Kline: There was one response and that was Paul Ryan's

Posted at 8:09 AM on January 26, 2011 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MPR in D.C., U.S. House, U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON - GOP Rep. John Kline says he didn't see GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's rebuttal to President Obama's speech last night but downplayed its significance. Bachmann upstaged the GOP response of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.

Kline, a member of the House GOP leadership team, told MPR's Cathy Wurzer that the GOP response came from Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.

"The Republican response was Paul Ryan," Kline said. "I thought he did a fantastic job.

Mrs. Bachmann, I do understand she had a response, and well probably 4 or 500 of us have responses. I'm talking to you about it right now. I went back to my office after the State of the Union and did interviews last night.

Hers has gotten a lot of attention. I understand that but there was one response. That was Paul Ryan's and I thought he did just a fantastic job of laying out the situation that we're in."

Kline was careful to mention that he doesn't know if there is a split between GOP leadership and members of the Tea Party caucus.

On the issues, Kline repeated his concerns over reauthorizing the federal Race to the Top funding and his plans as chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee.

"I'm supportive of reducing the federal presence from the federal government and fixing No Child Left Behind," Kline said.

It appears that the Obama Administration is trying to work with Kline on education issues. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visited Kline's district last week.

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Comments (3)

Congressmen Kline, I am appalled!
I can not fathom how you can do the evil thing of repealing our health care law.
It is good for all us american citizens, but you don’t want us to have its benefit.
If you really think this bill is bad then you first should come up with your improved version and just replaced it.
That is your job, to improve things, not to do your coup-out “Nay” voting and to tear things down. America was made great by going forward with succeeding steps of improvements. Lazy cheap antagonists are pulling us backward. No wonder the rest of the world is getting ahead while our own lives are becoming worse.
Besides, you are supposed to reduce our unemployment, but how does killing the health care bill make jobs for us?
Again, you demonstrated that you are incapable of doing anything positive and are a waste of the tax money spent on you.
You have no problem squandering millions of our taxes in Israel, Pakistan or Iraq or to incur the trillion-dollar deficit, but you begrudge the constituents, who elected you and are paying for your keep, the benefit of health care legislation.
If you had any principles you would cancel your own privileged congressional health insurance and pension, which is free to you because it’s paid with our taxes, and join us in Social Security, Medicare and the same health care you are sticking us with.
You just don’t want to listen! Surveys show that 50% of the people are against the present bill but half of those people don’t like it because they expected more which your meddling prevented.
You are just ignoring facts and are mindlessly promoting spin and propaganda, augmented with scare tactics and lies.
The paper you call the report of your party is a derogatory on purpose inflammatory indoctrination in the stile of fascism. It reeks of racism and extremist right wing bias designed to inflame simple folks and to case the violence we are subjected to.
On the tittle page of this official republican document with your name on it is a wire fence with chain and lock suggesting a prison. The title of this paper uses a racial slur! – Unbelievable you have the gall.
Then if someone goes bunker and kills like we have seen many times in the past years since you started your treasonous campaign you say: “ not us, - we can’t be blamed for the acts of simple or sick people.”
Remember; by comparison President Bush caused the trillion-dollar deficit and destroyed the whole country of Iraq, but only a shoe was hurled at him.
Shame on you! How can you even sleep? We are holding you responsible for ruining the world and for inciting all this violence and deviseness.

Posted by Joe Niedermayr | January 26, 2011 2:43 PM

Mr. Niedermayr,

You wrote : If you had any principles you would cancel your own privileged congressional health insurance and pension, which is free to you because it’s paid with our taxes, and join us in Social Security, Medicare and the same health care you are sticking us with.

You may want to check into this further.
Since 1984 Members of Congress have been required to pay into Social Security system … their deductions would be the same as anyone else’s at that salary level … their pay is $174,000 but the FICA is only taxed on the first $106,800 …

Do you know if Mr. Kline participates in any health insurance program ? Just because it is available, does not mean that he has to opt-in to a Federal program. Members are eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and may select from among several health benefit plans. Participation is on a voluntary, contributory basis. Some Members of Congress stay on their spouse’s plans … or if have a business, they may stay on that plan … for example, since Vicki Kline is part owner of Sheldon Family Farm (read here about the Ag Subsidies that the business receives), it is possible that the farm has a healthcare program for the owners. Also, as a veteran, the TRICARE program is available … read here how Congress has allowed the premium of $460 per year to remain constant since 1995 … or he could just use the Office of the Attending Physician, which he pays $503 per year to have all the medical tests he wants (read about that program here.) Oh, and that premium has changed in a long time either.

Posted by Minnesota Central | January 27, 2011 10:21 AM

Just curious, did anyone ask if Mr. Kline attended the State of the Union in the House Chambers ? Some members watched from their offices … and reading Mr. Kline’s words he says “I went back to my office” but he does not state where he was before ?

As I recall, Mr. Kline did not attended President Obama’s Inauguration … instead staying in his office.

Second question, did Mr. Kline invite anyone to join him (either a formal guest … or even a Democrat to sit beside) ? Personally, I think State Senator Julie Rosen deserves a lot of credit for accepting Congressman Tim Walz’s invitation … considering how the MN-GOP reacted to the Gas Tax override and Scott Newman’s office declining to meet with constituent groups that did not support him, who knows what games they may play.

Posted by MinnesotaCentral | January 27, 2011 10:30 AM

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