Steven Arnold “Steve” King is a Congressman who has been serving as the U.S. Representative for Iowa’s 4th congressional district since 2003. With a background in business, King built a highly successful earth moving company, King Construction, from the ground up. His experiences in the business world led him to develop a keen interest in public policy and governance, prompting him to enter the world of politics. King served in the Iowa Senate for six years and was known for his ability to review policies from the perspective of both a politician and a common man. As a social conservative and strong pro-life advocate, King is dedicated to protecting the sanctity of unborn life. Additionally, he is a frequent contributor to various media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, and radio.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Steve Arnold King
- Age: 74 Years, 74 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn
- Father: Emmett King
- Mother: Mildred King
- Political Leaders
- American Men
- Height: 5’8″ (173 cm), 5’8″ Males
- Political ideology: Republican
- U.S. State: Iowa
- Education: Northwest Missouri State University
Childhood & Early Life
Steve King was born to Mildred Lila and Emmett King. His father worked as a state police dispatcher while his mother was a homemaker. He comes from a mixed ancestry. King attended Denison Community High School and graduated in 1967. He then studied mathematics at Northwest Missouri State University from 1967 to 1970, but did not graduate and left before earning a degree.
Career
King aspired to work in construction and founded King Construction, an earth moving business, in 1975. He started with just a single bulldozer and built the business through hard work and tenacity. In the 1980s, he formed the Kiron Business Association and became involved with the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors’ Association. He held regional and national offices in the organization.
King’s interest in public policy grew, along with his disappointment in the government and office holders who he felt were indifferent to the problems of the common man. In 1996, he successfully ran for Iowa’s 6th Senate district, defeating Democrat Eileen Heiden. He won re-election to a second term in 2000 after defeating Democrat Dennis Ryan.
During his time as an Iowa State Senator from 1996 to 2002, King helped eliminate the inheritance tax, passed taxation reforms, strengthened parental rights, and passed a law making English the official language in Iowa. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Oversight Budget and Chairman of the State Government Committee, as well as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Commerce Committee, and Judiciary Committee.
In 2002, King ran for the open seat in Iowa’s 5th congressional district. He was unable to reach the 35% voting threshold, so a nominating convention was held which led to his nomination. He won the general election against Council Bluffs City Councilman Paul Shomshor. King emphasized traditional family values, advocated for pro-life measures, brought about taxation reforms, and brought his hands-on experience as a small businessman to politics. He easily won re-election for the next five terms.
In 2012, Iowa was redistributed to four districts and King now represents the Fourth Congressional District in the 113th Congress. He serves on the Agriculture Committee and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight and Nutrition. One of his first priorities in Congress was renewable energy production, and he passed a bill to expand tax credits to small producers of ethanol and biodiesel. He also brought his knowledge of small business opportunities and challenges to the Small Business Committee, working towards restricting governmental regulations that could hinder small business growth.
Controversies
King has faced controversies throughout his career. He received criticism for his comments on Barack Obama’s middle name, Hussein, which had an Islamic sound. He also made disrespectful remarks about America’s migrant population without acknowledging their contributions to the country’s development.
Major Works
Steve King is a Congressman serving as the U.S. Representative for Iowa’s 4th congressional district. As a former businessman, he implemented several reforms to encourage the growth of small businesses in Iowa and made the production of renewable energy one of his top priorities. He is widely respected for his accomplishments not just in Iowa, but throughout the U.S.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1972, King married Marilyn Kelly. The couple has three adult children and several grandchildren. His oldest son now manages the construction company he founded in 1975.