Mark Begich on Government Reform

Democratic Challenger

Brought greater openness to city government

The only way to restore Alaskans trust in their elected leaders is for them to earn it. As Anchorage mayor, Mark Begich brought greater openness to city government, putting more information on the Internet, increasing citizen participation and oversight, and making his financial statements public. Mark Begich will take to Washington the same high ethical standards he has lived by as mayor. His personal finances, daily schedule, and any family lobbying connections will be an open book. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

Increase financial transparency for Senate staff

Senators and senior senatorial staff should disclose all income and assets, down to the dollar for themselves, their spouses and dependent children. Financial disclosures should be promptly posted on the Internet in a searchable, sortable database, and remain public record permanently. The 30-day grace period should be eliminated and a much higher penalty should be imposed. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

Senate lobbying disclosures should include family ties

Lobbyists should have to report on their disclosure form the senators or committees they are lobbying, specific provisions or projects within legislation they are lobbying for, which, if any, senators or senior staff they are related to, and what provisions or projects they secured. In addition, senators should have to disclose on their website whether any of their family members are registered lobbyists and link to Senate lobbying disclosures for those family members. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

Campaign transparency with sortable online database

Although presidential and House candidates are required to file their campaign finance reports electronically, senate candidates are not. The result--Senate filings are posted later and are not in a format that can be easily searched. The solution is to require electronic filing by Senate candidates and senators, just the same as presidential and House candidates. The FEC should be directed to make this information available in a searchable, sortable online database so the public can easily access it. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

No secret meetings; full appointment disclosure for Senators

Alaskans rightly feel detached from the business of the Senate. It's hard to track who our senators are meeting with and why. There is no requirement that senators disclose who they are meeting with or what they are talking about behind closed doors. Senators' office appointment calendars should be posted on the Internet so the public can see exactly who their elected officials are listening to and working with. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

No more automatic pay raises for Senators

Over the last ten years, Senators have received eight pay raises and yet have only increased minimum wage one time. No pay raises for senators unless working Alaskans get a pay raise too. Senators should have to vote on each and every pay raise, out in the open and on its own. They shouldn't be hidden in a larger bill. Any Senate pay raise should be brought to the Senate floor as a stand-alone bill, and there must first be a vote to raise the minimum wage. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

No revolving door for former senate staff to lobby

Recent reforms restricted former senior staff from lobbying the Senate for one year. This still allows staff to lobby their former senator after a year. Even after this waiting period, former staff can still have an inside track to their former senator and senator's staff, often on issues that may not be in line with the best interests of the senator's constituents. All senate staff, no matter what level of seniority, should be prohibited from lobbying their former employer permanently. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

No campaign fundraising through private foundations

Senators have found ways around campaign finance restrictions by establishing private foundations that can accept lobbyist money. The lobbyists still curry favor with senators by making large donations to their foundations. Senators may not have a controlling interest in any private foundation and may only fundraise for a foundation or non-profit organization if it is first approved by the Senate Ethics Committee and the foundation or non-profit has specified what the money raised will be used for Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

Support an Independent Office of Public Integrity

The Anchorage city ethics board is composed of citizens. The Senate needs a similar independent authority with the power to investigate ethics complaints filed by other Senators & the public. Members of the Office of Public Integrity would be prohibited from political involvement with members of Congress. The board would have its own independent staff, subpoena power, and decide its own rules of procedure. Issues should come to the Senate only for final action when the board has completed its work. Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues" May 21, 2008

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*Other candidates on Government Reform:*		*Mark Begich on other issues:*
*AK Gubernatorial:* Sarah Palin *AK Senatorial:* Dave Cuddy Lisa Murkowski Ted Stevens *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *2008 Presidential Contenders:* Chuck Baldwin(C) Rep.Bob Barr(L) Sen.Hillary Clinton(D) Sen.Mike Gravel(L) Alan Keyes(C) Sen.John McCain(R) Rep.Cynthia McKinney(G) Ralph Nader(I) Sen.Barack Obama(D) Rep.Ron Paul(R)	*2008 Senate Races:* AK:Stevens v.Begich v.Cuddy v.Sikma AL:Sessions v.Figures AR:Pryor v.Kennedy CO:Schaffer v.Udall DE:Biden v.O`Donnell GA:Chambliss v.Cardwell v.Jones v.Buckley IA:Harkin v.Reed ID:Risch v.LaRocco IL:Durbin v.Sauerberg v.Stafford KS:Roberts v.Jones v.Slattery KY:McConnell v.Lunsford LA:Landrieu v.Kennedy MA:Kerry v.O`Reilly v.Beatty ME:Collins v.Allen MI:Levin v.Hoogendyk MN:Coleman v.Franken v.Ventura v.Cavlan v.Pallmeyer MS4:Wicker v.Musgrove MS6:Cochran v.Fleming MT:Baucus v.Kelleher NC:Dole v.Hagan NE:Johanns v.Kleeb v.Raimondo NH:Sununu v.Shaheen NJ:Lautenberg v.Zimmer NM:Wilson v.Pearce v.Udall OR:Smith v.Merkley v.Frohnmayer OK:Inhofe v.Rice RI:Reed SC:Graham v.Cone SD:Johnson v.Dykstra TN:Alexander v.Padgett v.Tuke v.Lugo TX:Cornyn v.Noriega v.Jameson VA:Gilmore v.Warner v.Marshall WV:Rockefeller v.Wolfe WY4:Barrasso v.Carter WY6:Enzi v.Rothfuss	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

Page last updated: 3/31/2008