Congressman Jack Kingston - First District of Georgia

In case you missed it, Jack talked about the National Portrait Gallery's outrageous exhibit this morning on Fox & Friends.  While Jack supports the First Amendment's guarantee's of freedom of speech, he believes exhibits like these that many find offensive should not be subsidized by your tax dollars.

In case you missed it, Jack appeared on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews this evening to discuss the upcoming tax increases and the potential extension of long-term unemployment benefits with Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY).  To watch the clip, click below:



To learn more about where Jack stands on taxes, visit http://kingston.house.gov/taxes.  To learn more about where Jack stands on restarting the nation's economy, visit http://kingston.house.gov/economy.

WASHINGTON – Club for Growth President Chris Chocola today made the following statement regarding the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee in the 112th Congress:

“After reviewing the voting records of the candidates to chair the Appropriations Committee in the new House of Representatives, the Club for Growth has concluded that Rep. Jack Kingston is the best of the field. 

“Congressman Kingston earned one of the highest scores of any appropriator on the Club for Growth’s score card, and fared far better than other senior members of the Committee on our RePork Card.  He supports the inclusion of true pro-growth, limited government conservatives on the Committee, greater transparency in the spending process, and understands the fundamental mood change in the country about the size and scope of government. 

“If fiscal conservatives want to get control of federal spending, we must first get control of the Appropriations Committee.  And Jack Kingston gives us the best chance to accomplish that goal.”

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On the role of the Appropriations Committee
"This committee is going to be central to cutting the budget and we have to have conservatives who have a long track record and being budget cutters.  I wish we could have everyone on the team to be total budget hawk but it’s going to take really tough skin to vote no on some of these things.  By the end of the spring, we’ll all be accused of hating seniors, hating children, and hating education.  So we’re going to have to have some real tough hides on the turf."

On Waste in Spending and the Need to Cut
"I have been in the back room of [the committee] and gotten into these budgets.  The waste that we have in the federal government which everyone knows about is atrocious.  It’s even worse than you think when you start reading the bill.  Right now, for example, there is $290 billion worth of programs that have expired so they are unauthorized yet we continue to spend money on them every year…this wasn’t Democrats alone.  Republicans had a hand in ramping up spending but we’ve got to bring it under control.  We need to go back to at least ’08 spending levels, we need to rescind the unused stimulus money, we need to go after any waste."

On Earmarks
"We’ve got to get rid of the earmarks.  I think everybody is in agreement with that but we need to go beyond it and look at some of these grants.  Grants are federal government giveaways, they’re a slush fund for the Administration to take care of their own constituencies and so much of it is waste.  Twenty-eight percent of the state’s budget on average comes from the federal government.  We’ve got to stop it.  It’s all deficit spending."

Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) announced that 23 students in the First Congressional District of Georgia have received nominations to United States Service Academies. The students were interviewed for consideration into the Class of 2015 by Congressman Kingston and the Military Academy Board. Interviews were conducted at Bethesda Home for Boys in Savannah on October 18, 2010.

The nominated students are:

• Heather Brissey of St. Simons Island, a senior at Glynn Academy, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy. Brissey is a member of the Drama Club and is the editor for the school yearbook. “I would really appreciate a nomination because my brother is currently serving in the Merchant Marine Academy and he has inspired me to become the same type of leader.”
• Grayson Conner of Savannah, a senior at St. Andrews School, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy. Conner plays football and runs track in addition to his community service for Goodwill and the Leukemia Cup Action. “I hope to further my future and career by being a leader in the Merchant Marine Academy. I am very optimistic about what this opportunity beholds.”
• Shawn Harvey of St. Marys, a senior at Camden County High School, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy and the Air Force Academy. Harvey is a part of the varsity tennis team and swim team in addition to his dedication to Science Olympiad and First Robotics. “I am thrilled to have the chance to be able to serve my country in the best way I know how, to join the Air Force and become an officer through the Academy. My dream is to be a Fighter Pilot in the USAF, and I am prepared to overcome any challenges to get there.”
• Hayden Boudreaux of St. Marys, a senior at Camden County High School, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy and the Naval Academy. Boudreaux is a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club as well as his participation in varsity football. “I look forward to the structural learning environment and challenge that comes with the rigorous curriculum at the Naval Academy. Graduating from the Naval Academy shows that a person is an active leader and strives for greatness athletically and in the classroom, which best describes my personality.”
• Ian Eversman of Kingsland, a senior of Naples American High School in Italy, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy and the Naval Academy. Eversman is member of National Honor Society and is a Student Council Representative to the Student Advisory Committee.
• Mayra Perez of Douglas, a senior at Coffee High School, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy. Perez participates in the Future Business Leaders of America and holds a class officer position of secretary. “Being a part of the academy will provide the best environment of the career I want to pursue as well as serving the country at the same time.
• Derrick Smith of Savannah, a senior at Benediction Military School, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy. Smith holds the position of senior class vice-president and is a member of the swim team. “This opportunity will provide the leadership I need to one day be an officer as well as get an education in engineering.”
• Brandon Skipper of Baxley, a 2007 graduate of Appling County High School, received a nomination for the Merchant Marine Academy and the Naval Academy. Skipper is currently serving as a sailor in the Navy and has already established a reputation with the Office of Naval Intelligence over the past 3 years. “This opportunity will allow me to continue to serve my country and develop strong leadership skills which will also help me to pursue a degree in Political Science.”
• John Zuzich of Kingsland, a senior at Camden County High School, received a principle nomination for the Military Academy. Zuzich was elected as City Councilman for Georgia Boys State and is also an active volunteer for the 2^nd Mile Ministries.  “My dad has inspired me to seek the military after all of his service he has done for our country. My goal is to not only gain the experience I need to be great leader but I also hope to get a degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.”
• Steven Sororian of Savannah, a senior at Windsor Forest High School, received a principle nomination for the Military Academy. Sororian is a JROTC Battalion Commander and was awarded with the Georgia Certificate of Merit from the University of Georgia. “I am on this journey to become a part of the United States Military Academy through the most prestigious and honorable way and most of all, I want to make a career out of this experience.”
• Nick Cutia of St. Simons Island, a senior at Frederica Academy, received a nomination for the Military Academy. Cutia has been a member of the Crew team and is currently serving as the Vice President of the Honor Council. “The opportunity to push myself to new limits and explore new boundaries on so many levels is something that I would love to do, and something I feel I could only do at West Point.”
• Dajah Davis of Richmond Hill, a student at the United States Military Academy Preparatory, received a nomination for the Military Academy. Davis is at 2010 graduate of Richmond Hill High School and served as the S-1 and S-2 of the JRTOC class. “I want to attend the United States Military Academy and serve on active duty as an Army Officer because I feel that being in a positive and structured environment will push me beyond my potential.”
• David Dunham of Savannah, a senior at Windsor Forest High School, received a nomination for the Military Academy and the Air Force Academy. Dunham is the Cadet Captain of the JROTC and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point Summers Leaders Seminar last summer. “My reasons for wanting to enter a military university are to obtain knowledge and develop strong leadership and communication skills toward earning the opportunity to serve my country as a commissioned officer.”
• Lauren Fairfax of Hinesville, a senior at Liberty County High School, received a nomination for the Military Academy. Fairfax is involved with Marching Band and plays on the Varsity Basketball team. “My first priority is become well educated. I believe that West Point will not only educate me in academics but also make me a leader that will be prepare me to serve in the army.”
• Lucia Mendes of Savannah, a student at Armstrong Atlantic State University, received a nomination for the Military Academy. Mendes is a 2009 graduate of Windsor Forest High School where she participated in the Navy JROTC and was a member of with National Honor Society. “”Walking across a university stage on graduation day is a memory worth having, but to walk across an Academy Stage on graduation day, knowing that you’re not only a respected college graduate but a United States soldier, is a memory worth telling over and over again.”
• Logan Neal of Midway, a 2010 graduate of Liberty County High School, received a nomination for the Military Academy. Neal was the varsity soccer captain and was also a JRTOC Cadet. “The experience and unity developed at an academy would provide a solid foundation upon which I plan to build a career of service. I would very much like an opportunity to achieve this goal and respectfully become a part of the perpetual history an academy represents.”
• Carol Champion of Savannah, a senior at Savannah Christian Preparatory School, received a principle nomination for the Air Force Academy. Champion is a member of the National Honor Society and runs varsity track. “I want to attend an academy because of the superior education and training provided in comparison to any college or university with ROTC.”
• Griffin Larkin of Townsend, a senior at Frederica Academy, received a principle nomination for the Air Force Academy. Larkin plays varsity baseball and runs cross country in addition to his community service for Habitat for Humanity. “My desire is to serve my country while receiving the best education possible and continuing my service with a career in the United States Military.”
• Kaleb Jenkins of Richmond Hill, a 2008 graduate of Richmond Hill School, received a nomination for the Air Force Academy. Jenkins left the Air Force Academy for a mission trip over a year ago but after his community service in Portugal, he has decided to return. “I would like to eventually become a fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force and also graduate with a degree in a Mechanical Engineering.”
• Gene Rowell of Valdosta, a senior at Open Bible Christian School, received a nomination for the Air Force Academy. Rowell is the team captain for the baseball and soccer team. “I was born and raised in a military home where we learned the Air Force core values in our home of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. I have developed a great admiration for the qualities and strengths that are molded into the lives of those who successfully graduate from the academy.”
• Zach Taylor of Richmond Hill, a student at Valdosta State University, received a nomination for the Air Force Academy. Taylor graduated in 2010 from Richmond Hill High School and is currently a cadet in the Air Force ROTC at Valdosta State University and is a member of the Honor’s Program. “ I plan on possibly becoming both a fighter pilot and a lawyer and I believe that a military academy will offer the best possible education and preparation for this dual career."
• Connor O’Neil of St. Marys, a senior at Camden County High School, received a principle nomination for the Naval Academy. O’Neil is a member of both National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society in addition to playing varsity football. “I lived on the Academy grounds for 4 years prior to moving to Georgia and as a result, have an excellent knowledge of what this commitment really means. I fully understand the rigorous work load and physical training that is involved and know that not only will I be able to accomplish this, but in fact excel.”
• Dale Howard of Baxley, a student at the Untied States Naval Academy Preparatory School, received a nomination for the Naval Academy. Howard graduated in 2010 from Appling County High School and is currently a member of the brigade of midshipman at the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School. “Being a part of such a prestigious group will better prepare myself to show leadership skills and also follow other leaders.”