Debbie's Double-talk: Special Interests

The Ozinga campaign points out opponent Debbie Halvorson's double-talk about taking money from special interests, her current bit-chomping issue:

In a fundraising email today, Debbie Halvorson vows to eradicate the influence of the special interests in Congress:

"…we know that with your help in the next 24 hours we will have the resources to kick special interests out of the halls of Congress…" (Halvorson fundraising email, 6/30/08)

But Halvorson is clearly the special interest candidate in this race. In 1998, she received one of the largest lobbyist gifts to any single lawmaker – a $489 TV given as a Christmas gift. Halvorson was flattered, and she only gave the gift back after the media reported on it.

"One of the larger expenditures last year for a single lawmaker was the $ 489 television set Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) received two days before Christmas from the Racing Association of Illinois.

"I don't want to offend them, but I'm trying to find a way to give it back," she said. "It was a Christmas gift they gave me. . . . They felt I needed someplace in my district office where I could watch a video if they brought something in." (Chicago Sun-Times, 2/2/99)

In 2006, Halvorson admitted to watering down her own mobile home tenant-rights bill because of pressure from lobbyists:

A bill that would strengthen the rights of some mobile home tenants moved to the governor for consideration this week, despite amendments that some say weaken its effectiveness. It applies only to mobile home parks that are traded publicly on the stock exchange -- in this part of the state that's just three at Monee. Sponsoring Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, wanted legislation to apply to all mobile home parks, but compromised on this as a start.

"Everybody should have rights but, unfortunately, the politics around here, lobbyists are paid a lot to make sure their clients are exempted," Halvorson said. (Kankakee Daily Journal, 4/1/06)

In her first congressional fundraising quarter – the fourth quarter of 2007 – Halvorson received over half of her money from PACs – an astounding percentage for an open-seat candidate in her first quarter. Even 25% of her contributions from individuals came from 49 registered Springfield lobbyists. (Federal Election Commission; Illinois Secretary of State Lobbying Information Search)