The cost of running for office continues to skyrocket, and increasingly, the money comes from lobbyists and Political Actions Committees (PACs).  As a strong advocate for getting big money out of politics, I have never taken money from lobbyists or PACs, and I won’t accept it in this Congressional campaign either. My opponent, Leonard Boswell, does accept donations from PACs and lobbyists.  Of the $600,167 he raised between February and September 2007, 73% came from PACs.  

The real solution is voluntary public financing of elections.  I support the Fair Elections Now Act (S.936) currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate. As a member of the U.S. House, I would introduce or cosponsor companion legislation. When we take the corrupting influence of money out of campaigns we will have a President and a Congress focused on the needs of people rather than demands of specials interests.