Lynn Jenkins

Jenkins was born in Holton, Kansas, and is a sixth-generation Kansan. She was raised on a dairy farm in Holton, where she attended high school. Later she graduated from Kansas State University and Weber State College with an accounting major and an economics minor. She is a Certified Public Accountant. Jenkins served for two years in the Kansas House of Representatives and for one term in the Kansas Senate. She was elected state treasurer in 2002, at which time she began serving in a number of organizations, including as president of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST). Lynn's brother is Chris Haag and she also has a sister. ==U.S. House of Representatives==

Elections 2008 On April 4, 2007, Jenkins announced that she had filed papers with the Federal Election Commission as a first step of running for the U.S. House of Representatives for Kansas's 2nd congressional district. Her opponent in the Republican primary was former U.S. Representative Jim Ryun, who served five terms before being defeated in 2006 by prior Democratic incumbent Nancy Boyda, who ran for reelection. In the campaign between Jenkins and Ryun, he criticized her for having voted for tax increases while a state legislator, and she criticized him for having supported earmarks. Jenkins was seen as more moderate than Ryun and received the support of the Republican Leadership Council. The primary was held on August 5, 2008. Jenkins won the Republican nomination by approximately 1,000 votes. In the general election, Jenkins went on to defeat Boyda 51%–46%. 2010 Jenkins won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic candidate Cheryl Hudspeth, 63%–32%. 2012 Jenkins won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic candidate Tobias Schlingensiepen, 57%–39%. Tenure In June 2013, after the United States farm bill failed again, Jenkins claimed she was disappointed in House Republicans, who were divided over the issue. She blamed the failure in the House on the inability to find common ground, stating that there are still too many Democratic and Republican members who allowed politics to trump progress. Jenkins was ranked as the 96th most bipartisan member of the House during the 114th United States Congress by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy. In December 2017, Jenkins voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Jenkins says the bill will provide tax relief to middle-class Americans and create more jobs. She also claims the bill will improve the economy and therefore will "pay down our national debt," despite the bill being anticipated to add over $1 trillion to the national debt. "The Great White Hope" At a town hall on August 19, 2009, Jenkins commented on President Barack Obama's policies, saying, "Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope." Jenkins said to the crowd. "I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington." Jenkins then gave the names of several young, white Republicans. "The Great White Hope," a phrase that originated in the early 1900s, was a reference to any boxer whites hoped would finally defeat the World Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson, who was black. Jenkins later apologized, clarifying her remarks and saying that "I was explaining that there are some bright lights in the House, and I was unaware of any negative connotation. If I offended somebody, obviously I apologize." Only one month earlier she had voted for a resolution urging President Obama to pardon black U.S. boxer Johnson, which had text that explained the meaning of the phrase "The Great White Hope". Jenkins responded by saying she had voted for the resolution without reading it first. Lobbying Before her tenure in Congress ended, Jenkins set up the lobbying firm LJ Strategies. She registered the firm in Kansas on November 20, 2018. Jenkins' spokesperson said that Jenkins did not intend to actively seek clients until her congressional term had ended. Committee assignments Jenkins was assigned to the Committee on Financial Services including the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises and the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. She was named to the Ways and Means Committee when the Republicans gained control of the House for the 112th Congress. Jenkins was a member of the Republican Study Committee, the Republican Main Street Partnership, and the Tea Party Caucus. Caucus memberships • Republican Study Committee • Congressional Arts Caucus • Congressional Western Caucus • Climate Solutions Caucus • Problem Solvers Caucus ==Political positions==

Jenkins had a mostly conservative voting record in Congress. According to the Washington Examiner, "Jenkins, who had originally won her 2008 primary as a moderate, proved to be a fairly reliable conservative vote once she got to Congress (91 percent lifetime ACU rating and 73 percent Heritage Action in the last Congress)." In 2013, the non-partisan National Journal gave Jenkins a score of 77% conservative and 23% liberal. Jenkins has a zero rating from Environment America regarding her environment-related voting record. She opposes federal regulations of greenhouse gas emissions and considers it government overreach. She supports banning the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns except those used for hunting. She supports background checks at gun shows. Regarding DACA and the Dreamers, Jenkins released the following statement: "These children did not come to America on their own terms, they simply followed their parents. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with my colleagues to create a permanent solution through the legislative process with input from Kansans in the 2nd District." Abortion Jenkins described herself as "pro-choice" or pro-abortion rights while running for Congress. She frequently received a zero percent score from NARAL Pro-Choice America and a 100 percent score from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) for her voting record on abortion-related legislation. She received mixed ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL. Also in 2009, Population Connection, which supports family planning, gave her a 100% score. Her lowest score from NRLC is an 83%, mostly earning a 100% score. She opposes partial-birth abortions and federal funding for organizations who provide abortions. She supports providing buffer zones around abortion clinics for both protesters to demonstrate and to provide security for patients. The Republican Majority for Choice was among her top 100 contributors in 2010. Jenkins was referred to as "pro-choice" during the campaign and "Jenkins was endorsed by WISH List, a Republican group." In 2014, Jenkins was endorsed by Kansans for Life, an anti-abortion PAC. LGBT issues Jenkins opposed same-sex marriage and supported Kansas legislation to make marriage only between a man and a woman. She considered it government overreach and believed states should be able to decide for themselves. She did support Kansas including sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. She did vote in favor of the 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations bill that expanded hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, and she voted in favor of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2013 which prohibited that program's funds from being given to groups that discriminate based on gender identity or sexual orientation. She received a 10% from the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ PAC, in 2010, mostly receiving a 0% during her tenure. She did not take a position on legislation to ban same-sex marriage as Treasurer. ==Electoral history==

Jenkins has two children, Hayley and Hayden, and was married for 25 years. Her husband Scott filed for divorce on Friday, November 7, 2008, shortly after her election to the U.S. House. She is a member of the United Methodist Church. ==See also==