Late last month, Congressman Dan Lungren spoke at an Information Security Roundtable. While explaining his role as chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Lungren revealed his enthusiasm for the kind of Washington politics that many voters have come to disdain.
Dr. Ami Bera offered the following comment:
"Congressman Lungren chairs a committee that is supposed make Congress work. While he had no time to create jobs and balance the budget, he did have time to drop everything to get a Member of Congress' window cleaned. He claimed his position is like being 'Mayor of Capital Hill' and bragged about the IOU's he would get from other members of Congress. But for all the perks and backroom deals Congressman Lungren brags about, he has done nothing for the people of Sacramento County."
As Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Lungren has blocked hearings for many important bills, including "No Budget, No Pay" and Congressional pension reform. "No Budget, No Pay" is a bill that says if members of Congress can't do their jobs and pass a responsible budget, they don't deserve to get paid. As The Hill reports, Congressman Lungren is single-handedly blocking this important legislation.
During his final months as California Attorney General, Congressman Lungren accepted a 25 percent pay raise that spiked his pension by more than $11,000 annually. On top of this, Congressman Lungren accepted a Congressional salary and voted to raise it four times.
Below is an excerpt from Congressman Lungren's remarks:
"I happen to be the chairman of the House Administration Committee, that used to be an important position. I used to be known as the Mayor of Capitol Hill. And boy when people came to you for favors, did you have the IOUs in your back pocket, but that doesn't happen anymore. ... I have members that come to me to know what they can spend, and how they can spend it, and whether it's allowed under the rules. I also had a member come to me a couple months ago saying "Can you do something about getting the bird crap off of my window? Umm ... He had tried to have that done and I will tell you that within 12 hours I had his windows clean. So I go from the sublime to the absurd."
Bera is a lifelong Californian. He and his wife Janine and their daughter reside in Elk Grove. According to the Wall Street Journal and other major publications, his campaign is "seen by political experts as one of the nation's most competitive." For more information about Dr. Bera, or the Bera for Congress campaign, please visit www.BeraforCongress.com
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