Bob Tuke on Government Reform

Democratic challenger

Limit lobbysists with common sense campaign finance reform

In 2006, while other Senators stood up for improving campaign finance reform, Lamar Alexander voted in support of a loophole to allow members of Congress to continue receiving gifts from lobbying companies. There are few politicians in Washington more beholden to corporations, PACs, and lobbyists than Lamar. During his career as a politician, Lamar has received $468,700 from the Big Insurance lobby and $364,675 from Big Oil corporations and other fossil fuel industries. In return, Lamar has voted to support billions of dollars in tax breaks for Big Oil.

Lamar is wrong on campaign finance reform. It's wrong to allow lobbyist gifts to flow through the halls of Congress. If elected to the Senate, Bob Tuke will stand up for common sense campaign finance reform to make sure working-class men and women always have the strongest voice in Washington.

Source: Press release, "The Truth About Lamar" Jul 11, 2008

Replace earmarks with legislation the public can inspect

Tuke doesn't like what's commonly referred to as earmarks to provide federal funding for projects at home such as new government buildings, bridges and other grant programs. His preference, he said, to gain this type of federal funding for projects at home would be by legislative act. Earmarks, he suggested, can be hidden from public view whereby a legislative act passed by congress is always open for public inspection. Source: By Sam Hatcher, in Wilson Post May 7, 2008

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*Other candidates on Government Reform:*		*Bob Tuke on other issues:*
*TN Gubernatorial:* Phil Bredesen *TN Senatorial:* Bob Corker Chris Lugo Lamar Alexander *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) *Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.Barack Obama V.P.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton HHS:Tom Daschle Staff:Rahm Emanuel DHS:Janet Napolitano DOC:Bill Richardson DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder Treas.:Tim Geithner	*Winners of 2008 Senate Races:* ( * if new to the Senate) AK:Begich over Stevens AL:Sessions AR:Pryor CO:Udall DE:Biden and Kaufman GA:Chambliss v.Martin (Dec. 2 runoff) IA:Harkin ID:Risch IL:Durbin KS:Roberts KY:McConnell LA:Landrieu MA:Kerry ME:Collins MI:Levin MN:Coleman v.Franken (recounting as of Dec.1) MS4:Wicker MS6:Cochran MT:Baucus NC:Hagan over Dole NE:Johanns NH:Shaheen over Sununu NJ:Lautenberg NM:Udall OK:Inhofe OR:Merkley over Smith RI:Reed SC:Graham SD:Johnson TN:Alexander TX:Cornyn VA:*Warner WV:Rockefeller WY4:Barrasso WY6:Enzi	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: Dec 02, 2008