Lois Herr Signs Voters First Pledge

It's in writing: Lois Herr, Democratic candidate for the 16thDistrict Congressional seat, has signed a pledge to "put voters before lobbyists" by supporting legislation that would make Congressional officeholders accountable to voters, not donors. The Voter's First Pledge was sent to Congressional candidates by the Public Campaign Action Fund, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to making elections "clean." The organization promotes public financing of campaigns and meaningful ethics reform. Common Cause, Public Citizen, and US Public Interest Research Group also endorse the pledge, which asks candidates to formally show their support for specific policies to make elections fair, restore accountability, and protect voters' right-to-know.

Signing this pledge was no leap for Herr, who has already gone on record in her campaign in support of strengthening controls on lobbyists' influence on Congressional members, including strict disclosure requirements for lobbyists; restrictions on privately paid travel and gifts; an independent congressional ethics office; and the elimination of pensions for lawmakers convicted of bribery. Whether required by statute or not, says Herr, I will keep my Congressional calendar online, on my website, to let my constituents know that I am spending my time serving their interests and not making backroom deals for personal profit.

In addition to ethics reform, the Voters First Pledge also calls on candidates to make elections fair by supporting legislation that would establish public campaign financing in their states. Such legislation is in effect now in several states other than Pennsylvania. It provides a set amount of public campaign funds for each candidate who voluntarily refuses any private contributions. Eliminating the need to spend countless hours calling for dollars means candidates have more time to meet with the voters that they will be representing. Candidates who accept public financing would not bebeholden to give favors once in office to a few wealthy donors, but would, instead, be accountable only to the voters in their districts.

With public campaign financing, voters will get what their tax dollars are paying for; a representative in Washington who makes her constituents priority number one, believes Herr. Voter confidence in Congress is at an abysmal low, and the recent lobbying scandals are partly responsible. If we take away the constant demand on candidates and incumbents, who, let's face it are also perennial candidates, to raise money for ever more expensive campaigns, Congress can get back to doing the People's business, and stop giving them the business. I call on Rep. Pitts to join me in putting voters first bysigning the pledge.

Five-term incumbent Joseph R. Pitts is Lois Herr's opponent in the16th-District race.