Ethics is something that is woven into the very fabric of how our government does business. And ethics reform is an issue that goes to the heart of our American democracy--to the public trust and respect that's essential to the health of our constitutional system.
We all know that there's always been big money in Washington. And we also know that over the years, elected members of both parties have been found to be corrupt. We all know this is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem. It is a Washington problem. The scandals in Washington--from cash in freezers to trips to Scotland to bribes for sweetheart contracts--have reached unimaginable depths in the last few years. These scandals and the undue influence of money in Washington destroy public trust but they also fundamentally affect people's day to day lives. Thanks to pervasive influence of big money in Washington, America now has a health care policy that was written with the pens of the big drug companies, and an energy policy that was drafted in secret meetings with the big energy companies.
When our leaders in Washington curry favor with the oil companies, we all pay more at the pump because they've failed to invest in renewable fuels. When our leaders in Washington pass a bill to help the big drug companies, we all pay more because they've banned negotiation on prices. When our leaders in Washington hand out no-bid contracts to their friends and refuse to oversee billion of dollars, we the American people are the ones who end up paying the bills.
As a prosecutor, I've seen firsthand how the well-off and powerful do not face the same challenges as the middle class and poor. Whenever we prosecute someone who is wealthy or well-connected, the courtroom is packed with their friends. If it is someone who is poor or middle-class, they are lucky if their mom can take the day off work to stand behind them in the courtroom. My job is to even the playing field and treat people fairly no matter where they come from.
Let's change Washington so, as Teddy Roosevelt used to say, all Americans are on an equal footing. As your U.S. Senator, here's what I'll fight for:
• I will fight to let some light into the halls of Congress. We should require that conference committee meetings and deliberations be televised and open to the public and that all conference reports identify changes from House and Senate versions. We should require that lobbyists disclosures be made once a quarter and be available on the Internet.
• I will fight to change the rules in Congress so our leaders stay focused on public service, not paid perks. According to a study by American Public Media (Minnesota Public Radio), lawmakers from both parties and their staff accepted around 23,000 privately-sponsored trips worth nearly $50 million dollars between January 2000 and June 2005, including 527 trips that cost more than $10,000 each. We need Minnesota-style ethics reform – with a new law that bans all gifts, all free travel, and all free meals.
• I will fight to end “earmarking” and other legislative procedures that have led to runaway government spending. Discretionary spending has gone up almost 50 percent since this President took office. Last year, Congress earmarked $53 billion dollars on 14,000 projects promoted by special interests, like the “bridge to nowhere” in Alaska, a rain forest in Iowa, or a waterless urinal in Michigan. If Members of Congress want funding for special projects, then they should justify it in front of the American people in a public debate and "stand by their pork."
• I will fight for serious enforcement of ethics rules. We need to support Senator Obama’s proposal for an Office of Public Integrity in Congress – an independent, nonpartisan, professional office that would be responsible for enforcing the ethics rules. Click here to read a speech about ethics reform given in June. |
On the Issues 
