They say that one of the best ways of dealing with high blood pressure is to get more exercise.  I've been thinking about how this applies to the political sphere.  Every time I hear some political figure say something stupid on TV my blood boils.  Some people throw their shoes at the TV.  That is a little bit of exercise.  Others put up well thought out blog posts online.  That is a bit better, though less aerobic.  But, if you want a real workout that will make you feel a lot better, try this.  Try running for office.

Connecticut's public funding of campaigns makes it much easier to get started, sort of like one of those discount offers that gyms have to try and get you in the door.  This isn't to say that you won't have to work hard.  You will.  It remains a challenge to think out a strong persuasive message.  It remains a challenge to get the necessary small donors to give you enough to qualify for public financing.  It remains a challenge to get out and talk with as many voters as possible.  I know. I did it.  I did it before there was the public financing, so the fundraising was even more difficult.

I ran for the state legislature in 2004 against an entrenched, popular incumbent, who also happens to be a very nice person.  I ran, knowing full well, that in all likelihood, I would lose (and lose badly).  While it took less time away from my family than is the norm (my husband was my campaign manager and my daughter rode my shoulders while I knocked on doors), it was still a sacrifice.  I put in hours upon hours of phone calls and walking the neighborhoods in my district.  I debated my opponent several times.  I showed up at football games and fairs with my walk card.   I got very tired, and sometimes pretty sweaty (you try walking a suburban neighborhood with a 2 year old on your shoulders when it is 87 degrees out!).

Yet, like with any workout, there are rewards.  After I ran in 2004, many people would ask me if I `won'.  I would tell them that I did win.  I didn't get elected, but I won.  What I mean by this is that I became a better person because of the experience.  Why, you ask - what good did it really do?  I may not have gotten elected, but the electorate sure did get energized by my race.  Hundreds of people showed up for the debates.  People started talking about local issues that they care about.  People got to know my opponent better, and found out how she stands on the issues.  I provided reverse coat tails - in the areas in which I ran, the Congressional candidate did demonstrably better than in areas where the incumbents were unopposed.    Finally, I provided the inspiration for a candidate in the next district over - who ran in 2006 and lost by just 200 votes.  This year the incumbent in that district has decided to retire, and the same candidate has a very good chance at winning this seat - in a district considered unwinnable for challengers.  

These next couple of weeks are very important.  They are the weeks that the local political parties select their candidates.  They are very important weeks to be thinking about running.  Contact the members of your local town committee and start asking about what is involved in running.  They will be glad to tell you.  It may raise your pulse.  It may be a tough workout, but it will be better for you than simply sitting at home throwing shoes at the TV.

(X-posted on www.ctlocalpolitics.net)

It turns out a good defense does make a pretty good offense.

The Connecticut Legislature wrapped up its 2008 session early Thursday morning. Although it was generally dubbed a "Do Nothing" session, Connecticut Common Cause was able to pass one essential bill and make sure a number of other bills aimed at either turning the clock on reform didn't head to the governor's desk.

Sure, it's easier to kill a bill than push a bill, but in the crush of the final days of session it is always possible to sneak a rat into a marginally related bill. Connecticut Common Cause checked every bill passed by the Legislature. While we chuckled at "An Act Concerning Beer Cooler Accessibility," which passed both chambers unanimously, we found nothing that would chisel away at any hard-fought reforms. 

That said, there were a number of bills that didn't make the cut this year and a few that did. For a short session where only supposedly essential are to be called, it was a good year.

This morning I was privileged to address the Connecticut State Convention of Missionary Baptists.  There, in a room of about 200 people, I was the lone white person - talking to a huge crowd who came to the convention to discuss their religion, praise God, and commune with fellow Baptists.  I was nervous beforehand.  Would these good people really want to listen to a white activist talking about something that had nothing to do with their convention or mission?  I had confidence that I would be politely received, but was unsure whether I could generate any enthusiasm for the program.

The Connecticut General Assembly concludes its 2008 legislative session at midnight tonight, and for the first time in a long time, Connecticut Common Cause is playing defense as opposed to trying to shoehorn a reform at the last minute (in 2006, a critical campaign finance reform bill passed in the last two minutes.)

Bills that we were pushing for have either passed and been enacted into law, been tied down on the calendar with no hope of salvation or caught in internecine feuds between the House and Senate.

Now, we have to make sure that the so-called "Do Nothing Session" does nothing to turn back the clock on important reforms.

So far, attempts by proponents of Voter Photo ID to spark a debate have been stymied by a lack of opportunities. The state Senate has one bill on the calendar that could be called for a debate but hasn't for several days. Other election related bills have been relegated to the foot of the calendar, which is the legislative word for Limbo.  There was some scuttlebutt that the opponents of Voter Photo ID, pining to fight a good fight, might call an election bill, but it never happened. There's a lot of bills on the calendar and not a lot of time left. This is one time the clock is working in our favor. Keep the e-mails coming. Let's keep the pressure on until the Voter Photo ID threat is gone.

There's only three days left in the 2008 legislative session.  Proponents of Voter Photo ID could float their amendment on any of those days, depending on whether or not the Senate or the House calls an elections bill.

In the Connecticut General Assembly as opposed to Congress, for those following from out-of-state, in order for an amendment to be called and debated, it must be germane to the underlying bill. There are a few elections bill left on the calendar, but who knows when, let alone if, they might be called. All the more reason to keep the e-mails coming.

I did a little research on the whole subject of voter fraud in Connecticut. It exists, but it is apparent that Voter Photo ID would do little to prevent it from occurring.

The Hartford Courant ran a story on a state ethics bill that would allow legislators to use staff attorneys should they ever become involved in an ethics complaint.

Connecticut Common Cause weighed in, and as you might expect, we don't like it.

It's not that I don't think there's a place for staff attorneys to assist state and elected officials in ethical matters. Clearly, there is, especially when it comes to ethics compliance.

The Connecticut State Senate unanimously approved the 17-year-old primary voting rights bill. The expected Voter Photo ID amendment and debate never materialized.

With the exception of a mini debate on an amendment that would put to state voters a proposal for referenda, the talk regarding the primary voting rights bill was friendly.

Stronger words came outside the chamber immediately after the vote. Senate Minority Leader John McKinney said proponents of Voter Photo ID didn't raise the amendment on the primary voting rights bill because they supported the underlying legislation. He promised a debate on Voter Photo ID before the session ended.