You've probably seen stories in the press lately about Congressman Terry and lobbyists.

Truth is, you don't need to look any further than his legislative record to see that his connection with Washington lobbyists and special interests is too close for comfort. Terry and politicians like him spend too much time cozying up to the special interests. It's time for that to change.

We need 1,000 people to co-sponsor my plan to reform Washington - click to be one.

Here's what we need to do to start reforming Washington:

• Transparency in campaign spending. In the wake of the recent Citizens United court case, we need new campaign finance regulations to ensure transparency and accountability. We cannot let activist courts turn our elections into auctions.
• End the cozy relationships with lobbyists. Post the attendees and subject matter of all meetings between lobbyists and government officials on a publicly-available website. Close the revolving door by prohibiting individuals from going back and forth between government jobs and corporate lobbying jobs within a 5 year timeframe. Ban corporate lobbyists from giving gifts and providing free travel to officials.
• Ban corporate earmarks, and make members of Congress publicly own up to their earmark requests.
• Cut and freeze salaries for members of Congress until they do their job and balance the budget.

In the Legislature, I passed a bill to put the state's checkbook online so Nebraskans can see how their money is spent. I took on special interests that wanted sweetheart deals in the tax code, and I won. In Congress, I won't back down from fighting for reform.

Join me by helping us get 1,000 co-sponsors of my reform plan this week. Together, we'll make Washington work for the people, not the powerful.

TomWhite2010.com/Reform

Thanks for all you do,

Tom

Bumped from the diaries. Tom White is one of the Congressional candidates on our Going on Offense Act Blue page; please welcome him to MyDD. - Nathan

On two separate occasions recently – the Tom Becka Program on KFAB and a taxpayer-funded telephone town hall – Rep. Lee Terry misled voters about his record on deficits and spending. Watch the video:

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All across America, something remarkable is happening. In the face of politicians who are more concerned with scoring political points than solving problems, and a political culture that is more interested in tearing people down than bringing people together, ordinary people like you are standing up and saying "Enough!"

I've seen it here in Omaha, Nebraska during my campaign for Congress. People who have never voted before, people who have never gotten involved in a campaign or cared about politics, are getting involved in this election. It is inspiring, and it gives me the motivation to work even harder. I know exactly why people are getting involved, and it's the same reason I got involved two years ago. We need to change the way things are done in Washington so that the government works for the people once again.

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Last week, I traveled to Afghanistan to get a firsthand perspective of the situation on the ground. I arranged the trip with help from the University of Nebraska-Omaha's Center for Afghanistan Studies. The center is one of the foremost resources in our country for information and expertise regarding Afghanistan. I spent about a week in the country, and met with Afghans, Americans, and others who are dealing day-to-day with the delicate situation in this volatile region.

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My only question is when will Congressman Terry run out of excuses to vote against this bill.  It's one excuse after another:

From the Omaha World Herald Monday:

"Once again, illegal immigration is helping tie Congress in knots.

The subject has been injected into some seemingly unlikely discussions this year, including debate over a new farm bill.Now it has become a major hang-up delaying renewal of the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program, which Republicans and Democrats alike largely support...

Many Republicans who support Bush's threatened veto...say the renewal legislation would give health benefits to illegal immigrants...the bill's defenders disagree...

Against that backdrop, federal officials say they have no idea whether illegal immigrants have used the 10-year-old program because it hasn't required proof of citizenship.At the same time, they say they have no anecdotal reports that participation by illegal immigrants is a problem.

That has prompted some Democrats and children's advocates to accuse the bill's Republican foes of using the immigration issue as political cover.

They contend that without playing the immigration card, it's hard for GOP congressmen to side with Bush and oppose a kids' health care bill...

"I feel they are sounding an alarm when I have yet to see any evidence there are a significant number of undocumented immigrants obtaining benefits," said Tiffany Siebert of Voices for Children in Nebraska."

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