Lynn Jenkins
Lynn Jenkins | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 2nd district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Nancy Boyda |
37th Kansas State Treasurer | |
In office January 03, 2003 – November 20, 2008 | |
Preceded by | Tim Shallenburger |
Succeeded by | Dennis McKinney |
Member of the Kansas Senate from the 20th District | |
In office 2000–2002 | |
Preceded by | Alicia Salisbury[1] |
Succeeded by | Vicki Schmidt[2] |
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 52nd District[3] | |
In office 1998–2000 | |
Preceded by | Tom Bradley [4] |
Succeeded by | Lana Gordon[5] |
Personal details | |
Born | Holton, Kansas | June 10, 1963
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Scott Jenkins, (1984-2009; divorced) |
Children | Hayley and Hayden |
Residence | Topeka, Kansas |
Alma mater | Kansas State University and Weber State College |
Occupation | Certified Public Accountant |
Website | www.lynnjenkins.com www.lynnjenkins.house.gov |
Lynn Jenkins (born June 10, 1963) is the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2009. She is a member of the Republican Party. As of the 112th Congress, she is the senior member of Kansas' House delegation.
She previously served as Kansas State Treasurer from 2002–2008, and in the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate, from 1999 to 2002.[6][7]
Early life
Jenkins was born in Holton, Kansas, and is a sixth-generation Kansan. She was raised on a dairy farm in Holton, where she attended high school. Later she graduated from Kansas State University and Weber State College with an accounting major and an economics minor. She is a Certified Public Accountant.[8]
Early political career
Jenkins served for two years in the Kansas House of Representatives and for one term in the Kansas State Senate. She was elected State Treasurer in 2002 at which time she began serving in a number of organizations, including as president of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST).
2008 Congressional campaign
On April 4, 2007, Jenkins announced that she had filed papers with the Federal Election Commission as a first step of running for the U.S. House of Representatives for Kansas's 2nd congressional district.[9]
Her opponent in the Republican primary was former U.S. Representative Jim Ryun, who served five terms before being defeated in 2006 by Democrat Nancy Boyda, who ran for reelection. In the campaign between Jenkins and Ryun, he criticized her for having voted for tax increases while a state legislator, and she criticized him for having supported earmarks.[10] Jenkins was seen as more moderate than Ryun and received the support of the Republican Leadership Council. The primary was held on August 5, 2008. Jenkins won the Republican nomination by approximately 1,000 votes.[11] In the general election, Jenkins went on to defeat Boyda by a 51% to 46% margin.
U.S. House of Representatives
Committees
She was assigned to the Committee on Financial Services including the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises and the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
Tenure
Jenkins was sworn in to Congress in January 2009. During her first month in office, she introduced a bill that would "prohibit the use of funds to transfer enemy combatants [in] Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas."
Jenkins favors making the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts permanent. She also favors eliminating the federal estate tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax.[12] She is a current signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[13] Jenkins has been critical of "wasteful pork-barrel projects" and earmarks. Jenkins has labeled Democrats as "tax and spend."[12]
Jenkins has denounced "unchecked illegal immigration" that "is wreaking havoc on our economic, legal, and national security interests."[12] She opposes "amnesty" (allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents) and has called for an increase in border security " through increasing border agents, building additional fences, and utilizing technology."[12]
Jenkins claims that the oil price increases since 2003 are the result of "of excess regulation." She supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and increased offshore drilling.[12]
"The Great White Hope"
At a town hall on August 19, 2009, Jenkins commented on President Obama's policies, saying, "Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope." Jenkins said to the crowd. "I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington." Jenkins then gave the names of several young, white Republicans.[14] "The Great White Hope," a phrase that originated in the early 1900s, was a reference to any boxer whites hoped would finally defeat the World Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson, who was black. Jenkins apologized, clarifying her remarks and saying that "I was explaining that there are some bright lights in the House, and I was unaware of any negative connotation. If I offended somebody, obviously I apologize."[14][15] She had voted for a resolution urging President Obama to pardon black U.S. boxer Jack Johnson who was the target of an early 1900s racist plot and convicted in 1913 of transporting a white woman across state lines for immoral reasons, in July 2009, only one month earlier, that had text that explained it.[16] Jenkins responded by saying she had voted for the resolution without reading it first.[17]
Personal life
Jenkins has two children, Hayley and Hayden, and was married for 25 years. Her husband Scott filed for divorce on Friday, November 7, 2008, shortly after her election to the U.S. House.[18][19]
References
- ^ "1996Kansas Senate Summary". Kssos.org. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ "KS State Senate 20 Race - Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ http://www.kssos.org/elections/98elec/98elm/98gen1.html
- ^ "1996 KansasHouse Summary". Kssos.org. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ http://www.kssos.org/elections/02elec/2002GeneralOfficialResults.pdf
- ^ "2008 Unofficial Kansas Election Results". Secretary of State. State of Kansas. August 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ Klepper, David (November 4, 2008). "Jenkins unseats Boyda; Moore, Roberts re-elected". Kansas City Star.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "The Law and Lawmakers". Canadafreepress.com. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
- ^ Tim Carpenter (2007-04-04). "Treasurer plans run at Boyda in '08". CJOnline. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ "Jenkins foils comeback bid by former Rep. Ryun"
- ^ http://www.kssos.org/ent/kssos_ent.html
- ^ a b c d e "Issues." Lynn Jenkins for U.S. Congress.
- ^ "Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers". Atr.org. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
- ^ a b Carpenter, Tim (26 August 2009 (updated 27 August 2009)). "Jenkins' remark raises eyebrows". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Kornreich, Lauren (28 August 2009). "Congresswoman apologizes for 'great white hope' comment". CNN. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
- ^ Tommie Felts and Vickie Moss, "Jenkins vote may contradict 'great white hope' claim", Ottawa Herald, 28 August 2009. Accessed 16 September 2009.
- ^ Biles, Jan (2009-08-31). "Jenkins didn't read resolution". Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, KS. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
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ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Third Judicial District Court Public Access". Shawneecourt.org. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
- ^ Barbara Hollingsworth, "Lynn Jenkins' husband files for divorce," Topeka Capital-Journal, November 10, 2008.
External links
- Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins official U.S. House site
- Lynn Jenkins for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Profile at SourceWatch
- 1963 births
- Living people
- People from Jackson County, Kansas
- State treasurers of Kansas
- Kansas State Senators
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas
- Members of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Kansas State University alumni
- Weber State University alumni
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Women state legislators in Kansas
- Kansas Republicans
- American Methodists
- American accountants