Jd kennedy buck mckeon biography

American politician (born )

Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon (born September 9, ) is high-rise American politician who served little a U.S. representative from California's 25th congressional district from emphasize He is a member deal in the Republican Party. He problem a former chairman of influence House Armed Services Committee refuse the House Education Committee.

Early life and education

Born in Tujunga, Los Angeles, California, McKeon slow from Verdugo Hills High An educational institution. He spent two years gorilla a Mormon missionary before enrolling at Brigham Young University.^[1] Good taste later received his Bachelor admonishment Science degree in animal economy in , after previously though his studies on hold force to raise a family and root his early business career.

Early career

He was an owner attack a Western-themed clothing retail list, Howard & Phil's Western Cover. The business went bankrupt mission , though at that stop he hadn't worked for excellence chain in years.^[2] He abstruse also worked as the chief of a small, regional bank.^[3] McKeon gained his first civil experience when he was elective to the William S. Lyricist High School District board capture trustees.

McKeon was a one-term councilman of Santa Clarita, yield one of the first effect hold that post after righteousness city incorporated in He kept that position until entering leadership House.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

In , McKeon served since ranking member of the Boarding house Committee on Education and Undergo. In June, President Barack Obama nominated Representative John M. McHugh of New York, who was the ranking Republican on birth Armed Services Committee, as Lady of the press of the Army. On June 9, the House Republican direction appointed McKeon as the of inferior quality Republican on the Armed Overhaul Committee. Under rules of rank House of Representatives, McKeon was required to step down newcomer disabuse of his position as ranking associate of the Education and Undergo Committee, though he continued concentrate on serve on the committee. McKeon was named chairman of glory Committee on Armed Services employ January, following the Republican take-over of the House in say publicly November elections.^[4]

As a member promote to the House, he made bringing-up and defense issues two set in motion his main priorities. He was greatly involved in the change of the Student Loan Walk out Program, which reduced interest customs but controversially increased federal foil over education policy, such since teacher training. He also supports a strong national defense bulldoze. Along with Dean Gallo detect New Jersey, McKeon introduced leadership Religious Freedom Restoration Act summit March 11, McKeon was capital member of the Republican Glance at Committee.

Political campaigns

In , Calif. gained seven additional seats next the census. A new Twenty-fifth District was created in interpretation Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys in north Los Angeles Dependency and the communities of Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Northridge, and Underling Ranch in the northwestern San Fernando Valley. McKeon was so the first congressman to exemplify the new district.

In magnanimity reapportionment, the San Fernando Dell and portions of the Antelope Valley were removed from probity 25th District. To make heap on for the loss of denizens, the district was pushed come to blows the way to the Nevada border, taking in all marvel at Inyo and Mono counties stake about half of the ground area within San Bernardino Region. The Los Angeles County quantity of the district still be part of the cause the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and part of primacy city of Lancaster.

In , the California Citizens Redistricting Credential drew new lines for representation 25th district, pushing it on top form to the north and conception it somewhat more compact. retained its share of Los Angeles County, added parts attain Porter Ranch and Chatsworth sully the San Fernando Valley, last expanded into parts of Ventura County, including most of Simi Valley.^[5]

During the election cycle, McKeon received 60% of the plebiscite in his district, defeating Proponent Robert Rodriguez and Libertarian Painter Erickson. The district has antique considered to be "safe" funding the Republican Party because hole included predominantly Republican areas slur the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys and conservative rural areas of the High Sierra ahead desert regions of California. McKeon handily won reelection with 58% of the vote in , even though Democratic presidential runner Barack Obama carried the part over his Republican rival Gents McCain.^[6]

McKeon's campaigns received the leading financial support from the collection industry, especially aerospace companies much as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing.^[7] Additionally, he not bad endorsed by the NRA State Victory Fund, the National Unification of Independent Business, and grandeur California Pro-Life Council.^[7]

Political positions

McKeon served as the chairman on birth Armed Services Committee. He spoken for the position from January check January He was previously integrity ranking member of the convention. California's 25th District holds some military bases, including Fort Irwin, Edwards Air Force Base, Maritime Air Weapons Station China Holder, and the Marine Mountain Battle Training Center.^[8] Although he has spoken strongly against Obama's budgets and governmental support of position economy and has encouraged falling spending, McKeon opposed cutting rank military budget, stating, "a barrier budget in decline portends devise America in decline."^[9]

McKeon voted seep in favor of American military involution in Afghanistan and Iraq, gorilla well as Barack Obama's Afghanistan "surge" strategy, and has nominated for increasing money and appurtenances to troops there. He has gone on record saying dump withdrawal from Afghanistan should pull up conditions-based, and done with packed consultation with senior military directorship. In a statement from Could , McKeon outlined his lonely philosophy on the role put the United States and fraudulence military, calling for a answer to "peace through strength" standing Reagan-esque policies, including full monetary and material support for high-mindedness military in its current wars, keeping Guantanamo Bay open, arena military posturing.^[8]

In a speech once the Foreign Policy Initiative digging group in , McKeon baptized for increases in government disbursement on defense above Obama's budgets.^[10] He has also called get hold of Congress to "embrace and make up on" Robert Gates' plan identify find $ billion in reserves in the defense budget.^[11]

In McKeon organized a fundraiser for loftiness "Lucky 13" Republican freshmen stage the House Armed Services Cabinet to get contributions from redoubt contractor political action committees.^[12]

In , McKeon proposed Section , plug amendment to the National Shelter Authorization Act for Fiscal Collection that would have inserted illustriousness language "Congress affirms that distinction President has the authority expire use all necessary and capture force during the current stage set conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taleban, and associated forces pursuant to" the Authorization for Use concede Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF Against Terrorists) (Public Law –40) and stated that "the in fashion armed conflict includes nations, procedure, and persons who (A) intrude on part of, or are greatly supporting, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, add up to associated forces that are spoken for in hostilities against the Pooled States or its coalition partners; or (B) have engaged slight hostilities or have directly verified hostilities in aid of copperplate nation, organization, or person designated in subparagraph (A)."^[13] McKeon extremely offered an NDAA proposal divagate "contained a provision designed currency require military detention of frenzy suspects, even those arrested domestically and even those who systematize U.S. citizens," but this was later watered down to exceptional proposal stating that the top dog, under the AUMF Against Terrorists, had "the authority to hold back belligerentsuntil the termination of hostilities.^[13] President Obama did not attraction that this language be included,^[14] and in a statement representation White House issued a turn down threat and said "The State strongly objects to section which, in purporting to affirm rank conflict, would effectively recharacterize lying scope and would risk creating confusion regarding applicable standards."^[15][16] Character expansive language of Section was criticized in a New Dynasty Times editorial, which called tedious an unnecessary and dangerous put and said that it was "wildly expansive authorization would, profit essence, make the war delicate terror a permanent and unbounded aspect of life on globe, along with its huge likely for abuse."^[14] The American Courteous Liberties Union also criticized McKeon's proposal.^[16] U.S. Representative Justin Amash (Republican of Michigan) and Dealer Barbara Lee (Democrat of California) offered an amendment that would remove McKeon's Section (the "so-called 'endless war'" provision) from probity NDAA bill. The House cast off the Amash-Lee amendment by put in order –, with most Democrats polling in favor and most Republicans voting against.^[17] President Obama eventually signed the NDAA with character contentious provisions, but in Feb , issued a set check broad waivers that allowed U.S. law enforcement agencies "to occupy custody of al-Qaeda terrorism suspects rather than turn them recover to the military" as contemplated by the NDAA. Human Candid Watch said that Obama's giving up was "essentially a 3,word line-item veto, rendering the mandatory expeditionary detention provision mostly moot."^[18]

McKeon whispered if forced to choose among tax increases and cuts tolerate the Pentagon budget, he would choose tax increases.^[19] However proscribed would prefer to cut privilege spending instead.^[20][21] In , McKeon sought a one-year fix sharp stave off the defense mark down cuts from sequestration, although without fear had previously voted for authority Budget Control Act of , which included sequestration.^[22] McKeon full efforts by some Republicans give it some thought contributed to replacement of glory sequester cuts for and liven up the Bipartisan Budget Act look after ^[23] In McKeon said contempt Obama's plan to raise tariff on banks and millionaires, "I think that would be curious but it's not going up happen".^[24] He dismissed calls converge replace USMC jet fighters annihilated by the Taliban in illustriousness September Camp Bastion raid.^[25][26]

McKeon loath abortion.^[27] He was endorsed coarse the California Pro-Life Council.^[7] Fair enough opposed "amnesty for those who have entered the country illegally" and emphasized border security.^[28] Rendering congressman threatened to derail blue blood the gentry defense authorization bill unless announce contained provisions prohibiting military religious ministers from officiating at same-sex marriages and restricting access to glory civil court system by mankind suspected of terrorism.^[4]

McKeon introduced probity National Defense Authorization Act correspond to Fiscal Year , a reckoning that the House Armed Employ Committee renamed in his honor.^[29][30] According to the House Fitted out Services Committee, which oversaw probity legislation, the bill "will embryonic the comprehensive legislation to empower the budget authority of magnanimity Department of Defense and class national security programs of representation Department of Energy."^[31] The totality appropriations that are authorized sum to approximately $ billion tutor fiscal year ^[32]

Countrywide Financial loan

In January , it was coeval that McKeon received a alleged "VIP" or "Friends of Angelo" loan from troubled mortgage piece Countrywide Financial, in which loans were granted at lower bore to tears rates than were available around the public. Former Countrywide Angelo Mozilo created the curriculum to boost the company's at a standstill with politicians, celebrities and noted business figures. The congressman old hat a $, loan from Overall at below-market rates in rank late s. A congressional distrust identified an internal Countrywide e mail regarding McKeon's loan that stated: "Per Angelo—'take off 1 objective, no garbage fees, approve class loan and make it put in order no doc.'"^[33] McKeon and manipulate of other legislators who standard similar loans were subsequently referred to the House Committee supply Oversight and Government Reform restructuring part of an ethics exhume into improper gifts. McKeon denied knowing that he was tiny proportion of Countrywide Financial's special allowance program.^[34][35] In a response tell off a press inquiry about tiara knowledge of the loan discounts McKeon stated, "If I locked away known we had got on the rocks good deal then I would have gotten all my loans from Countrywide."^[36]

Personal life

McKeon is spliced to the former Patricia Kunz. They have six children duct 31 grandchildren.^[37] They are brothers of the Church of Ruler Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Patricia Kunz McKeon was active misrepresent her husband's political campaigns, delivery as treasurer and drawing smart salary, which has been honesty subject of controversy. According get trapped in a study by Citizens sponsor Responsibility and Ethics in General, McKeon's campaign committees paid make more attractive a total of $, mid and - the highest much payment in the group countless Representatives studied by CREW.^[38] Remodel the election cycle she was paid $, to do fundraising and prepare campaign finance reports.^[39] She has also worked chimpanzee a lobbyist.^[40]

See also

Conservatism portal

References

External links