Letter: Voters misled on Kline’s record

To the Editor:

Rep. John Kline and his legislative director, Yelena Vaynberg, need to look at the definitions “support” and “priority.” Based on Vaynberg’s letter (R-E, June 11), it appears they’re confused.

Saying Kline considers veterans’ issues a priority is outrageous. He had

0 percent ratings from Disabled American Veterans in 2004 and 2005.

In February, he suggested post-traumatic stress disorder among returning Iraq veterans is being overblown. He’s done nothing to ensure that our returning veterans don’t live in squalor at Walter Reed and Fort Bragg.

It’s technically true that he co-sponsored the new GI Bill. Perhaps he can explain why he then voted against it.

Kline’s “consistent support” of S-CHIP, a program that provides health care to poor children, included voting against it five times in one year.

Kline’s opposition to bringing federal dollars back to Minnesota is political posturing. When the Republicans controlled Congress, he bragged about money he brought back. He even voted for the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.”

Now that Democrats are in control, he’s taking his ball and going home.

I don’t think the people of Minnesota consider ensuring the safety of bridges like those in Hastings and Winona to be wasteful pork-barrel spending.

All of this has occurred while Kline has helped raise gas prices by supporting oil monopolies and making sure oil companies — earning record profits —continue to get our hard-earned tax dollars as subsidies.

Thankfully, the 2nd District will have a choice in November.

Re-elect Kline, who will continue the policies of George W. Bush and play politics at the expense of his constituents, or elect Steve Sarvi, a patriot who fought in Iraq with strength and dedication who will work to improve the lives of everyone in our district, in Minnesota, and in our country.

Katy Beckman

Red Wing

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