Jim McGovern-- Leading By Example In The War Against Congressional Corruption

Jim McGovern (D-MA) is one of the most progressive members of Congress. His D+9 central Massachusetts district-- which includes Worcester, Northampton, Amherst and Uxbridge-- gave Trump just 36.8% of its vote. Last year McGovern beat Republican Tracy Lovvorn two to one-- 191,332 (67.2%) to 93,391 (32.8%). In the 2 decades between 1998 and 2018, the Republicans had only fielded candidates against him in 2004 (28%) and 2010 (39.2%). He has a safe seat and his 96.7 ProgressivePunch lifetime crucial vote score is in the top 10 in Congress. He's the only committee chair in the top 10-- and it's one of the House's most important committees, the traffic cop of Congress, the Rules Committee.

He doesn't need much money and he doesn't spend inordinate amounts of time raising it. Last cycle he raised $1,170,272 compared to his opponent's $37,826. Much of it went to pay dues and help other Democrats rather than to actual campaigning. This is what he raised in other years, along with how much of that came from business-oriented PACs:

• 2018- $1,170,272/$392,173
• 2016- $928,775/$320,382
• 2014- $874,483/$251,800
• 2012- $1,068,822/$280,439
• 2010- $1,839,052/$327,541
• 2008- $1,085,779/$208,745
• 2006- $755,594/$116,994
• 2004- $924,147/$95,579
• 2002- $628,350/$89,822
• 2000- $848,573/$119,497

Nearly every year his biggest sector, by far, was labor unions. Finance was usually a distant second, followed by lawyers and lobbyists, although sometimes #2 would be lawyers and lobbyists followed by Finance.

Saturday, McGovern wrote an e-mail to his constituents telling them that he is making "a commitment... I will no longer accept corporate PAC money for my campaign." He wrote that "It's no secret that the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United championed corporate PACs, lobbyists, and special interests. Making American voices simply an afterthought for many politicians. Winning an election is an expensive undertaking. One that has begun to sideline emerging leaders in favor of the better-connected or the easily-bought." That's his colleagues he's talking about-- and certainly party leaders like the notoriously corrupt Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn, as well as Pelosi and the crook in the district next door, bribe taking chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Richard Neal.

We see this in the Republican majority's refusal to act on climate change or gun violence-- their allegiance is to the corporations holding a check over their heads, not their constituents.

The new Democratic majority in the House has introduced a voting rights and campaign reform bill to suppress the influence of big money in politics and ensure public officials are working in the interest of their communities. It will be a privilege to bring these items to the floor for debate as Chair of the House Rules Committee. But I can do more. Beyond supporting the legislation, I seek to lead by example. That means changing how I run my campaign.

I will no longer accept corporate PAC money for my campaign.

There are 48 other Congress members who have made the same commitment, including Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, and Lori Trahan. "Industry experts" will certainly warn us, after all, "the first rule of running for office is that you don't leave money on the table." But we're turning the tables.

...I trust that Americans prefer campaigns that are by the people, for the people.

In the video he released on Saturday, he tears into Congress and the way the system works. "Too much attention is given to raising money from big, well-connected corporate special interests. People ask me all the time, 'Why is it that you pass a tax bill where the benefits go to the wealthy and big corporate interests but are indifferent to the plight of the middle class or to those struggling to get into the middle class.' We're told by every scientist in the world that Climate Change is real and yet Congress continues to pass legislation that favors the fossil fuel industry. The reason why, I believe, is there is big corporate special interest money that is funding campaigns, that is steering our policy."

You might expect that from feisty freshmen like AOC or Rashida Tlaib... but that kind of franks and critique from a top committee chair... very rare.

I've been worrying lately because so many of the freshman members who campaigned promising they wouldn't accept corporate PAC money are already sneaking around the pledge and finding ways to get their mitts on the money after all. Very sleazy, very disappointing. It's up too their constituents but I sure hope their careers are short.


Just after the election, Roll Call reported that "lobbyists for business interests say they’re implementing workarounds to get to know the 32 incoming freshman Democratic House members who have sworn off corporate political action committee dollars. Instead of PAC dollars, corporate interests plan to rely on individual personal donations from their executives, lobbyists and other consultants, instead of the collective contributions from corporate PACs. In addition, lobbyists will be sure to attend meet-and-greets happening over the coming days and weeks with the new members." Look how-- on example-- Katie Hill has handled this:

Notice the sneaky little sleight of hand?

Some lobbyists said they also would rely on policy partnerships with think tanks, grassroots activist organizations and charities-- as well as shopping op-eds focused on specific lawmakers-- for entree to the newly-elected members of Congress.

Which House members take the most corporate PAC money-- in other words the most corrupt members of Congress? These are the 15 who should be raided and carted off the prison tonight and hopefully never seen again in public:

• Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)- $3,292,958
• Kevin Brady (R-TX)- $3,067,952
• Greg Walden (R-OR)- $2,950,166
• Richard Neal (D-MA)- $2,501,791
• Steve Stivers (R-OH)- $2,232,198
• Steny Hoyer (D-MD)- $2,163,715
• Steve Scalise (R-LA)- $2,104,749
• Patrick McHenry (R-NC)- $2,009,656
• Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)- $1,857,014
• Rodney Davis (R-IL)- $1,819,579
• Ron Kind (New Dem-WI)- $1,683,793
• Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)- $1,682,228
• Frank Pallone (D-NJ)- $1,637,066
• Tom Reed (R-NJ)- $1,617,845
• John Shimkus (R-IL)- $1,599,087

I believe McGovern. Gillibrand? She's one of the most consistently dishonest and corrupt members of the U.S. Senate. Nothing she says that impacts her own flagrant careersm is even remotely sincere and nothing she says is truthful or reliable. She's taken $9,950,951 from the Finance Sector since she was first elected to Congress. Only 4 current senators have taken more, although most senators have been in office far longer than she has. She also boasts that she will not take any money from lobbyists. But first she gobbled up $1,008,944 from lobbyists-- one of just 19 who have accepted over a million dollars from the most corrupt source of money in politics.