From Change Congress Candidate Ed Fallon
March 31, 2008 10:12 a.m. by Lawrence LessigEd Fallon is a Democrat, and candidate for Congress in Iowa's 3d congressional district. He is a Change Congress candidate (pledging 4 out of 4 planks), and I asked him to write a bit about why he has chosen not to accept money from lobbyists and PACs. Here's his post:
Throughout my political career, I have refused contributions from PACs and lobbyists. Since 1992, campaign finance reform has been the centerpiece of my political agenda. Nearly every other issue – including health care, the environment, and sustainable agriculture – is compromised by the presence of corporate money in politics. America needs what Maine, Arizona and Connecticut have at the state level: voluntary public financing of elections.
When I ran for Governor of Iowa in 2006, as a matter of principle I maintained my commitment to running a campaign free of big money. Pundits predicted I’d receive only 5% – 10% of the vote, but I finished a strong third with 26%. In fact, I won Iowa’s third congressional district, and now I’m running for Congress against a Democratic incumbent who has voted far too often with President Bush and against the priorities most Iowans value.
My opponent is Congressman Leonard Boswell, who in 2007 raised $722,327. Of that amount, 74% came from PACs, the vast majority from corporate PACs, including Wal-mart, AT&T, Boeing and various agribusiness interests.
Serving in the Iowa Legislature without PAC or lobbyist money allowed me to be a consistent, progressive voice for the public’s interest. If we are to take back our government and our country, we need to build a bluer Democratic Congress one seat at a time. My primary election is an opportunity to do that, and I welcome the support of reform-minded Americans in Iowa and beyond. For more information about my campaign and to make a donation, please visit FallonforCongress.com. Thanks!
