Kevin Yoder (KS-03): Swamp Creature
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Kevin Yoder (KS-03): Swamp Creature Significant Findings Yoder began his legislative career a year after graduating from law school, and has received over $1.2 million in taxpayer funded salary Yoder privately supported Trump while avoiding press inquiries before the election Yoder voted for the American Health Care Act and the Tax Cuts and Job Act Yoder has generated a significant portion of his wealth since joining Congress Yoder’s campaign is “fueled by PAC money” with “more than half” of their money coming from PACs and “less than 1 percent from small donors” Yoder received more than $300,000 from payday lenders, more than any member of Congress Yoder is a top ally of Brownback and Brownback’s policies that have devastated Kansas’ education system had their “genesis” with Yoder Biography Kevin Yoder is a Member of Congress representing Kansas 3rd Congressional District and has served in that position since 2011. Born January 1976 in Hutchinson, Kansas Education: University of Kansas, B.A. (1999); J.D. (2002) Served in the Kansas House from 2003 to 2011 Was an attorney at Speer & Holiday, LLP Served on the Board of Trustees at Gallaudet University Yoder Benefitted From The Perks Of Congress Yoder Has Received Approximately $1.2 Million In Taxpayer Funded Salary Yoder Received More Than $1.2 Million In Federal Taxpayer Funded Salary Yoder has received a Congressional salary of $174,000 every year since he joined Congress. Over his six years in office in Congress, Yoder has received a total of $1,218,000 in taxpayer-funded congressional salary. Year Congressional Salary 2011 $174,000 2012 $174,000 2013 $174,000 2014 $174,000 2015 $174,000 2016 $174,000 2017 $174,000 TOTAL $1,218,000 [Congressional Research Service, 6/21/16] Yoder Voted To Raise His Own Pay 2013: Yoder Voted Against Continuing Appropriations That Blocked COLA For Members. In May 2014, Yoder voted against: “Passage of the bill that would provide $3.3 billion for legislative branch operations, excluding Senate operations, in fiscal 2015. The total would include $1.2 billion for House operations, $595 million for the Library of Congress, $519.6 million for the Government Accountability Office, $488.6 million for the Architect of the Capitol and $348 million for the Capitol Police.” According to the Congressional Research Service, “The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-46, Section 146, enacted October 17, 2013), prohibited the scheduled 2014 pay adjustment for Members of Congress.” A vote yes was a vote to block pay increases. The bill passed 285-144. [CRS, 6/21/16; CQ, 10/16/13; HR2775, Vote #550, 10/16/13] 2012: Yoder Voted Against Continuing Appropriations That Blocked COLA For Members. In September 2012, Yoder voted against: “Passage of the joint resolution that would provide continuing appropriations for the federal government through March 27, 2013, at an annualized rate of $1.047 trillion in discretionary spending for regular appropriations. The measure would increase funding for most federal programs and agencies by 0.6 percent, with higher levels for certain programs, such as cybersecurity and wildfire suppression. It also would provide nearly $88.5 billion in war funding and $6.4 billion in advance disaster relief funds.” A vote yes was a vote to block pay increases. The resolution passed 329-91. [Congressional Research Service , 10/18/12; CQ, 9/13/12; HJRes 117, Vote #579, 9/13/12] 2011: Yoder Voted Against A Motion That Included Language To Block COLA For Members. In 2011, Yoder voted against a motion to recommit that included language blocking member pay increases. According to the CRS, “Section 5421(b)(1) of H.R. 3630, as introduced in the House, would have prohibited any adjustment for Members of Congress prior to December 31, 2013. Section 706 of the motion to recommit also contained language freezing Member pay.” A vote yes was a vote to block pay increases. The motion was rejected 183-244. [Congressional Research Service, 6/20/13; HR 3630, Vote #922, 12/13/11] NOTE: When using this research, keep in mind that Yoder has also voted on various occasions against raising his own pay. Yoder Would Receive $17,748 Per Year In Taxpayer Funded Pension According to the Office of Personnel Management, a “Member of Congress or Congressional Employee (or any combination of the two) must have at least 5 years of service as a Member of Congress and/or Congressional Employee” to qualify for their retirement annuity. The annual pension is calculated as “1.7% of your high-3 average salary multiplied by your years of service as a Member of Congress or Congressional Employee which do not exceed 20, PLUS 1% of your high-3 average salary multiplied by your years of other service.” [Office of Personnel Management, accessed 7/18/17] For Members who joined after 1991, the annual pension is calculated as: [The Atlantic, 10/2/15; Congressional Research Service, 11/10/16] For any current Member eligible for their pension, their High-3 would be $174,000, making the formula: [$174,000 x .017 x Years of Service (Max 20)] + [$174,0000 x .01 x (Years of Service Over 20)] = Annual Pension [$174,000 x .017 x Years of Service (5) = $14,790] + [$174,0000 x .01 x (0)= $0] = Annual Pension = $14,790 Given Yoder’s five years served he would receive $17,748 in annual taxpayer-funded pension. Yoder Would Receive An Additional Pension From The State Of Kansas Worth Between $15,001 And $50,000 According to his personal financial disclosures, Yoder is enrolled in a retirement plan from the State of Kansas for his service. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Yoder will qualify for the benefit when he is 65, in 2041, because he has fewer than 10 years of service. Yoder’s personal financial disclosers state that his pension agreement is worth between $15,001 and $50,000. [Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Kevin Yoder Financial Disclosure, accessed 10/27/17; National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed 10/31/17] Yoder’s Wealth Increased $259,010 While In Congress When Yoder first took office, his net worth was an estimated $72,000 in debt. In 2015, after four years in Congress, Yoder’s net worth grew to an estimated $187,010 – a $259,010 increase. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 10/27/17] [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 4/10/18] Yoder Received $44,803 In Privately Funded Travel Yoder Received $44,803 In Privately Funded Travel. As of October 2017, Yoder had gone on three privately funded trips, receiving a total of $44,803 in travel. [Political Moneyline, accessed 4/10/18] Yoder’s Private Travel Dates Location(s) Total Amount 8/6 - 8/11/17 Berlin, Germany $11,996 8/10- 8/16/16 London, United Kingdom $12,720 8/13 - 8/21/2011 Tel Aviv, Israel $20,087 Total: $44,803 [Political Moneyline, accessed 4/10/18] Yoder Consistently Voted For Trump-Ryan Agenda Yoder Has Voted With Donald Trump 91.4% Of The Time FiveThirtyEight: Yoder Has Voted With Trump 91.4% Of The Time. According to FiveThirtyEight, as of October 2017, Yoder had voted with President Trump 91.4% of the time. [FiveThirtyEight, updated 4/9/18] Yoder Has Voted With His Party 97% Of The Time Yoder Has Voted With The Republican Party 97% Of The Time. According to CQ, in 2016, Yoder has voted with other members of the Republican Caucus 97% of the time. [CQ Vote Studies, accessed 4/9/18] Party Unity Year Support Oppose 2017 96% 4% 2016 98% 2% 2015 97% 3% 2014 97% 3% 2013 97% 3% 2012 97% 3% 2011 97% 3% Lifetime Average 97% 3% [CQ Vote Study, accessed 4/9/18] Yoder Voted With Paul Ryan 92% Of The Time Yoder Voted With Ryan 92% Of The Time. According to ProPublica, in his congressional career, Yoder had voted with Speaker Ryan 92% of the time. [ProPublica, accessed 4/9/18] Vote Comparison Congress Total Votes Votes Disagreeing Percent Agreement 115th 21 3 86%% 114th 572 49 91% 113th 1174 86 93% 112th 1547 126 92% Lifetime Average 3314 264 92% [ProPublica, accessed 4/9/18] Funded By Republican Leadership, Receiving $26,000 From Paul Ryan Over his career, Yoder has received $26,000 in donations from Paul Ryan and his associated entities: Donations From Paul Ryan Date Candidate/Committee Amount 4/4/17 Ryan for Congress, Inc. $4,000 4/4/17 Prosperity Action, Inc. $5,000 11/2/16 Ryan for Congress $2,000 9/16/16 Prosperity Action, Inc. $5,000 7/8/16 Prosperity Action, Inc. $5,000 10/20/10 Prosperity PAC $2,500 9/20/10 Prosperity PAC $2,500 Total $26,000 [FEC, accessed 4/9/18] Voted To Elect Paul Ryan Speaker Of The House 2017: Voted To Make Rep. Paul Ryan Speaker Of The House. In January 2017, Yoder voted for Paul Ryan to be Speaker of the House. Ryan was elected by a vote of 239-189. [Election to the Speaker, Vote #2, 1/3/17; CQ, 1/3/17] 2015: Voted To Make Rep. Paul Ryan Speaker Of The House. In October 2015, Yoder voted for Paul Ryan to be Speaker of the House. Paul Ryan received 236 votes, Nancy Pelosi received 184 votes, and Daniel Webster received 9 votes. [Election to the Speaker, Vote #581, 10/29/15] Yoder Supported Donald Trump, Despite Scandal After Scandal May 2016: Yoder Said, “[Trump] Wasn’t My First Choice,” In His Endorsement Of Trump.