WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Kline was chosen late last week by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as the ranking Republican on the 50-member Education and Labor Committee.

Kline replaces Rep. Buck McKeon, who last week was named the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen by my peers to take on the challenges of this position in these trying times,” said Kline, in his fourth term representing the Second Congressional District.

By Lori Carlson, Josh Chase, Shannon Fiecke and Nancy Huddleston, Staff Writers 

Local cities, schools and Scott County are lining up at the chance to get any federal stimulus dollars they can, but they’re being cautiously optimistic about how much they would get from an $8.19 billion federal stimulus package that could be ready for President Barack Obama’s signature in the next couple of weeks.

Nearly every major TV network, along with social networking
sites and cable news organizations, are planning to stream Barack Obama’s
inauguration ceremony live online Tuesday.

Starting at 7 a.m., CNN
and Facebook will team up to bring live video streams to users, who can chat
with friends as the Webcast streams. Coverage of the swearing-in ceremony
starts at 10:30 a.m. Visit www.cnn.com/live to check it out.

U.S. Rep. John Kline’s office has been flooded with calls with questions about the television switchover from an analog to a digital signal, a spokesman said this week.

Wednesday, Dec. 31 is the last day to order coupons for digital TV convert boxes, which TV watchers will need to avoid a blackout during the transition early in the new year.

U.S. Rep. John Kline’s office has announced a lottery for constituents who would like tickets to attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Residents of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District who wish to be entered into the ticket lottery should call Kline’s Burnsville office at (952) 808-1213 or his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2271 no later than noon Wednesday, Nov. 26.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent 

By Shannon Fiecke

Until Friday, a campaign sign for Congressman John Kline was posted in the Chaska yard of Kevin Masrud.

Masrud, a network engineer, endorsed Kline at the Republican Congressional Convention. He and his children marched for him in the Chaska parade.

“I really like John,” Masrud said. “He was one of my heroes. I used to brag about him to my friends.”

The primary election ballot on Tuesday, Sept. 9 will include federal, state and some local offices. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The city of Prior Lake recently made several voting location changes.

All eyes are on Minnesota and other key states today during the Super Tuesday caucuses.

Experts say Minnesota could see record turnouts for both major parties. With the presidential race far from decided, the nation will turn its eyes to Minnesota and 21 other states other having caucuses or primaries today.

U.S. Rep. John Kline today announced the presidential signing of the national defense bill, which included legislation he championed that would nationalize the Minnesota National Guard’s “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” reintegration program.

Kline’s legislation would establish an Office for Reintegration Programs to administer all reintegration programs in coordination with the National Guard Bureau and state National Guard organizations.