QUERY : How much of the $428,000 that John Kline raised last quarter will be invested in the Second District ?

QUERY #2 : When will Chairman Kline schedule another committee hearing on any proposed legislation ?

Catharine Richert at MPR reported that John Kline (R-MN-02) “appears to be having a particularly fruitful fundraising year” having raised $428,000 in the second quarter of the year.

The last time Kline made roughly $428,000 in the second quarter was in 2002, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission; typically his 2nd quarter fundraising numbers were lower than that. And Kline has more cash-on-hand than he did in previous years.

The release to the press of the fundraising total may be more for political posturing than to imply that Mr. Kline is concerned about his primary challenger David Gerson or DFL Party-endorsed candidate Mike Obermueller.

Historically, Mr. Kline has raised monies in the past and then contributed to other candidates’ campaigns … and as the Chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, the party counts on him to bring in the bucks.

Although who contributed to the Kline campaign will not be known until the paperwork is filed (due July 15th), from past filings do not be surprised if it doesn’t include a number of first time contributors. For example, Mr. Kline received a contribution from YUM Brands … if you know the brands associated with YUM, you would not describe the contribution as a “fruitful fundraising year” but instead a “Fastfood fundraising year” as YUM is Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell. This is the first time that YUM has donated to Mr. Kline … even though he has been soliciting campaign contributions since 1997.

So don’t be impressed by Mr. Kline’s reported “$1.3 million in the bank” … much of that monies will be redirect to the RCCC and individual campaigns — that’s what the Party expects of its Committee Chairmen.

It’s the politics of money … but the People elect representatives to debate and enact necessary legislation.

In that regard, Chairman Kline has been an abject failure. His NoChildLeftBehind education reform legislation has languished … Chairman Kline stated in May, 2011 :
Clearly, the problem isn’t how much money we spend on education, but how we’re spending it—and right now, far too many taxpayer dollars are dedicated to ineffective, redundant K–12 programs. Rep. Hunter’s legislation will reduce the federal role in education and help set the stage for increased flexibility on the state and local level.

Well, Representative Hunter’s legislation, H.R. 1891 : Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act, has been waiting since June 14, 2011 for the House to hold a vote … OVER ONE YEAR ! And Chairman Kline described these programs as spending “too many taxpayer dollars are dedicated to ineffective, redundant K–12 programs” !

This week is a typical week for the Education and Workforce Committee … Chairman Kline has scheduled no meetings — nor votes … after holding only two hearings in June and two the month before in May.

Chairman Kline did issue a press release after Friday’s jobs report :

“Another month of sluggish job growth offers more proof that the president’s tax-and-spend policies are destroying opportunities for workers and undermining employers’ ability to hire and invest in their businesses. Last week’s Supreme Court decision served as the latest reminder that the president’s health care law is a massive tax hike that will devastate middle class families and overwhelm small business owners. Instead of acknowledging this law is hurting our economy and working with Congress to craft a better way forward, the president continues to defend a broken law.

“Minnesotans want solutions that will lower health care costs – not a flawed government-run scheme that penalizes the nation’s employers and inhibits job creation. That is exactly why the House of Representatives will vote next week to repeal this unworkable law, and open the door to commonsense reforms that will empower patients to access the care they need from the doctor they want, at a more affordable price. I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve the health care reforms the nation has long deserved.”

Sad to say, but the House will vote on a Healthcare bill that has not been reviewed by his committee as it should have been.

Sad to say, but IF the Committee wanted to assist jobseekers, it would have held a hearing on, and approved, H.R.3425 and its Pathways Back to Work Act of 2011 component as its goal is to “Creates Competitive Grant for Work-Related Training for Unemployed Adults and Youth.”

Sad to say, but 16 Members of the Committee wanted to require the committee to work to protect against the outsourcing of U.S. jobs overseas but Chairman Kline said NO.

Sad to say, but 18 Members of the Committee wanted to hold a hearing regarding oversight on how schools handle reports of child abuse and the adequacy of child abuse reporting, and explore legislative solutions … but Chairman Kline declined.

Chairman Kline is running the Education and Workforce Committee like he is already on his August recess.
Sad.

From Chairman Kline, taxpayers pay for his press releases in which he blames others while failing to acknowledge his own inactions.

But Good News … outside of the prevue Chairman Kline, the House Leadership has agreed to move for a vote on H.R. 4155 – Veteran Skills to Jobs Act which Representative Tim Walz (D-MN-01) has been fighting for.

Well, it appears that Minnesota has at least one Congressman actually focused on getting the country moving.