by Deb Cupples | Because of gerrymandering redistricting in 2000, Florida has oddly shaped congressional districts, some occupied by Bush Republicans who dislike public policy that actually serves the public. Yes, that's a euphemism, so I'll clarify: some of those Bush Republicans have outright betrayed us taxpayers over and over and over again -- not only in Florida but nationwide.
In November, one of those Bush Republicans -- Ric Keller -- is up for re-election in Florida's District 8 (which includes parts of Orange, Osceola, Marion and Lake Counties). Fortunately, attorney Alan Grayson of Orlando is challenging Mr. Keller.
As my Damozel wrote last week at The Moderate Voice, "Grayson is one behind whom honest Republicans as well as Democrats ought to rally." The ad below will give you an idea of why I hope you will help Alan Grayson win his primary on August 26.
Though he doesn't actually need to work, Alan Grayson has spent the last 15-20 years litigating against private contractors that defrauded (essentially stole from) us taxpayers -- simply because he believes in what he's doing.
As anyone who reads this blog knows, contractor fraud is a big issue for me (see posts linked at the end of this post). Why? Because every tax dollar devoted to contractor waste or fraud is one less dollar for things we taxpayers really need: things like health care, economic opportunities, energy, defense, housing....
I first read about Alan in an impressive Vanity Fair article that goes into his personal and professional background. I later contacted him for information about contractor-fraud suits. Busy as he was, Alan repeatedly made time for me and was very helpful.
Some weeks later, Alan decided to run for Congress, and I couldn't have been happier. Check out his website to see where he stands on issues that matter to you. (You'll also see video clips of Alan's congressional testimony and media interviews.)
Refreshingly enough, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, Alan's campaign is largely funded by Alan, meaning that he doesn't owe favors to those cash-wielding special interests and corporations that tend to corrupt our political process.
In some respects, Alan will be making sacrifices in order to serve us in Congress, and I'm glad that he's willing to make those sacrifices.
We need people in Congress who will fight for the public's interests -- who will fight for our interests. We need congressmen who aren't beholden to special interests and won't sell out us taxpayers for campaign donations. We need congressmen who are guided by principals rooted in fairness, justice and concern for us ordinary taxpayers.
I can attest, based on my dealings with him and all the information I've gathered about him, that Alan Grayson is precisely that type of man.
If you're a voter in Florida's District 8, please vote for Alan on or before August 26. If you're not in District 8 but know people who are, please send them to his website for information.
Below are a few things that others have said about Alan:
- "Alan is just the kind of forward-looking and proactive guy we need in Congress" (Firedoglake)
- "Alan Grayson is waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq." (Wall Street Journal)
- "Grayson spends most of his days and many of his evenings on a lonely legal campaign to redress colossal frauds against American taxpayers by private contractors." (Vanity Fair)
- Alan Grayson is "a progressive with a sharp and independent mind... one who means business, the people's business!" (Huffington Post)
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Related Buck Naked Politics Posts
* High Cost of Private Contractors
* IRS Contractors Cost More than They Collect
* Defense Dept. Rewarding Bad Contractor Performance?
* Insurance Companies Get Away with Overbilling Medicare
* Contractor Fraud: Driving up Health Care Costs
* U.S. Embassies: Still More Examples of Problems with Contractors
* Contractor UNISYS in Trouble Again
* How KBR Got $1 Billion in Non-Credible Costs
* Blackwater Took Iraqi Airplanes, CEO Misled Congress?
* Bush-tied Saudi Fugitive Gets $80 Million Contract
* Contractor Supplies Bad Ammo, Gets Hundreds of Millions
* "Billions over Baghdad": Poor Oversight Enabled Waste/Fraud
* Inspector General Blocked Investigations re: Waste and Fraud?
* Justice Dept. Official Turned Blind Eye to Contractor Fraud?
* Construction Contractor Takes Millions, Fails to Finish Buildings
*Administration Warned about Using Security Contractors in Iraq
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