARMPAC. Following DeLay's indictment on charges of money laundering, Democrats have criticized Kline for failing to return DeLay's contributions or to donate them to charity. 

Accuses opponent of infiltrating campaign
On August 10, 2006, Kline accused a staffer for his Democratic opponent for reelection, Coleen Rowley, of trying to make an illegal campaign contribution to his campaign in order to infiltrate his mailing list.

The staffer, David Bailey, is now Rowley's director of earned news media. At the time of the alleged incident, Bailey served as a Rowley volunteer and posted an Internet blog critical of Kline. According to a spokesman for the Rowley campaign, Bailey was not an official staffer on the campaign at the time.

Bailey admitted to trying to make a campaign contribution in order to get on Kline's mailing list, but claimed to do so as a constituent and political activist trying to learn about Kline's stands on issues. In his defense, he also noted that he provided his real e-mail address and home address, indicating that he was not engaging in intentionally secretive behavior. 

Background and education
Kline was born September 6, 1947 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Rice University (1969) and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1988).

Prior to his election to Congress, Kline was a 25-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he was a senior military advisor to Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and was responsible for carrying the President's launch codes used for nuclear attack, known as the "nuclear football".

Congressional career
In 2002, Kline defeated the Democratic Farm Labor (DFL) incumbent, Bill Luther. In 2004, he defeated Burnsville City Councilwoman Teresa Daly, also a Democrat, to win a second term.

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Coleen Rowley to face Kline in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Kline retained his seat.

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

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Military Personnel
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
 * House Committee on Education and Labor
 * Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
 * Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
 * House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

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

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * House Defense Review Threat Panel
 * Subcommittee on Personnel
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
 * House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 * Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations
 * Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

More Background Data

 * 2006 Minnesota CD 2 Candidate List from VIS

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * John Kline profile, NNDB
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * "Daly hoping for an upset: GOP believes Kline safe after first term", Pioneer Press (inactive link), October 19, 2004.
 * "US Marine accused in Haditha may expand libel suit," Reuters, August 4, 2006. re Rep. John Murtha
 * "Rep. Kline claims challenger Rowley tried to infiltrate his campaign," Associated Press (delivered by USA Today,) August 10, 2006.
 * Josh White, "Lawmaker Apologizes To Marines For Remarks," Washington Post, August 15, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Inside Minnesota Politics
 * Minnesota Campaign Report
 * Centrisity
 * MN Publius.com