Today the Sacramento Bee reported on Dan Lungren's latest conflict of interest. While Karl Rove's shadowy front group tries to bail out Lungren in a tough election, the Congressman advocates for unlimited corporate campaign spending. Even worse, if Lungren does win reelection and becomes Chairman of the House Administration Committee, he would have jurisdiction over campaign finance regulation -- Lungren would be responsible for regulating the same shadowy corporations that are funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to save him.
This news comes just one week after Karl Rove and Big Oil billionaires invaded our living rooms, laundering over $690,000 through Rove's shadowy slush fund, American Crossroads, hoping to hijack our election through false and misleading advertisements.
It's not surprising that Big Oil is protecting Lungren - he's taken $84,950 from oil and gas companies, then does their bidding in Congress - voting to give Big Oil $2.6 billion in tax breaks.
It's also not surprising that Karl Rove is working for Dan Lungren, since Lungren's opposition to transparency paved the way for American Crossroads. Lungren voted against the DISCLOSE Act to require transparency in corporate campaign spending, and applauded the Citizens United Supreme Court decision on the floor of the House. These actions set the stage for American Crossroads to launder billions from the mega corporations who are corrupting our government. Even more egregious, Lungren accepted $15,000 from Citizens United, and is even starring in an incendiary Citizens United film alongside Ann Coulter.
It's not surprising that Karl Rove and Big Oil want to keep Dan Lungren in Congress. But we have a surprise for them, because Rove and Lungren have forgotten the most important part of our democracy: you - and thousands of voters just like you. We don't support shadowy corporations polluting our democracy, and we won't stand by while Karl Rove tries to hijack our election.
You are the strongest weapon we have against American Crossroads, and we need you now. Please, support us in any way you can, and together, we will fight back against Karl Rove and his corporate billionaires, and we will bring the kind of change our country needs.
That's the only way to explain why Dan stood silent in Congress while his colleague, Texas Rep. Joe Barton, offered an apology to BP and as the Republican Congressional policy group he's a member of called the compensation fund for victims of the oil disaster a "shakedown."
Dan had a choice: Stand up for his constituents, American taxpayers and those in the Gulf affected by this disaster, or do nothing. After taking more than $75,000 from the oil and gas industry, and as a leading supporter of off shore oil drilling, Dan's silence speaks volumes about who he's working for.
The sad truth is this: it's big corporations, not us.
As a doctor, I understand how actions can affect lives. What you say and do in a crisis matters. There isn't the luxury of remaining silent, or standing on the sidelines. There is a need for clear and decisive action. If I was in Congress, I would act to protect taxpayers and the environment; Dan chose to stay silent and avoid upsetting his campaign contributors.
That's the difference between Dan and me.
My campaign for Congress is about reaching out to our local communities to have a real, honest discussion about how to create jobs, improve our schools and make health insurance more affordable.
To be blunt, Dan's campaign is about taking care of his big corporate contributors. Instead of accepting invitations to debate the issues, he continues to hide behind handlers. Instead of saying where he stands and rising up to the challenges we face, Dan canceled joint appearances at the last minute - not once, but twice.
This is a far cry from the Dan Lungren who once said: "Let's have an old-fashioned Lincoln-Douglas style debate... Why can't we be without handlers? Why can't we just say who we are, what we are and what we stand for?" (Dan Lungren, Los Angeles Times, May 14, 1998 http://articles.latimes.com/19...
I agree with Dan on this point. That's why I have challenged him to a series of five debates, one in each county of the Third Congressional District.
The people deserve an open and honest debate on the issues that illustrate the choice they will have this November.
Will Dan have the character to answer his own question? Or will he just keep hiding behind his handlers and their negative attacks?
Either way, I invite you to learn more about my campaign at http://www.BeraforCongress.com. Tell me what you think and I hope you can join us for a house party where we can discuss the issues.
The more I have spoken to people about what I can contribute to public policy and the more I have listened to their concerns, the clearer it has become that my best opportunity for service lies right here at home. Working to develop the new energy economy and the green jobs we need is the challenge I truly want to tackle. Consequently, I am ending my campaign for Congress and will turn my full attention to the tremendous opportunities facing SMUD and the alternative energy start-ups locating here.
The window of opportunity for establishing our region as one of the nation's hubs for this emerging industry will not stay open long. We have to seize the momentum now.
This morning I shared my decision to withdraw from the Congressional race with Dr. Ami Bera and offered him my support. I wish him well and look forward to working with him on these issues when he is our next Representative in Congress.
Bera, a doctor and former Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County, now looks set to take on Dan Lungren. Lungren barely managed to squeak past an underfunded Bill Durston in 2008, and the district went for Obama. Bera, with his cash-on-hand totals now topping Lungren's totals could make this one of the more interesting races in the country.
UPDATE: I just got Dr. Bera's statement.
Bill Slaton has been a champion for renewable energy development and a strong leader in the community. I am honored to have his support as we work toward our shared goal-pushing aside partisanship and working to create jobs and opportunity for Californians. Bill's support will be critical as we continue to build momentum for the change we need in Congress.
Full email from Bill Slaton and press release from Ami Bera over the flip.
(Wow, CA-03 looks like it will be a top race to watch. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
UPDATE: Dan Lungren's data was just released, and once again Dr. Ami Bera has out raised Dan Lungren. This time, Bill Slaton has also outraised Lungren. Lungren raised $196,872.81 for a total of $443,718.52 Cash on hand. There are now two formidable opponents for Lungren. Unless the winning candidate drains his finances in the primary, Lungren will face a tough race in 2010.
It's 3rd Quarter fundraising number season for federal candidates, and the data is just beginning to trickle out in front of this week's deadline.
CA-03 is looking ever more intriguing, though. Dan Lungren pulled less than 50% in his 2008 victory over Bill Durston. However, Durston was always critically low on funding, and really didn't have the resources to get his message out.
However, if Dr. Ami Bera grabs the nomination, that will not happen this year. Bera, the former Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County, released his fundraising results for the third quarter of 2009 today. Dr. Bera's campaign raised $335,443.00 between July 1st and September 30th. The campaign reported an impressive $585,787.00 in cash-on-hand at the end of the quarter.
Numbers for the other Democratic nominee, Bill Slaton, and Lungren are not yet available. Last quarter, Bera outraised Lungren, and was only behind in cash on hand by $36K. Slaton wasn't doing bad himself, but unless he really hit the gas on fundraising, Bera's big numbers might end up looking very formidable in a primary.
Money isn't everything, but for the Congressional campaign of a heretofore unknown candidate, you simply cannot win without substantial monetary resources.
I'll update with numbers from Slaton and Lungren when available.
UPDATE: Well, well, Slaton's numbers are also impressive. We might end up with an interesting primary in the district. From his press release:
Democratic candidate Bill Slaton reported adding $253,418 to his campaign coffers this quarter, bringing his total cash on hand to $398,506. Slaton, the SMUD Board Vice President, green energy advocate and entrepreneur, is running to challenge Republican Congressman Dan Lungren in California's 3rd District. 69% of the contributors are 3rd Congressional district residents.
Dr. Ami Bera approaches health care as one would expect of a doctor; with compassion and a desire to make well.
"I trained to be a physician to take care of people," he says. It's an attitude he will carry with him when we elect him to congress. Compassion, caring, a person centered approach to solving the very significant issues facing the American people is what we will get with Ami Bera.
"Health care is not a lottery," Bera told a group of about 50 people gathered in Rancho Cordova to hear his views on health care. But some people want to treat it that way. Health insurance is the ticket. If you have one, maybe you win something. If you don't - well, you don't.
Calitics doesn't allow my CSS formatting code for photos and text. Read the rest at California Notes.
Only one of the Obama Eight is in NorCal and it may be one of the hottest contests of the coming cycle. It's Dan Lungren vs. a slew a suddenly well-funded Dems.
Oh, and how's this for a little Democratic hustle? A source tells me that Bill Slaton, a SMUD Board Member and recent addition to the Dem field will post $227,000 for the first quarter and that he raised that amount in just three weeks with nothing but a phone and a rolodex.
