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
biased gas generous permit reviews simply sweetheart system
For too long, the system has been biased in favor of oil and gas developers: sweetheart lease deals, generous subsidies and a regulatory process so slanted in favor of Big Oil that often permit reviews are simply waived.
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.
clean congress corporate elections empowering example follow fortunate interest money national small special system turn voices
In Maine, we are fortunate to have a Clean Elections system that allows legislators to turn down corporate special interest money. At the national level, Congress should follow Maine's example by empowering the voices of small donors.
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.
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.
people serve telling vote
Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.
both broader cause common engaging great older online people understanding
Like many older D.C. organizations, Common Cause has had to come a long way both in its use of the Internet and its understanding of the great value of engaging people in a broader online dialogue.
costs healthcare owned rising
Having started and owned two small businesses, I know what a challenge it is to keep up with the rising costs of your employees' healthcare premiums.
central health issues taking
I am especially proud of taking on issues most central to the health of our American democracy.
acceptable message persuade send work
I work in a world of words - words that inspire, words that persuade and, increasingly, words that can send the message that it is acceptable to hate.
incredible looks supported
If they put up something that just looks like window-dressing, it won't be supported by the public. This is an incredible moment.
cause common freedom leave politics position reasons regain return speak
One of the reasons I wanted to leave my position at Common Cause and return to politics was to regain the freedom to speak out politically - to not be constrained by a non-partisan organization.
barney members met
One of the first members of Congress I met when I was first elected in 2008 was Barney Frank.