Chellie Pingree
Chellie Pingree
Chellie Pingreeis an American politician. She is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Maine's 1st congressional district since 2009. The district includes most of the southern part of the state, including Portland and Augusta...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth2 April 1955
CountryUnited States of America
mostly pass window
It's mostly window dressing. I don't think this will pass the straight-face test.
clear close delay expects saw wall
It's clear that Rep. DeLay saw the writing on the wall and expects to be implicated like his close aides.
people serve telling vote
Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.
both complete credible fail heart lack proposals rules
Both of the parties' proposals fail to get at the heart of the problem, which is a complete lack of enforcement of the rules in Congress. Without credible enforcement, new rules are just more words.
access citizen cocktail dinner level normal parties
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktail parties to boot. The normal American citizen doesn't have that level of access or influence.
access certainly changing corporate deeply disclose free gain involved jet lobbyists members raising system
They don't want to give up the free gifts, they don't want to give up corporate jet travel, they certainly don't want to disclose how deeply lobbyists are involved in their fund- raising activities. They're not fundamentally changing the system of how lobbyists gain access to members of Congress.
access affordable businesses care health
Access to quality, affordable health care is particularly important here in Maine, where many of us own small businesses or are self-employed.
bother corruption crisis democracy enormous home level looking people problem saying states
This is an enormous problem for our democracy and it really is at a crisis point. More and more people are looking at this level of corruption in Washington, in their home states and they're saying why should I bother to vote.
congress cross enormous higher hurdle knows next talking vote
It would make an enormous difference. It's a much higher hurdle to cross if everyone knows who you are talking to -- especially if there is a big vote in Congress the next day.
companies incredible influence investment looking return spending stop ways
Companies get an incredible return on their investment and feel they can't stop spending the money. They're still looking for ways to influence the process, and there are still many ways to do that.
believed branch country founding power sharing watching
The founding leaders of our country believed in a three-part sharing of governmental power, with each branch jealously watching the actions of the other two.
access allowing businesses clicks compete content decide equal mouse small success tiny users
People's mouse clicks decide what businesses, services, and content succeed. Users have equal access to tiny businesses with viral ideas and blue-chip companies, allowing these enterprises to compete on their own merits. It's how so many small start-ups have been able to become Internet success stories.
amended clarify constitution majority
It's crazy that the Constitution has to be amended to clarify what for the majority of Americans is a clear and true statement: corporations are not people.
anonymous dollars donors fit groups home issues millions seen spend state
In my home state of Maine, we've seen out-of-state groups with anonymous donors spend millions of dollars to campaign against issues that don't fit their agenda.