Open Letter to Nancy Pelosi

Rep. Pelosi,

I’m writing because even though you have pledged to clean up the corruption and ethics of the House, your colleagues elected a man to lead them who is ranked as the #1 recipient of money from special interests, Rep. Hoyer.

This makes me wonder if we are going to see “politics as usual” with the Democratic congress we worked so hard to elect. Although Hoyer was not your choice (at least as reported in the press), Rep. Murtha, who you did support, was not a great deal better: he is ranked at #18 in terms of taking money from special interests.

Is anyone paying attention to the influence of special interests on the new Democratic leaders? It is money, and the quest for more money, from special interests that is one of the chief causes of corruption among the Republican-led Congress. I would hate to see the same thing happen to a Democratic-led Congress that will soon be under your watch.

The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. The Republicans never understood this: I hope the Democrats will.

Your quest to clean up Congress must include the bribes, excuse me, the “contributions“ that special interests make to influence the votes of every member of Congress. Campaign finance reform must be a part of the long-term solution to reducing corruption in the political process.

I wish you all the best in your efforts to reduce corruption in Congress. It is long overdue.

(also posted at michiganliberal.com)