Mark Kirk

Mark Kirk is a Republican who represents the 10th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.http://www.kirkforsenate.com/?page_id=2 In November 2010, he was elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias in a campaign with many mudslinging issues.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20021574-503544.html

Kirk will be filling the seat that was once held by president Barrack Obama, and which was passed on to Roland Burris after Obama was elected president. Kirk is a five-term U.S. representative who is sometimes known as a moderate. He supports the Bush era tax cuts. Kirk also stresses the increase of agricultural exports that are important to Illinois.http://www.pantagraph.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_d3d2be06-d8ad-11df-b1ae-001cc4c03286.html The Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, publicly endorsed Kirk in his campaign for the senate in 2010. During the meet-and-greet at which both were in attendance, Governor Fortuño said, “Mark Kirk is hands down the best choice for U.S. Senate in Illinois because he wants to tax less, spend less and borrow less.” He then went on to say, “Latino families and small business owners would suffer under Alexi Giannoulias."http://www.kirkforsenate.com/?p=3016

Kirk campaigned for the preservation of the Great Lakes and increased school funding for his district.http://www.house.gov/kirk/issues.shtml Outside of his political life, on June 6, 2009, representatives from Kirk's office announced that Kirk and his wife of eight years were filing for divorce.http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1610231,CST-NWS-kirk06.article

Kirk was born in Champaign, Illinois, and attended high-school at New Tier in Winnetka, Illinois. He also has a Masters in economics, a degree in law, and the rank of commander in the Naval Reserve. Some of the provisions that Kirk has written during his term include funding for a commuter rail, improvements on veteran health care, and improvements in aviation security.http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=62

1. 1989-present: U.S. Naval Reserve (Lieutenant Commander)http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=33502
2. 1992-1993: U.S. Department of State (Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary)http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=33502
3. 2000-2010: U.S. Representative for Illinois.
4. Nov. 2010: Elected to U.S. Senate.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110505071.html

• Mark Kirk has said he is a supporter of animal rights, and earned the Humane Society's 2009 Congressional Leader award.http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98&Itemid=99M
• Kirk has stated he supports making efforts to ensure that as many students are able to complete a college education as possible.http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=101
• Kirk states that he believes in health care reform, so long as it meets certain criteria such as allowing patients to retain their current insurance, minimizing federal borrowing and increasing the number of patients who have access to health insurance.http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3668%3Aseven-criteria-for-comprehensive-healthcare-reform&catid=78&Itemid=107
• Kirk has voted in support of protecting and restoring the Great Lakes and Lake Michigan. He has been named the "most green" Republican member of Congress.http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=103
• Mark has said he believes that campaign contributions from any company or individual who is given an earmark should be disallowed.http://kirk.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=100