Does Jack Kingston have 'Potomoc Fever'?
Writers for the American Spectator say that Congressman Jack Kingston's conservative record is mediocre and that he has Potomoc Fever. Let's look at his record and find out. First, he's an appropriator. You don't get on that committee without having a "go along to get along" attitude about government spending. Here are some massive examples: * Kingston voted YES on the Medicare Drug Benefit * Kingston voted YES on the big Farm bill of 2002 * Kingston voted YES on No Child Left Behind * Kingston voted YES on Sarbanes-Oxley * Kingston voted YES on last year's Highway Bill (which included the "Bridge to Nowhere") Despite all of these bad votes, and to his credit, Kingston is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee (but he doesn't always vote for the RSC budget which is seen as the conservative alternative to the real budget). He's got a less-than-stellar record on trade. He's against normal trade relations with China and he voted to keep subsidies for mohair and wool producers. He also voted NO on NAFTA, but he voted YES on CAFTA, along with free trade pacts with Australia, Morocco, and Chile. Like almost every House Republican, Kingston has been consistent on taxes. He has voted for all the Bush tax cuts (2001 and 2003 and 2006). While it's not a fiscal issue, Kingston was a champ by voting against McCain-Feingold in 2002, but he hypocritically reversed course, like most House Republicans, and voted YES on the 527 bill this year (the 527 bill was a far greater assault on the 1st Amendment than McCain-Feingold). Currently, he is advocating the elimination of 95 obsolete programs (after successfully eliminating 56 programs last year), but his YES votes on the hugely disastrous bills listed above completely erase any gains he is currently trying to make. BOTTOM LINE: This isn't a comprehensive list, but all in all, it certainly sheds light on Kingston's attitude towards limited government. I think it's right to call his record "mediocre", but even saying that might be overly polite.
