Steve King

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Steve King (1949-) is a Republican Representative for the 5th Congressional District of Iowa, where he ran a construction business for 28 years, passing it to his son. He then spent six years in the Iowa State Senate.

He is recognized as one of the strongest conservatives in Congress, allied with the Tea Party movement and a close ally of Rep. Michele Bachmann He appeared with her in the November 2009 "Kill the Bill" rally against H.R. 3962, the Democratic health reform bill. Opposing liberalism is one of his priorities; he said [1] With respect to Democrats, he said they are too focused on minorities, "Pretty soon, white men are going to notice they are the ones being excluded," [2] and "radical Islamists and their supporters will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11" if Barack Obama wins the presidency.[3]

Positions

Spending

He was one of only 11 congressmen to vote against a $52 billion post-Hurricane Katrina aid package.

Taxation

Rep. King is a strong advocate of tax cuts, especially the estate tax.

Foreign policy

In March 2009, he introduced a resolution, with other House Republicans, agreed to be symbolic, approving of the results of the Surge of the Iraq War. [4] He "called it less of a criticism of Mr. Obama and more of an encouragement that he 'expand on the victory rather than walk away...Our military has achieved a definable victory, and I want to tell them that America appreciates them...They've left a legacy and it's up to the new leadership to preserve and enhance the victory they've achieved.'"

Health care reform

In order to vote "no" against the House health reform bill, he did not attend his son's wedding.

When asked how many people residing in his district were uninsured, King did not answer the question, but responded that the people of the 5th district “want freedom.”[5]

Immigration

He may be best known for supporting a strong anti-immigration position, opposing the George W. Bush Administration amnesty plan. "Along the nation's southern border, King has pushed for the construction of a fortified-concrete wall topped with electrific barbed-wire that he personally designed; in 2007, King displayed a model of his design on the House floor and suggested that his construction company could help build the fence."[1]

After the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he sent a message to ABC News"Illegal immigrants from Haiti have no reason to fear deportation, but if they are deported, Haiti is in great need of relief workers, and many of them could be a big help to their fellow Haitians." [6]

Agriculture

The Fifth District ranks first in the nation for hogs and pigs and is one of the most productive areas in the nation for renewable fuels. King’s very first bill in Congress was an expansion of a tax credit to small ethanol and biodiesel producers.

Family values

He opposes same-sex marriage and supports a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman. Rep. King organized 52 other Republicans to send a letter to the President, asking for the firing of Kevin Jennings, the openly gay Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, for "pushing a pro-homosexual agenda" and saying "It is clear that Mr. Jennings lacks the appropriate qualifications and ethical standards to serve in this capacity."[7]

Committees

Caucuses and groups

Voting record

Organization Rating Source
AFL-CIO 0%
American Civil Liberties Union 18%
American Conservative Union 96%
American Public Health Association 11%
Americans for Democratic Action 5%
Americans United for Separation of Church and State 0%
Cato Institute
Christian Coalition 100%
Human Rights Campaign 0%
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 11%
NARAL 0%
National Rifle Association A
National Right to Life Committee 100%
National Taxpayers Union 64%
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 94%

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Steve King, whorunsgov.com, a Washington Post company
  2. Gebe Martinez (4 August 2009), "Why is the GOP slighting Hispanics?", Politico
  3. Russ Mitchell (8 March 2008), "King announced bid for fourth term", The Daily Reporter
  4. Kara Rowland (4 March 2009), "GOP resolution to tout Iraq surge", Washington Times
  5. Lynda Waddington (5 November 2009), "Steve King’s response to question on uninsured Americans: People ‘want freedom’", Iowa Independent
  6. Devin Dwyer and Teddy Davis (15 January 2010), "Obama Grants Haitians Illegally in U.S. 'Protected Status' for 18 Months; Critics Say it is a Slippery Slope to Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants", ABC News
  7. Michael O'Brien (15 October 2009), "53 Republicans demand firing of 'safe schools czar' Kevin Jennings", The Hill