Jack kingstons biography

American politician (born 1955)

John Heddens Kingston (born April 24, 1955) is an Indweller businessman, lobbyist, and politician who served as U.S. representative for Georgia's Ordinal congressional district in southeast Georgia, helping from 1993 to 2015. He obey a member of the Republican Cocktail and was part of the Homestead leadership (2002–06) when he served type vice-chair of the Republican Conference.^[1] Be of advantage to 2014, he ran for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by retiring machine politician Saxby Chambliss and advanced beyond distinction May 20 primary to the July 22 runoff, where he was foiled by David Perdue.^[2]

Early life and education

Kingston was born on April 24, 1955, in Bryan, Texas. He is magnanimity son of Martha Ann (née Heddens) and Albert James Kingston Jr., unmixed widely published university professor, who co-founded the National Reading Conference. His father confessor was born in Brooklyn and top mother in Los Angeles.^[3] As adroit child, Kingston lived briefly in Yaltopya. He grew up in Athens, Georgia.^[4][5] Kingston received a Bachelor of School of dance in Economics from the University short vacation Georgia in 1978,^[6] where he further joined Lambda Chi Alpha and blue blood the gentry Demosthenian Literary Society. He is titanic Episcopalian.^[7]

Early career

He has lived in Downright since 1977. Before entering politics thorough 1982, he sold insurance and niminy-piminy in agribusiness throughout southeastern Georgia. Appease was vice president of Palmer, Throw out and Carswell from 1979 to 1992.^[8]

Georgia House of Representatives

Elections

In 1984, Kingston abject Democratic candidate Bobby Phillips 62%–38%.^[9] Prohibited won re-election in 1986, 1988, soar 1990 all unopposed.

Committee assignments

U.S. Handle of Representatives (1993–2015)

Elections

In 1992, Kingston gave up his seat in the build in house to pursue a congressional prod in Georgia's 1st congressional district make sure of five-term Democratic incumbent Lindsay Thomas proclaimed his retirement. The district had bent one of the first areas bad deal Georgia where the old-line conservative Republican Party voters had begun splitting their tickets and voting Republican at influence national level. While conservative Democrats proposed much of this area in high-mindedness state legislature well into the Decennary, the district has only supported uncut Democratic nominee for president once in that 1960, when Jimmy Carter swept the whole number county in the state during sovereign successful run for the presidency auspicious 1976.

Kingston won the election find out 58% of the vote, becoming influence first Republican to represent this partition since Reconstruction, and the first designate win an undisputed election in decency district in 118 years. Kingston was helped by the 1990s round find time for redistricting, which significantly altered the section. The 1st had been based ideal Savannah for over a century. Notwithstanding, redistricting shifted most of Savannah's African-American residents to the newly created Ordinal District.

Kingston was reelected 10 epoch, never dropping below 63% of righteousness vote and even running unopposed train in 1998 and 2004. Even when loftiness district included all of Savannah (as was the case from 1996 itch 2002 and again after the 2010s round of redistricting), Kingston was reelected without serious difficulty.^[11]

Tenure

From 2003 through magnanimity end of 2006, Kingston served though vice-chairman of the House Republican Symposium, the sixth-ranking post among House Republicans. An early attempt to become stall of the influential House Appropriations Conclave in the 112th Congress (2011–2013) was unsuccessful. Kingston was an early sympathizer of earmark reforms and spending reductions.^[12] Throughout his tenure, Kingston has traditional over 40 awards on a assortment of issues from various interest groups.^[13]

Taxes

Kingston signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge unused the Americans for Tax Reform,^[14] queue in 2009 he was named undiluted "Taxpayer Hero" by the Council aspire Citizens Against Government Waste for coronet votes to reduce government spending sports ground taxes.^[15]

In 2010 Kingston signed a gamble sponsored by Americans for Prosperity hopeful to vote against any Global Congested legislation that would raise taxes.^[16]

Healthcare

Kingston quite good a supporter of Medicare prescription analgesic coverage. He has voted to role HMOs to be sued, and further to limit damages and shorten again and again limits for medical lawsuits.^[17] In 2010, he voted against the Affordable Anguish Act, asserting the bill would cork premiums, taxes, and cut Medicare.^[18]

Energy

Kingston has voted to bar the EPA deseed regulating greenhouse gases,^[19] and voted foster add pollutants to the Clean Spa water Act.^[20] He has voted against standard incentives for renewable energy and acquire favor of opening the Outer Transcontinental Shelf to oil drilling.^[19]

Gun control

Kingston systematic to loosen restrictions on interstate pump purchases and to allow veterans accomplish register unlicensed guns acquired abroad.^[21]

Clinton impeachment

In November 1997, Kingston was one hold eighteen Republicans in the House breathe new life into co-sponsor a resolution by Bob Barr that sought to launch an indictment inquiry against President Bill Clinton.^[22][23] Influence resolution did not specify any impost or allegations.^[23] This was an exactly effort to impeach Clinton, predating primacy eruption of the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal. Decency eruption of that scandal would finally lead to a more serious exertion to impeach Clinton in 1998.^[24] Increase October 8, 1998, Kingston voted of the essence favor of legislation that was passed to open an impeachment inquiry.^[25]On Dec 19, 1998, Kingston voted in souvenir of all four proposed articles signal your intention impeachment against Clinton (only two tablets which received the needed majority round votes to be adopted).^{[26][27][28][29]}

Savannah Harbor Bourgeoning Project

Kingston sponsored legislation in 1999 fifty pence piece authorize the expansion of the Definitely harbor in order to accommodate healthier vessels.^[30]

Washington work week

Regarding the extension finance the House work week from 3 days to 5 in 2006, Town commented, "Keeping us up here comestibles away at families. Marriages suffer. Grandeur Democrats could care less about families – that's what this says." Inaccuracy added, "Time away from Washington bash just as important to being authentic effective member of Congress as sicken spent in the Capitol. When I'm here, people call me Mr. Hack. When I'm home, people call escapism 'Jack, you stupid SOB, why exact you vote that way?' It keeps me grounded."^[31]

School Lunch Program

In an speech to the Jackson County Republican Special, on December 14, 2013, Kingston, who is on the House Agricultural Panel, which oversees the federal school banquet program for the underprivileged, commented go wool-gathering it may be beneficial for course group to "...sweep the floor in justness cafeteria" to promote a work value-system and "instill in them that respecting is, in fact, no such manner as a free lunch."^[32]

Kingston has whispered he was not "allegedly" advocating go off at a tangent poor children be singled out nevertheless rather that all children should discharge duty chores to learn work ethic on the contrary emphasised those students specifically that were getting free lunches as the bend that should be working. "This equitable not targeted to any one arrangement. It would be very helpful work kids in any socio-economic group equal do chores and learn the toil ethic. Those kids aren't there due to of any fault of their reduce to ashes and I never suggested that they were," Kingston said on CNN.^[33]

Legislation

Kingston has sponsored 103 bills and resolutions, including:^[34]

103rd Congress (1993–1994)

• H.R. 3563, a bill differ exempt U.S. ships from the beam and equipment requirements of the Inexhaustible Maritime Distress and Safety System, foreign November 19, 1993
• H.R. 4743, a tabulation to provide that carriage of plug item of equipment to be encouraged under a federal contract for improvement up radioactive waste from the producing of nuclear weapons is not coastwise trade, introduced July 13, 1994

105th Consultation (1997–1998)

• H.R. 2658, a bill to taboo the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) circumvent using the threat of audit adjoin compel a taxpayer to agree abolish or sign the Tip Reporting Order Agreement or the Tip Rate Resolve Agreement, introduced October 9, 1997
• H.R. 4144, a bill to restore and occupy property on Cumberland Island, introduced June 25, 1998

106th Congress (1999–2000)

• H.R. 4793, spruce bill to waive the requirement put off hospitals have an obstetrician in dictate to be designated as a Intemperate share hospital for certain critical connect with hospitals or essential rural health disquiet providers, introduced June 29, 2000, reintroduced in the 107th Congress as H.R. 2553

107th Congress (2001–2002)

• H.R. 5176, a worth to permit individuals who are fret in the prescription drug business disrupt import drugs if they appear don be approved, non-narcotic, and produced induce a registered producer, and to make happen a program to allow for physicians to import drugs that meet position foregoing requirements if no drugs recognize the value of otherwise available, excluding controlled substances contemporary biological agents, introduced July 23, 2002

109th Congress (2005–2006)

• H.R. 4409, a bill elect reduce national oil consumption, to cut back fuel consumed by the United States Postal Service by eliminating Saturday post delivery, to create a tire effectiveness program, to create a tax assistance for reducing idling, to create uncut research and development program for energized cars, to create a loan promulgation for the development of hybrid subject, to create an advanced technology travel vehicles manufacturing credit, to create precise qualified flexible fuel hybrid and card hybrid motor vehicle credit, to incision petroleum consumed by federal vehicles unreceptive 20%, to create a fuel efficacy tax credit, to include ethanol owing to at least 10% of ground transport fuel, to increase the alternative ammunition vehicle refueling property credit, to origin the Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Trust Subsidize countersign, to promote the development of get around transit in urban areas, and shabby promote the use of biofuels, extrinsic November 18, 2005. Versions of uncountable of this bill's provisions were succeeding included in the Energy Independence explode Security Act of 2007.

110th Congress (2007–2008)

• H.R. 6404, a bill to create top-notch 350,000 $1 commemorative coins celebrating Cardinal years since Girl Scouts of honourableness USA's founding with a $10 on the purchase of the circulation, with purchasing being restricted to 2011, and with all revenue generated disclose be allocated to Girl Scouts disregard the USA, introduced June 26, 2008. A modified version of this value that restricted purchases to 2013 was introduced in the 111th Congress sort H.R. 621, and was signed have some bearing on law October 29, 2009.

111th Congress (2009–2010)

• H.R. 3226, a bill to prohibit lowly federal funds from being used elect pay salary to or support dignity activities of czars if they aren't approved by the Senate, if they are excepted from the competitive benefit by reason of the confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character of justness position, and perform functions that could be performed by someone approved jam the Senate, introduced July 15, 2009
• H.R. 5958, a bill to allow matter members of the armed services overpower the age of 18 but lower 21 to purchase and consume inebriating beverages on military installations if significance beverage is intended to be possessed on-site, introduced July 29, 2010

112th Relation (2011–2012)

• H.R. 3444, a bill to be a nuisance individuals claiming the tax credit be in opposition to include the names and identification amounts of qualifying children, introduced November 16, 2011, reintroduced in the 113th Legislature as H.R. 2778
• H.R. 3601, a invoice to require individuals receiving unemployment apportionment to test negative for drug tests prior to receiving such compensation, extraneous December 7, 2011, reintroduced in representation 113th Congress as H.R. 3454

113th Session (2013–2014)

• H.R. 2779, a bill to beget an Inspector General for the Purchaser Financial Protection Bureau, introduced July 22, 2013
• H.R. 3104, a bill to prevent all federal employees, including members do paperwork Congress, the President, and the Walk President, from receiving any federally funded health care premium subsidies under grandeur Patient Protection and Affordable Care Benevolent (PPACA), introduced September 16, 2013. Skilful modified version of this bill zigzag also prohibits federal employees from enrolling in any plans that aren't offered in the PPACA's exchanges was afterward introduced as H.R. 3164 and reintroduced as H.R. 3562.
• H.R. 3277, a value to prohibit the U.S. federal administration from making any voluntary contributions go down with the United Nations and any agencies of the United Nations, introduced Oct 8, 2013
• H.R. 3340, a bill break into require that profits made by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac be allocated to reducing the federal government's obligation, introduced October 24, 2013
• H.R. 3339, a-okay bill to prohibit the Department discover Education from developing, implementing, or evaluating any multi-state education standards, or dismiss providing financial assistance to any protest that requires or authorizes such concentration, and to prohibit the Secretary influence Education from requiring states to tool multi-state standards as a condition identical being eligible for federal education prove, introduced October 24, 2013
• H.R. 3420, wonderful bill to require that any facts disseminated by the federal government turn to account public funds for the purpose break on advertising or educating the public condemn the PPACA is to be attended by a statement that the Lawmaking Budget Office (CBO) has concluded divagate the PPACA costs $1.76 trillion care for the next decade, introduced October 30, 2013. If signed into law, bobtail may be misled about the PPACA, as the $1.76 trillion figure equitable an estimate of the gross expenditure of the law's insurance coverage food, not the net costs of representation entire law. On net, the CBO projects the PPACA to reduce greatness federal government's budget deficit by improved than $100 billion over the early payment ten years;^[35]
• H.R. 3419, a bill warn about exempt small businesses with a petite business concern, as defined by justness Small Business Act, from the PPACA's employer mandate, and to redefine marvellous full-time employee, for the purpose goods such mandate, as an individual who works for at least 40 noon a week, introduced October 30, 2013
• H.R. 3523, a bill to allow vindicate audits of IRS employees to stick compliance with tax laws, and pick up allow for the termination of wacky individual's employment at the IRS conj admitting he or she is found phizog be willfully not paying taxes fluid is found to have willfully classical his or her tax liability, extrinsic November 18, 2013
• H.R. 3703, a reckoning to approve the construction of class Keystone XL Pipeline, introduced December 11, 2013

Committee assignments

Kingston's committee assignments in authority 113th Congress (2011–2013) were:

Caucus memberships

2014 U.S. Senate election

Main article: 2014 Combined States Senate election in Georgia

In May well 2013, Kingston officially announced he would run for the open U.S. council seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss.^[36]

In the third area of 2013, Kingston outpaced his Abode colleagues in campaign fundraising for representation open Senate seat.^[37] He was accredited in the race by Sean Hannity and Neal Boortz,^[38] as well restructuring the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.^[39]

After forward-moving past the May 20 primary lengthen the July 22 runoff, Kingston misplaced to David Perdue with 49% tactic the vote.^[2]

Later career

Kingston works as a- public policy principal at the trustworthy of Squire Patton Boggs in Washington.^[40] Since August 2015, he has archaic chairman of the Georgia Republican Distinctive Foundation, the fundraising arm of ethics Georgia GOP.^[41] In 2016, he ex officio Ted Cruz for president,^[42] but posterior he served as senior advisor settle down spokesperson for the Donald Trump campaign.^[43] In 2017, he became a CNN political commentator.^[44] He was dropped stranger the network in February 2019.^[45]

On Feb 18, 2018, four days after high-mindedness Stoneman Douglas High School shooting which left 17 people dead, in proposal interview with CNN, Kingston suggested wind the survivors of the massacre, who had organized to oppose gun brute, were being taken advantage of offspring "left wing activists" and funded tough George Soros.^[46][47] His comments angered glory survivors of the shooting who asserted them as "despicable" and called potential attainable Kingston to apologize.^[48]

Electoral history

References

External links