Mark Kirk

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Image:Mark Steven Kirk, official photo portrait color.jpg

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Mark Kirk
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 10th district
Term of office: 2001-present
Political party:	Republican
Preceded by:	John Edward Porter
Succeeded by:	Incumbent
Religion:	Congregationalist
Born:	September 15 1959 Champaign, Illinois
Spouse:	Kim Vertolli Kirk

Mark Steven Kirk (born September 15, 1959) has been a Member of Congress since 2001, representing the 10th District of Illinois (map).

1 Early life and education
2 Career prior to election to Congress
3 U.S. House of Representatives
4 Contributors
5 External links

[edit] Early life and education

Kirk was born in Champaign, Illinois, graduated from Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth in 1973, and New Trier East High School in 1977. He attended the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México before graduating cum laude in history from Cornell University. Kirk received a Masters Degree from the London School of Economics, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University.

[edit] Career prior to election to Congress

Kirk served on the staff of his precedessor, Congressman John Porter, and eventually became his chief of staff. Kirk then served in the World Bank (1990) before President Bush Sr. named him as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. At the State Department, Kirk worked on ending civil wars in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. President Clinton reappointed Kirk to work in his Administration on the restoration of democracy in Haiti.

Kirk then practiced law with Baker & McKenzie (1993-94) before being named as a Counsel to the House International Relations Committee. Kirk was also commissioned in 1989 as a reserve intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. In the Navy, Kirk served during conflicts with Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo. He served aboard USS Normandy and USS John C Stennis. Kirk also served three tours in Panama and was an aircrewman over Iraq as part of Operation Northern Watch. He was named United States Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer of the Year in 1999 for his combat service in Kosovo.

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

[edit] Election and re-elections

Kirk defeated 11 candidates for Congress in the 2000 Republican primary. He then won in general elections with 51% (2000), 69% (2002), 64% (2004), and 53% (2006). His opponents were Lauren Beth Gash, Hank Perrit, Lee Goodman, and most recently, Daniel Seals.

[edit] Committees and caucuses

Kirk was appointed to the powerful Appropriations Committee in 2002 and was elected the co-Chairman of the Republican Moderate Tuesday Group Caucus in 2004. Kirk is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, The Republican Majority for Choice, and Republicans For Environmental Protection.

Kirk is the founder and co-chair of the Iran Working Group along with Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), the U.S.-China Working Group along with Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and the Congressional Kidney Caucus along with Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA).

[edit] Political actions and positions

Kirk shepherded H.R. 810, the Stem Cell bill, through the House in 2005.

The Lake Michigan Alliance and the League of Conservation Voters recognized Congressman Kirk for his environmental actions, ^{[citation needed]} including:

Author - Great Lakes Water Protection Act
Author - Mercury Pollution Reduction Act
Secured transfer to Ft. Sheridan Bluffs to environmental trust
Secured funding for environmental cleanup Waukegan Harbor
Awarded Medal of Courage by Alaska Coalition for protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Congress

Kirk voted for the House "enforcement-only" immigration bill, which includes punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants and calls for a tough barrier at the US/Mexican border.[1]

On November 5, 2005, while speaking at Northwestern University, Kirk was asked how he felt about stricter visa policies applied to Arab foreign nationals seeking entry to the United States. Kirk answered: "I'm OK with discrimination against young Arab males from terrorist-producing states. I'm OK with that."[2]. He said that the statement was "politically uncomfortable", and later issued a statement to clarify his position on the issue: "We need to strengthen our visa entry process to guard against the threat, and we need intense scrutiny on applicants from terrorist producing countries," Kirk said. "Ignoring that reality would only do a disservice to our country's security."[3]

[edit] Ratings

Kirk received a 75% approval rating in 2006, after a 39% approval rating in 2005, from the League of Conservation Voters, an group that assesses the environmental records of Congressmen. [4] He received an A+ from the National Education Association. He received an A+ from the National Education Association and a 0% rating from the Drum Major Institute of Public Policy on his votes affecting the middle class. [5] He received an A from Illinois Citizens Against Handgun Violence. Kirk was endorsed in 2006 by the Human Rights Campaign, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Planned Parenthood, the Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois and JAC PAC.

[edit] Contributors

According to Federal Election Commission records, Kirk has received numerous contributions from PAC’s and individuals. Several contributors have district ties, such as Abbott Laboratories and Baxter International. Abbott and Baxter are the largest and third largest employers in the 10th District of Illinois, respectively. Medical associations, defense contractors, and other groups have contributed.

FEC records show Kirk received financial support from Americans for a Republican Majority, a PAC formed by Tom DeLay. As reports of misconduct surfaced against DeLay in 2004, Kirk returned all monies received from ARMPAC immediately. Funds received directly from Tom Delay’s congressional committee were returned in 2006. All DeLay contributions to Kirk, however, were made in 2000 during the open seat contested election.

Mark Kirk received a donation from Congressman Bob Ney, who has pled guilty for bribery and his involvement with convicted felon Jack Abramoff. Kirk refunded the Ney contribution in the 2nd quarter of 2006.

Kirk received funds from American Prosperity PAC, which was controlled by Republican Duke Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Kirk refunded the Cunningham contribution and contributions from all parties affiliated with the case when news of wrongdoing first became public.