The Sunlight Network?s Punch Clock Campaign has been attracting candidates and the press! Read on for updates from the website !
Send Us Your Punch Clock Stories for the Press
Written by Zephyr on Mon, 2006-10-02 18:08
Starting soon, we are going to be contacting press around the country to let them know about what's happening with the Punch Clock Campaign, and how candidates are responding. 10 candidates so far have pledged to sign the Punch Clock Agreement, but hundreds of others have responded -- or not -- to your calls. Please keep sending us emails about your interactions with politicians so we can share your stories with the media.
Email nthompson at sunlightfoundation.com, headline "Punch Clock!"
Thanks.
Lois Herr (Candidate for PA-16): Anything I Don?t Share Shouldn?t Be On Constituents? Dime
Written by Zephyr on Mon, 2006-10-02 16:01
Because the Sunlight Network is a C(4) organization, we do not coordinate with candidates, but I found on a blog today Lois Herr's statement when she signed the Punch Clock Agreement. She is running for the 16th District in PA, and her opponent, Joe Pitts, has not signed the Agreement. It?s a strong, sensible explanation of why putting daily schedules online is so important:
?I?ll be going to Washington to represent the residents of the 16th District, and they deserve to know everything I am doing on their behalf. Anything on my schedule that I?m not willing to reveal to my constituents is something that I shouldn?t be doing on their dime.
I believe that, as a member of Congress, I must be accountable to my constituents and not to the lobbyists who are looking for favors for their clients. Posting my daily calendar on my Congressional website is an easy way to assure them that the 16th District is my first priority.?
Share this statement with your candidates as you talk to them about why this is an incredible opportunity to show their commitment to true representative democracy.
Great Editorial Today about the Punch Clock Campaign -- A Fabulous Opportunity for Senators and Congressmen from Alabama
Written by Zephyr on Thu, 2006-09-28 14:40.
The Aniston Star ran a wonderful editorial today about the Punch Clock Campaign:
How do our elected representatives fill their day? With whom are they lunching? Then there is the meeting with the folks from back home and touring the district. What about those after-hours functions with lobbyists? And the fundraisers, don?t forget the fundraisers.
Normally, such a list would be incomplete without accounting for legislating. However, the current Congress could set a new standard for a do-nothing Congress.
So, we know they are at work, we're just not sure precisely what they're doing.
That's where this brilliant idea comes into play. As of Wednesday, the [Punch Clock]drive has netted seven lawmakers. What a fabulous opportunity for senators and congressmen from Alabama, where a premium is placed on accountability to voters back home.
But the Editorial didn't stop there -- it listed all the incumbents that people should call:
Alabama's delegation includes Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, as well as Reps. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, Terry Everett, R-Enterprise, Mike Rogers, R-Anniston, Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, Spencer Bachus, R-Birmingham, and Artur Davis, D-Birmingham.
Punch Clock Ohio Update: Tim Ryan and Lew Katz
Written by Zephyr on Tue, 2006-09-26 13:38
Lew Katz, the challenger in Ohio's 14th district, has signed and faxed in his Punch Clock Agreement! Sam Murchie, the organizer in Ohio who spoke to Katz's campaign, writes:
From the first time I contacted the campaign office of Lew Katz (OH-14), the priority and importance that he and his campaign staff place on congressional openness, transparency, and straightforwardness was clear. They were incredibly supportive of the Punch Clock Campaign, and I was even more thrilled to hear that Lew Katz was already ahead of the game. Close to a year ago, Lew Katz took the initiative on his own, and made this pledge to the people in district 14. Within 48 hours of first contacting Eleina, the campaign Communications Director for Lew Katz, The Sunlight Network had received a fully signed copy of the Punch Clock Campaign Pledge, as well as a polite follow up just to make sure we had received it. Mr. Katz is the first candidate in OH to sign this pledge, and we at Sunshine Network are very excited about the momentum this campaign is gaining everyday, as well as those candidates taking the lead.
And sends in this update about Tim Ryan:
After hearing Rep. Tim Ryan (Dem. OH-17) say "I have no problem with (signing the Punch Clock Pledge)" at an event yesterday, I decided to spend a couple days in his district working with individuals and local groups not only to spread the word, but also gauge the level of support that Ryan could expect from his district. I ended up spending the entire day at Kent University talking to students about the benefit of candidates signing this pledge. I brought along a clipboard and a pile of blank petitions to get signed and used as follow up to Tim Ryan. By mid-afternoon, more than 100 people had signed, with a several professors taking an interest as well.
If you live in Tim Ryan's district, join the hundreds of local supporters and call him to tell him of your support, as well.
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