Jon Kyl

Jon Kyl
United States Senator from Arizona
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1995 Serving with John McCain
Preceded by	Dennis DeConcini
25th United States Senate Minority Whip
Incumbent
Assumed office  December 19, 2007
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Trent Lott
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 4th district
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Eldon D. Rudd
Succeeded by	John Shadegg
Born	April 5, 1942 (1942-04-05) (age 67) Oakland, Nebraska
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Caryll L. Collins
Children	Kristine Kyl Gavin John Kyl
Residence	Phoenix, Arizona
Alma mater	University of Arizona
Occupation	Attorney
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Presbyterian

This page is about the current Arizona Senator; for his father, a U.S. Representative from Iowa, see John Kyl; for a U.S. Representative from Mississippi with a similar name, see John Kyle.

Jon Llewellyn Kyl (born April 5, 1942) is the Republican junior U.S. Senator representing Arizona. He is currently the Senate Minority Whip, tasked with maintaining party discipline. Jon Kyl was born in the Midwest and moved to Arizona for College and Law School. He later got married and launched his career in Arizona. He ran for the House of Representatives in 1986 and then the United States Senate in 1994. He has been in the Senate since 1995.

Background

Kyl was born in Oakland, Nebraska, the son of Arlene Pearl Griffith and John Henry Kyl,^[1] a teacher at Nebraska State Teachers College. His father served as a Congressman from Iowa after moving his family to Bloomfield, Iowa. After graduating from high school in 1960, Kyl attended the University of Arizona where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1964, graduating with honors. Kyl was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He then earned a law degree in 1966 at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, and served as editor-in-chief of the Arizona Law Review. Before entering politics, he was a lawyer and lobbyist with Jennings, Strouss & Salmon in Phoenix, Arizona.^[2]

Kyl is married to Caryll Collins, with whom he has had two children, Kristine Kyl Gavin and John Kyl. He has four grandchildren, Frances Kyl, Christopher Gavin, Jonathan Kyl, and Alicia Gavin.

U.S House of Representatives

Kyl served in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995. He won his initial election in 1986 against Democrat Philip R. Davis, 64.5% to 35.5%; won in 1988 against Gary Sprunk of the Libertarian party, 87% to 13%, and won in 1990 against Democrat Mark Ivey, Jr., 61% to 39%.

U.S. Senate

Elections

1994 and 2000

Kyl was first elected to the Senate in 1994, defeating Samuel G. Coppersmith (D), then a member of the House of Representatives, 54% to 40%. Libertarian Party candidate Scott Grainger got 6% of the votes.

Kyl was reelected in 2000 without major-party opposition, with 79.3% of the vote. Independent William Toel got 7.8%; Green Party candidate Vance Hansen also got 7.8%; and Barry Hess of the Libertarian Party got 5.1%.

2006 re-election campaign

On November 7, 2006, Kyl defeated real estate developer and former Arizona Democratic Party chairman Jim Pederson to win his third term in the Senate.^[3] Kyl won with 53.3% of the vote; Pederson received 43.5%; and Libertarian Party candidate Richard Mack received 3.2%.

The race was one of the most expensive in Arizona history. As of May 7, Kyl's campaign had raised over $9 million, primarily from private donations and large fundraising dinners. Pederson's campaign raised over $5 million primarily through a dinner event with former President Bill Clinton and a $2 million donation from Pederson himself.

A major issue in the campaign was illegal immigration. While in the Senate, Kyl cosponsored legislation that would give illegal immigrants up to five years to leave the country. Once there, they could apply for permanent residence or be guest workers.^[4] Since fellow Arizona Senator John McCain opposed this legislation, Pederson tried to use the issue as a way of allying with McCain and dividing the Republicans in Arizona.^[5] Controversy also arose when each candidate accused the other of supporting the amnesty provisions in a 1986 immigration bill, although both candidates deny ever supporting those provisions.^[6]

Kyl appeared in the U.S. national news near the end of the campaign as an example of a case where some bloggers were attempting to influence search engine results for searches on Kyl's name, using Google bombs.^[7]

Leadership positions

Kyl has been elected by his fellow Senate Republicans to a succession of leadership posts: Policy Committee chairman (2003–2007), Conference chairman (2007), and most recently (in December 2007), Senate Minority Whip.^[8] Kyl's ascension to Minority Whip makes him the first Arizonan to hold such an influential Senate leadership post since Democrat Ernest W. McFarland served as Senate Majority Leader from 1951 to 1953. Kyl is the only Arizona Republican to hold such a powerful leadership position.

Political positions and actions

Kyl is considered to be a staunch conservative,^[9] and was ranked by National Journal as the fourth-most conservative United States Senator in their March 2007 conservative/liberal rankings.^[10]

Senator Kyl was one of the original sponsors, along with Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, of an effort to amend the United States Constitution to protect victims' rights in trial. Though the constitutional amendment ultimately failed, Senators Kyl and Feinstein authored the 2004 Crime Victims' Rights Act which listed a victims' bill of rights and provided mandamus relief in appellate court for any victim denied those rights.^[11] The act also offered sanctions against government officials who wantonly and willfully refused to comply with the Crime Victims' Rights Act. Senators Kyl and Feinstein described their collaboration as a high point of bipartisan collaboration in their careers. In front of the Senate, Senator Kyl said "This legislation would not be before us today without Senator Feinstein. That is simply a fact. For all of the hard work we have put in with her cooperation and her commitment to this, I thank Senator Feinstein deeply. She knows that bond of trust will continue to exist between us."^[12] Senator Kyl continued his support for victims rights, proposing, on June 29, 2007, a bill revising the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to enhance procedures for victims, guaranteeing a right to be free of delay and procedures to protect victim privacy.^[13]

In February 2006, Kyl joined Senator Lindsey Graham in filing an amicus brief in the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case. The brief presented to the Supreme Court of the United States an "extensive colloquy" added to the Congressional record. It was not, however, included in the December 21st debate as evidence that "Congress was aware" that the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Court of jurisdiction to hear "pending cases, including this case" brought by the Guantanamo detainees.^[14]

In April 2006, Kyl was selected by Time Magazine as one of "America's 10 Best Senators"; the magazine cited his successful behind-the-scene efforts as head of the Republican policy committee.^[15]

In September 2006, working with former Congressman Jim Leach, Jon Kyl was a major Senate supporter of Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The Act was passed at midnight the day Congress adjourned before the 2006 elections. Prior to it being added to the bill, the gambling provisions had not been debated by any Congressional committee.^[16]

In May 2007, Kyl vowed to block passage of a bill pertaining to changes in the Freedom of Information Act FOIA, defending the Gonzales Justice Department's claim that the bill "could force them to reveal sensitive information."^[17] At this time the Justice Department was trying to conceal evidence of inappropriate political motives in the hiring of some of the nations most empowered lawyers.^[18] Documents have shown these firings were motivated by Karl Rove and other members of the Bush administration.^[19]

In the May 2007 re-election campaign Kyl was accused by fellow Republicans of supporting "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.^[20]

In February 2009 Kyl invited the Dutch right wing parliamentarian Geert Wilders to show his anti-Islam film Fitna in the Capitol building in Washington.^[21]

In April 2009, Kyl opposed the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services because of the Obama administration's support for research on the comparative effectiveness of various disease treatments^[22].

In September 2009 Kyl sponsored an amendment to strike language requiring health insurance providers to cover maternity care from a larger healthcare bill. "I don't need maternity care," said Kyl, "So requiring that on my insurance policy is something that I don't need and will make the policy more expensive." ^[23]

Committee assignments

• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law
  • Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship
• Committee on Finance
  • Subcommittee on Health Care
  • Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
  • Subcommittee on Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-Term Growth (Ranking Member)

See also

• Matt Latimer, staffer for Kyl 2001-2004

References

External links

• United States Senator Jon Kyl, U.S. Senate site
• Jon Kyl for US Senate 2006, Campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia

v • d • e United States Senators from Arizona Class 1: Ashurst • McFarland • Goldwater • Fannin • DeConcini • Kyl Class 3: Smith • Cameron • Hayden • Goldwater • McCain

v • d • e United States Senate Minority Whips Wadsworth • Curtis • Gerry • Sheppard • Hebert • Wherry • Lucas • Saltonstall • Clements • Saltonstall • Dirksen • Kuchel • Scott • Griffin • Stevens • Cranston • Simpson • Ford • Reid • Nickles • Reid • Nickles • Reid • Durbin • Lott • Kyl