Senate Report Card: Jon Kyl R-AZ

Senator Jon Kyl is the junior Republican Senator from the state of Arizona. He was originally elected to the Senate in 1994, subsequently reelected in 2000 and 2006. He is currently the third highest ranking member of the Republicans in the Senate.

Senator Kyl serves on the powerful Judiciary and Finance Committees. He is the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee on Taxation and the IRS as well as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security.

Kyl has sought increased funding of border security and funds to reimburse states which cover federally mandated health care costs of undocumented immigrants as well as the cost for incarceration of undocumented workers.

He won passage of a bill that protects and guarantees the rights of crime victims. He has sought increased funding toward anti-terrorism tools within the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Kyl is a major supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which was passed immediately before a Senate break and was not debated in full.

Jon Kyl blocked passage of a bill that would expand openness in government citing the Justice Department's claim that to do so would reveal highly sensitive material. He's been highly critical of China with regards to Taiwan and blocking of American satellites.

Senator Jon Kyl supported giving the President authorization to go to war with Iraq. He cites reports that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction for influencing his vote. Kyl believes the transfer of power to the Iraqi government in June of 2004, followed by national elections in January of 2005, the drafting of a new constitution, its approval by the Iraqi people in October of 2005, and the successful election of representatives for a new Iraqi government in December of 2005 are significant political achievements that are cause for continued support of the war.

Kyl fights for continuation of the war and opposes any troop withdrawals arguing that the consequences for the U.S., the region, and its allies would be disastrous. He believes that Iraq is the central front in the war against terrorists. He also thinks that if the United States withdraws, it will embolden terrorists around the world and give them a safe haven from which to launch future attacks against the United States.

With regards to his leadership support of President Bush's highly controversial Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act, Kyl faced stiff opposition from conservatives and some in his own state. The Illegal Immigration Bill was referred to as being amnesty for illegal aliens.

Senator Jon Kyl will be up for reelection in 2003 in Arizona.