Message to Obama: I want this to work

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Barack Obama’s “Plan for America” includes  the following broad categories:

  • Economy
  • Ethics
  • Health Care
  • Seniors
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Fiscal Discipline
  • Rural
  • Women
  • Immigration
  • Poverty
  • Service
  • Civil Rights
  • National Security
  • Veterans

I would have switched Ethics and Fiscal Discipline to the beginning of the list since all the other categories are predicated on having the appropriate levels of these two key ingredients that seem to be completely missing from the conversation in Washington D.C.

On ethics, Mr. Obama says he is going to “close the revolving door between K-street and the executive branch.” He’s also going to increase transparency so “ordinary Americans can understand their government” and “make government more effective.” These promises have not gone unnoticed and I will be holding the new administration accountable.

Federal Ethics Reform
Obama took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was described as the “gold standard” for reform. It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized corporate jet travel, mandating disclosure of lobbyists’ bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law. The Washington Post wrote in an editorial, “The final package is the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from Congress yet.”

Google for Government
Americans have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent, but that information has been hidden from public view for too long. That’s why Barack Obama and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) passed a law to create a Google-like search engine to allow regular people to track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans online. The Chicago Sun-Times wrote, “It would enable the public to see where federal money goes and how it is spent. It’s a brilliant idea.”
Illinois Reform

In 1998, Obama joined forces with former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) to pass the toughest campaign finance law in Illinois history. The legislation banned the personal use of campaign money by Illinois legislators and banned most gifts from lobbyists. Before the law was passed, one organization ranked Illinois worst among 50 states for its campaign finance regulations.

A High Standard
Unlike John McCain, Obama’s campaign refuses to accept contributions from Washington lobbyists and political action committees.

I flat out don’t believe that the Obama campaign didn’t take contributions from special interests. A “google-like” search engine that lets us watch government is a great idea, as long as it is run by an independent private organization. I’ll volunteer if someone pays me “a living wage.” I don’t think we’ll see real federal ethics reform until the two party system is crushed like the piece of garbage it is. We’d need to throw Congress out on its ass and pick an entirely new batch of people to have a chance. Can you do that Mr. Obama?

More to come. I’ve got at least four years to hold our soon to be President to the promises he made.