Change Congress

We are excited to announce that Diane Benson, a democrat running for Congress in Alaska, has committed to #1, #3 and #4 of the Change Congress pledges. Diane was inspired to run after her son was wounded in Iraq and spent months recovering from a bomb injury in the Army's Walter Reed Hospital. Her story is incredibly inspiring and showed, once again, what Americans are capable of when dedicated to fighting for change in Washington. From her website:

"What are our politicians afraid of? Do I have to do it myself?? I wondered out-loud. A few days later I filed to run."

In 2006, after winning the Democratic Primary, Diane went on to win over 41% of the vote, making history as one of only three opponents to ever come close to unseating Don Young. And her campaign spent only 15% as much as Young on the election.

Diane also caused a first in Alaska history when she forced the incumbent into a live televised debate. She was also the first to successfully challenge the Alaska Federation of Natives policy that prevented opponents of the Congressional incumbent to speak on the floor of the convention. Diane won the majority of votes in the town of Ft. Yukon, Don Young’s claimed hometown.

Diane has a history of challenging incumbents and making the most of what resources she has. An incredible candidate and wonderful inspiration, we've posted her letter to the Change Congress community below.

For too long, Alaskans have suffered at the hands of corrupted elected officials and certain unscrupulous lobbyists. Ironically, in a resource rich state like ours, we have desperate economic concerns. People are paying record high prices for staple food items, and too many rural families feel forced to choose between heating their homes, flying to Fairbanks or Anchorage for health care, or buying food. Clearly, it is time for change.

When I decided to run against long time Congressman Don Young in 2006, many said I faced insurmountable odds. I lacked personal wealth and connections to wealthy insiders that could finance my campaign. I faced a 33 year incumbent that was able to raise millions of dollars from corporate PAC’s and financial backers of the GOP establishment. But, against those odds, the people of Alaska stood by me because we shared a common experience: we all saw first-hand what the corruption in our government was doing to the people of our great state. Our tenacious grassroots efforts secured a surprising 40% of the vote. However, the voices of average Alaskans were muted by corporate bundling. We were outspent 10 to 1 by those ensuring the needs of special interests and wealthy insiders.

It is not corporations themselves that are the problem. American democracy is threatened when corporate managers and the extremely wealthy seek to buy influence by bank-rolling candidates; it erodes the voice and will of the American people.

The story of my candidacy in 2006 is like that of so many progressive candidates from around the country; so many of those that stood up for the American people against corruption and tyranny to create a new generation of bold, visionary leadership for America. Those of us running have to be elected to make the differences in campaign finance reform we wish to see. Therein is our challenge.

The survival of democracy requires we change. But, to do so the American people must be engaged in our government. The good news is, more progressive candidates help to inspire that. The trick is, keeping good candidates in the game. Progressive candidates must get elected and to do that, the people must act.

For a more just system, and for a healthy democracy I support a more comprehensive public finance system. I will stand by your cause and fight for change in our government for the American people.

Together, we can truly do better.

Diane Benson
Democrat for Congress, Alaska

Sam Rasoul has become the presumptive Democratic nominee in the VA-6th after fellow Democrat Drew Richardson withdrew from the race early this morning. Rasoul is the lone Change Congress candidate in the race and is one of the few committed to all four pledges. Here are his comments to the Change Congress community:

After a spirited campaign debating the issues all around Virginia's Sixth District, I am honored to be moving forward as the presumptive nominee, allowing me to continue making my case that the lobbyists and special interests hold too much power. We must return that power to the people. I have refused money from PACs and Lobbyists and will continue to do so.

I am proud to support Change Congress and will work hard to achieve the goals of eliminating ear marks, publicly financed elections and increased transparency when I am elected to Congress. You can watch my video statement from yesterday here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HFhGJnVLnE or check out my website at http://www.sam2008.com to learn more about me.

I urge everyone to get behind this movement by supporting Change Congress and the candidates that pledge to work for the real change we need. You can support my campaign through ActBlue here.

Between now and November we need people across the nation to stand up and fight to take back Congress and restore our Constitution.

Sam Rasoul
Democratic Candidate
Virginia's 6th Congressional District

Which state is getting the most federal funds via earmarks, per capita? You'll be surprised.

The folks over at Congressman Jim Cooper's office have put together a brilliant little open-source government bubble chart that shows which states are getting the most pork money through earmarks. The data stems from the group Citizens Against Government Waste who's mission is "to eliminate waste, mismanagement, and inefficiency in the federal government." The organization represents over a million members nationwide and is the legacy of President Reagan's 1982 "Grace Commission."

Alaska takes the cake with over $550 per capita, which is no surprise with projects like the Bridge to Nowhere. Hawaii and North Dakota are right behind with $221 and $208 respectively.

Now, obviously a key component to this comparison is state population as well. States like North Dakota and Hawaii aren't getting hundreds of billions more than California or Texas. The top three recipients of pork money are also the 47th, 48th and 49th least populated states in the U.S. Maine ($22.40) and Wyoming ($27.30), the 40th and 50th least-populated states, actually have very little earmark money and projects flowing to them.

However, it is a good visual to see which states are getting the most money for each of their state citizens. And (embarrassing admission here), I don't know about anyone else but I as soon as I started to examine the bubble chart I began rooting for my home state (Vermont) for securing all that money. It's a shame -- I feel like this grab for federal funds with earmarks is not much different than the grab for open land in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. May the fastest horses win, and everyone else can grovel for the scraps.

Ed 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!