Conservative Opportunity Society

<p>wreck crew:</p>

<p>

newt's 80's/ conserv opp soc 7 of 11 left cong to be lobby; 3 still in under investigatyion: hunter, lewis and craig</p>

<p>

In 1983, he founded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Conservative_Opportunity_Society&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Conservative Opportunity Society (page does not exist)">Conservative Opportunity Society</a> (COS), a group that included young conservative House Republicans. Early COS members included <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smith_Walker" title="Robert Smith Walker">Robert Smith Walker</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judd_Gregg" title="Judd Gregg">Judd Gregg</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Coats" title="Dan Coats">Dan Coats</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Mack_III" title="Connie Mack III">Connie Mack III</a>. The group expanded over time to comprise several dozen representatives<sup id="cite_ref-Balz_28-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich#cite_note-Balz-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> who met each week to exchange and develop ideas.<sup id="cite_ref-Roberts_27-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich#cite_note-Roberts-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup></p>

<p>

King chairs the Conservative Opportunity Society, an organization founded by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Newt_Gingrich" title="Newt Gingrich">Newt Gingrich</a> and others that laid the groundwork for the Republicans' 1994 takeover of the House.</p>

<p>

<b>Steve King</b> is a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_Party" title="Republican Party" class="mw-redirect">Republican</a> member of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S.House_of_Representatives" title="U. S. House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect">U. S. House of Representatives</a> and has represented the 5th District of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Members_of_the_U.S._Congress_from_Iowa" title="Category:Members of the U.S. Congress from Iowa">Iowa</a> since 2003. (<a href="http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ia05_109.gif" class="external text" title="http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ia05_109.gif" rel="nofollow">map</a>)</p>

<tr>

<td>

<h2>Contents</h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Record_and_controversies"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Record and controversies</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Environmental_record"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Environmental record</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Sunlight_Act"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Sunlight Act</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Joseph_McCarthy"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Joseph McCarthy</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Voting_integrity_legislation"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Voting integrity legislation</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Restricting_Speaker_Pelosi.27s_travel"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">Restricting Speaker Pelosi's travel</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Congressional_career"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Congressional career</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#2006_elections"><span class="tocnumber">2.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">2006 elections</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Money_in_politics"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Money in politics</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Committees_and_Affiliations"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Committees and Affiliations</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Committees"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Committees</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Committee_assignments_in_the_109th_Congress_.282005-2006.29"><span class="tocnumber">4.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Coalitions_and_Caucuses"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Coalitions and Caucuses</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#More_Background_Data"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">More Background Data</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Contact"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Contact</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Resources_and_Articles"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Resources and Articles</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Resources"><span class="tocnumber">7.1</span> <span class="toctext">Resources</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Articles"><span class="tocnumber">7.2</span> <span class="toctext">Articles</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#Local_blogs_and_discussion_sites"><span class="tocnumber">7.3</span> <span class="toctext">Local blogs and discussion sites</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</td>

</tr>

</tbody></table>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Record and controversies</span></h2>

<div style=" margin: 0.5em 0.75em 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; background: #dce8f8; border: 1px solid #5c79b5; padding: .25em .25em 0.25em .25em;"><span>General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:U.S._legislation" title="Category:U.S. legislation">articles on legislation</a>. You can add information you find on how Steve King voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Help:References" title="Help:References">cite your sources</a>!</span></div>

<div style=" margin: 0.5em 0.75em 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; background: #dce8f8; border: 1px solid #5c79b5; padding: .25em .25em 0.25em .25em;"><span>For more information see the chart of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._House_of_Representatives_votes_on_the_Iraq_War" title="U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War">U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War</a>.</span></div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Environmental record</span></h3>

<p><i>For more information on environmental legislation, see the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Portal:Energy_and_Environment_Policy_%28U.S.%29" title="Portal:Energy and Environment Policy (U.S.)">Energy and Environment Policy Portal</a></i>

<h4><span class="mw-headline">Sunlight Act</span></h4>

<p>Rep. King introduced the <b>Sunlight Act of 2006</b> (H.R.4967) on March 15, 2006, and was referred to the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Rules, where no action was taken. The bill contained the following:</p>

<ul>

<li>Requires all FEC reports be filed electronically and placed on the internet in a searchable database.</li>

<li>Require all private travel reports be put on the internet in a searchable database.</li>

<li>Require all personal financial disclosure reports to list the actual dollar amount rather than using a range. Also, require all personal financial disclosure forms be put on the internet in a searchable database.</li>

<li>Require all bills and conference reports be placed on the internet at least 48 hours before a vote, all amendments made in order by a rule within one hour after the rule is filed, and all amendments made under open rule immediately as it is being offered.</li>

<li>Require the House to project onto a wall the topic of debate on the floor for the viewing of members and the gallery.</li>

</ul>

<dl>

<dd><i>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Transparency%26_Disclosure_Legislation%28109th_Congress%29" title="Transparency & Disclosure Legislation (109th Congress)" class="mw-redirect">Transparency & Disclosure Legislation (109th Congress)</a></i></dd>

</dl>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Joseph McCarthy</span></h3>

<p>King has expressed admiration for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy" class="extiw" title="w:Joseph McCarthy">Joseph McCarthy</a>, calling him "a great American hero."<a href="http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050929/NEWS09/509290403&SearchID=73221925473690" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050929/NEWS09/509290403&SearchID=73221925473690" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Voting integrity legislation</span></h3>

<p>In January 2005, King introduced legislation (<a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00278:@@@X" class="external text" title="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00278:@@@X" rel="nofollow">THOMAS bill info</a>) requiring verifiable hardcopies of ballots. The legislation was referred to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_House_Administration" title="House Committee on House Administration">House Committee on House Administration</a>, but no action was taken. <a href="http://www.newsdesk.org/archives/000527.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.newsdesk.org/archives/000527.php" rel="nofollow">[2]</a>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Restricting Speaker Pelosi's travel</span></h3>

<p>On June 21, 2007, King introduced an amendment to the FY2008 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill that would not allow the usage of State Department funds for travel to states that are known to have sponsored terrorism: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. It would have restricted funding for Speaker <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Nancy_Pelosi" title="Nancy Pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>'s (D-Calif.) trip to Syria in April 2007. King believed that Pelosi violated the 1799 Logan Act, signed into law by President John Adams, which prohibits unauthorized U.S. citizens from interfering with relations between the United States and foreign governments.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steve_King#cite_note-0" title="">[1]</a></sup>

<p>King was born May 28, 1949 in Storm Lake, Iowa. He briefly attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, and was a business owner and member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Senate" class="extiw" title="w:Iowa Senate">Iowa Senate</a> before entering the House.

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Congressional career</span></h3>

<p>After redistricting took 5th District incumbent <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_Latham" title="Tom Latham">Tom Latham</a> (R) out of the district, King ran in a four-way Republican primary for the seat. Since the 5th is the most Republican district in Iowa and one of the most Republican in the nation, it was generally thought that the district's next representative would be chosen in the primary. King won 30 percent of the vote, five points short of winning the primary outright. Under Iowa law, a nominating convention was required, and King won on the fourth ballot. He went on to win handily in the fall and won reelection just as easily in 2004.

King has carved out one of the most conservative voting records in the country. In 2005, the American Conservative Union rated King one of the "Best of the Best," assigning him a 100% consrvative voting record. <a href="http://www.conservative.org/pressroom/2006/0604052pr.asp" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.conservative.org/pressroom/2006/0604052pr.asp" rel="nofollow">[3]</a> In the 109th Congress, King chairs the Conservative Opportunity Society, an organization founded by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Newt_Gingrich" title="Newt Gingrich">Newt Gingrich</a> and others that laid the groundwork for the Republicans' 1994 takeover of the House.

<h4><span class="mw-headline">2006 elections</span></h4>

<p>In 2006, the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party" class="mw-redirect">Democrats</a> nominated <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joyce_Schulte&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joyce Schulte (page does not exist)">Joyce Schulte</a> to face King in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._congressional_elections_in_2006" title="U.S. congressional elections in 2006" class="mw-redirect">U.S. congressional elections in 2006</a>) <a href="http://opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?State=IA&year=2006" class="external autonumber" title="http://opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?State=IA&year=2006" rel="nofollow">[4]</a> King retained his seat.

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Money in politics</span></h2>

<p>This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00025237&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata></p>

<tr>

<th colspan="3">Links to more campaign contribution information for Steve King

from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org" rel="nofollow">OpenSecrets.org</a> site.</th>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Fundraising profile:</td>

<td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00025237" rel="nofollow">2006 election cycle</a></td>

<td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00025237" rel="nofollow">Career totals</a></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Top contributors by organization/corporation:</td>

<td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00025237" rel="nofollow">2006 election cycle</a></td>

<td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00025237" rel="nofollow">Career totals</a></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Top contributors by industry:</td>

<td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00025237" rel="nofollow">2006 election cycle</a></td>

<td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00025237" rel="nofollow">Career totals</a></td>

</tr>

</tbody></table>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/search_result.asp?mem=King%2C+Steven+A" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/search_result.asp?mem=King%2C+Steven+A" rel="nofollow">Revolving door profile for Steve King</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a href="http://www.OpenSecrets.org" class="external text" title="http://www.OpenSecrets.org" rel="nofollow">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/travel.asp?CID=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/travel.asp?CID=N00025237" rel="nofollow">2006 privately funded travel profile for Steve King</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a href="http://www.OpenSecrets.org" class="external text" title="http://www.OpenSecrets.org" rel="nofollow">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/candlook.php?CID=N00025237" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/candlook.php?CID=N00025237" rel="nofollow">Personal finance profile for Steve King</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a href="http://www.OpenSecrets.org" class="external text" title="http://www.OpenSecrets.org" rel="nofollow">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

</ul>

<p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Committees and Affiliations</span></h2>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Committees</span></h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_the_Judiciary" title="House Committee on the Judiciary">House Committee on the Judiciary</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims -<b>Ranking</b></li>

<li>Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_Agriculture" title="House Committee on Agriculture">House Committee on Agriculture</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_Small_Business" title="House Committee on Small Business">House Committee on Small Business</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Finance and Tax</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare, and Trade</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<h4><span class="mw-headline">Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</span></h4>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_Agriculture" title="House Committee on Agriculture">House Committee on Agriculture</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Conservation Credit Rural Development and Research</li>

<li>Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_the_Judiciary" title="House Committee on the Judiciary">House Committee on the Judiciary</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Task Force on Antirust</li>

<li>Subcommittee on the Constitution</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Immigration Border Security and Claims</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Committee_on_Small_Business" title="House Committee on Small Business">House Committee on Small Business</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises Agriculture and Technology</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Coalitions and Caucuses</span></h3>

<ul>

<li>Chair, Conservative Opportunity Society</li>

</ul>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">More Background Data</span></h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS034389" class="external text" title="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS034389" rel="nofollow">Background information on Steve King from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS034389" class="external text" title="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS034389" rel="nofollow">Interest group scorecard ratings for Steve King from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/k000362" class="external text" title="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/k000362" rel="nofollow">Voting record for Steve King from the Washington Post database</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=IA05&site=congressmerge" class="external text" title="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=IA05&site=congressmerge" rel="nofollow">Information on Steve King from Congress Merge</a></li>

</ul>

<p><i><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> also has an article on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_King" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_King" rel="nofollow">Steve King</a>. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL" rel="nofollow">GFDL</a>.</i></p>