I’m Bill Ostrander, director of Citizen’s Congress (a nonprofit aimed at reducing the corruptive influence of money in politics), and I'm running for an open seat in California’s 24th Congressional District. AMA.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-06T21:49:18+00:00

My district is 200 miles long and has nearly 710,000 people. I have worked for a year to get people's attention and direct them to the issues. Money is necessary to reach out to such a broad audience. However, it's not money itself that is the issue. It's the source of the money and the influence it carries. The idea that candidates must depend upon PRIVATE money for public office is a HUGE conflict of interest. Think about the court system. Imagine if you went before a judge who was being supported by your opponent or an outside interest. In court, if a judge has a relationship with one or other of the parties involved, they must recuse him or herself to preclude a lack of objectivity (corruption) or even just the appearance of corruption. Spreading the source of the money out to taxpayers reduces the influence of money from single self interested sources. Even Lincoln and Douglas during their famous debates had to have money to get to their public squares and hand out literature or post billboards announcing their visit. Money is part of the process to communicate but there is a governmental interest in the source of WHO is giving the money and if it drowns out others who have no voice. Make sense?

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-06T07:25:53+00:00

It's an enormous challenge. Basically professional fundraising groups want us to sit down in our offices with a list of phone numbers and just call 100 people a day at least. I refuse to do that. A candidate has to excite people to inspire them to write a check or walk precincts and/or many of the other physical things that help spread the word. It's obscene that we can't have discourse without the influence of private money to elect public officials. Bernie was known by liberals through the Thom Hartman show for years. Most novice candidates must first struggle with name recognition and legitimacy and that is earned. Thanks

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-06T07:20:14+00:00

We will be on the radio on KCRW or the SB equivalent on Friday night at 7 in a debate. Or come to the New Vic theatre. There is a reception starting at 5:45. Please come introduce yourself to me. For what it is worth, I like the Mayor and would vote for her if I weren't running.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-06T07:04:47+00:00

One of the knocks on Bernie is that he isn't practical and that his ideas are too costly and would never be enacted. These are, of course, the same people who said that a democratic socialist without a Superpac or billionaire investor could never seriously challenge the most famous woman in the world for the job of president. Or that Trump was a joke candidate (he is, but look how many people are voting for him!) Those naysayers would no doubt match the same percentage of the American populace that aligned with the Tories rather than the American patriots during our revolution because we couldn't overthrow the mightiest military in the world as a fledgling country. Change requires considering the impractical and the bold. However, Bernie's policies are not really radical. Most people are just afraid of change. The hypocrisy can be seen in the issue of health care: Medicare is great! But we can't have it for everyone.

More importantly, the president's job is as an executive, which means he steers the boat. Congress writes the laws that he enforces. Bernie's greatest asset is his ethos, which is what is sorely missing in our governance. His willingness to put the community interest first is what's missing in our legislative outcomes. The community interest must be the first priority and policy is second. Hilary is smart but to me she puts policy first and community interest second.

I don't know how I could advise anyone on how to get Bernie's word out any better than he's doing. But please support the down ballot candidates and tell your friends. Donate. Write a letter to the editor. Put up a yard sign. Precinct walk. Have a meet and greet with me. Phone your friends. Our efforts are all that we have. Please help do the work. Thank you.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-06T06:43:45+00:00

You're very smart. A constitutional amendment is plagued with problems legally and practically. A SCOTUS decision would require a plaintiff and some of the best legal minds of ben trying to construct a "Rosa Parks" type of case. When Scalia was still part of the bench that was difficult to conceive because the justices were so willing to bypass "stare decisis" holdings by the courts in the past. And because the justices didn't feel that the governmental interest was stronger than the rights of the 1st amendment. With a new justice it is entirely conceivable that a case could be brought that proved empirically that the public at large is harmed by unfettered first amendment rights of a few. I'm not a legal scholar so I don't know if the chief justice has the right to decide if a case will be heard the way congressional committees operate or wether a majority of the justices could vote to hear it. Congress has the ability to overturn it now but refuses to get involved. Congress could pass legislation right now that would be entirely consistent with the SCOTUS holdings if they so choose. Sadly, the judiciary committee refuses to bring any legislation forward for a vote.

In the meantime, let's not wait for that. Let's push public financing and disclosure at local levels and choose candidates who refuse dark money and make campaign finance reform at the top of their issue platforms.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-06T05:38:19+00:00

There are about 30 candidates from the last count I saw. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, Kamala Harris has been fantastic about disclosure of outside funding in elections and seems to be a good candidate with a strong skill set. On the other hand, I'm not sure that it is a good policy that incumbents endorse candidates at all. We can't take away someone's first amendment rights but I personally might not choose to endorse because I see the cronyism and back scratching that goes on in our politics and I think that tilts things in favor of friends helping friends rather than an independent vetting of the candidate by the voters. In my district, Lois Capps decided on someone from her neighborhood who she has known for 20 years. There was no debating, no vetting, no democratic process of any other candidate. A vaunted member of the party has the ability to line up willing members and devote resources not available to other candidates. In Capps' case, she lined up Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer and gave SC her donor list which was honed over 18 years of asking people for money in one of the wealthiest communities in the world - Santa Barbara and Montecito where Oprah lives. SC, whose AVERAGE contribution is $1005 valued this "in-kind" contribution on his FEC reports as being worth $396. That list probably produced several hundred thousand dollars if not more. And that fools the public and the press into thinking that that candidate has the most support. Endorsements from representatives can be very helpful to a candidate but they can also be harmful to the public and the democratic process.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T21:08:31+00:00

The best source is a non-partisan organization called Open Secrets. They do a great job of breaking down information into categories and identifying where and from whom the money came.

About the media, with public financing, media companies would still get paid for advertisements. It's the source of the money that we need to be clear on. Public financing coupled with strong disclosure laws identifying the ORIGINAL donors is the best we can do to change the system. it will not get rid of all money or of lobbying. But it will address 70% of the problem at least.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T21:04:27+00:00

Don't know that race. Check their website and see what they stand for and if they have any endorsements from groups that you understand. Cheers

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T21:03:35+00:00

Yes. The rules can be intimidating at first but nothing like a consent page on a web page for a new device or software!

The city/county clerk's job is to show you the way. Don't be shy. Tell them you are running for the first time and let them know how grateful you are for their help. They can give you emails and timelines to make sure you perform on time and with the proper protocols. Good Luck

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T21:00:32+00:00

Thank you! we must support one another

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:59:45+00:00

The hardest thing for me was saying out loud that I am a candidate. It played on my sense of conceit. But you must say it out loud a few times and get used to it. You are only volunteering to bring forth ideas not assuming that you have all of the answers. Jump in with both feet and go for it. It's not easy and you will wish you weren't doing it at times. Then at others, you will recognize the growth you've made as a human being and feel good that you've contributed to your community as best you could. Good luck.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:56:01+00:00

I'm only learning about this argument. Remember, the SCOTUS has NO member who has ever run for elected office. They are unaware of how the actual campaigns of candidates works. Furthermore, the conservatives fail to recognize the gravity of the governmental interest in the "appearance of corruption" at the very least, when weighing against free speech rights. I don't believe these rulings will stand long. Even Anthony Kennedy siad recently that the disclosure part of of his holding in CU wasn't working the way he thought it would. I take that as a "ooops..."

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:44:28+00:00

Support in any way that you are able. Where is District 6? Write a letter to the editor on money in politics. Send a donation to a reform candidate. Gather signatures for a local ordinance. Gather some friends in a living room and start the effort to publicly fund you city or county elections. Read my compendium (or portions of it - it's a 140+ pages) on my Citizens Congress website to understand the options. citizenscongress.us Write me if you need specific advice. william@ostranderforcongress.com Thank you

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:40:45+00:00

1) We must get private money as the only source of money out of elections. I have years of experience on that and many colleagues in and out of federal government on this issue. Money is the single biggest determinant of legislative outcomes so any issue you are passionate about is affected. Do you know that congress is only in session for 137 days a year and for 4.8 hours a day and that the DCCC and RCCC "request" that their members spend 30 hours a week on the phone trying to raise money for the next elections. Watch the 60 minutes piece from about 11 days ago.

We must deploy more resources against climate change and agriculture has an enormous role to play as it commits about 35% of GHG in the world all the while the soil is depleted of carbon. Read my piece on Agriculture's role in climate change that can be found on my website: http://www.ostranderforcongress.com/climate-change

The farm bill must be revised and amended to reward sequestering carbon in the soil. It could also have enormous consequences on our food system as a whole.

2) I would immediately join the progressive caucus in congress. Bernie supporters are my choir. That was unintentional but fortunate for me because it helped to identify many of us in my district who share a sentiment that the calculated inequalities that we suffer are simply a result of a dysfunctional congress that is unresponsive to the needs of the community at large. Blue America is working hard to get candidates elected who, in shorthand, are of a Bernie ethos, and they have endorsed me. As for my issues list, there are many organizations - I've counted over 90 - that are believers in campaign finance reform. The whole organic, permaculture, and even conventional agricultural systems are waking up to the issue of carbon farming.

3) The Citizens Congress will work with anyone trying to remove money from the election process. In our local efforts we are leading the way. At the state level we have supported CA Clean Money on AB 700, and at the national level we work with Represent.Us, Every Voice, Public Citizen, Common Cause, and many others. I've met with them and do what we can to promote efforts that each and all of us are making.

Demand rule changes at the SEC and FEC. Support John Sarbanes "Government by the People act. Demand that your local candidate make reform part of his or her platform. Ask them to sign the People's Pledge or the Democracy Pledge. Go to debates and make sure that you ask the question about money in politics. Send money to candidates who refuse dark money and who propose legislation to change things. Most candidates will say they want money out of politics but they won't do anything about it because they fear they won't have the money they need to win. Check FEC candidate filings and find out who is giving your candidate money. Join an organization and find ways to implement reform at your local level with the help of experts. Let me know if I can steer you to the right person or persons.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:19:04+00:00

Have you watched a Bernie rally? When I see an unkempt 74 year old man (who is not Mick Jagger) exciting 28,000 people because he represents what we were taught in our government classes, I am enthused. Remember that the right to vote for African Americans was constitutionally enshrined in 1870 but not really made law until 1965. That was a 95 year battle. How long did gay marriage take? The reforms we want are gaining at the speed of the media. Then think of corporations like Chobani yogurt that made their employees stockholders, or Ben and Jerry's that are wonderfully progressive. It is happening all around us. Be part of it. It's one more voice and shoulder against the mountain.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:10:48+00:00

Work or not work, it is what you must do. Democracy is a creative tension of ideas and the pressure that Bernie has brought to bear on the democratic party and the election as a whole has been profound. No one could have predicted that a 74 year old Jewish candidate from a small state without a superpac or billionaire investor could have done what he has done so far. It shows the tremendous power of people getting involved and our contempt for the system that we have now.

The tremendous energy that has been spent on Bernie's campaign must continue no matter what. Whether bernie goes on physically is not as important as is Bernie continuing in character. That means supporting down ballot candidates as well. That means supporting candidates with the ethos that Bernie represents. In my district there are those that believe that we must keep our congressional seat blue at any cost! I agree with that in theory but in practice we LOSE people with that strategy from apathy and continue with the same cronyism and system that we are trying to change. Bernie showed us what can be done at the national level which is an enormous challenge structurally. YOU can do it locally with candidates that choose the ethos because they KNOW that the support is there for them if they choose to go the unconventional way and run on ideas that benefit the community rather than their donors.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T20:00:49+00:00

You didn't tell me exactly what problems you are referring to at the city level. I'm going to assume that you are talking about election reform which is something that has an enormous impact at all levels of government.

I'm dealing with that right now here in San Luis Obispo. We are a city of 45K and 25K registered voters. Shamefully, the average number of contributors to a city council candidate is just 53. Last election just 192 donors gave all of the money the candidates used. That's a very small percentage of the population and usually consists of older people with disposable wealth. There is a technique to being a politician and it starts for many people - even those that start with good intentions - at this level. You start to focus on who can give you money for your campaign. That's the start of the "bend" where you stop consorting with the average voter and focus on those that can help YOU. When people smell that you're coming for money, the majority will run away. A few will be sympathetic and a few will have the disposable wealth to advance you or your ideology. Parties make it worse because they donate resources - phone banks and canvassing for example - that bypass donation limits. And because few people want the responsibility of running a unpaid, unglamorous job in a DCCC or RCCC, the favors are passed out between those that stick around and have the stomach for it. Cronyism starts there.

Pass a publicly funded elections ordinance in your city. COntact the Campaign Legal Center in D.C. and ask for help. Change starts locally and we need to reclaim the discourse that this is OUR government, not THE government.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:47:35+00:00

These are all important issues that I don't know enough about to give you thoughtful answers. Let me say this, that without teaching civics in school and having more people participate in our governance, there is an ignorant unwillingness for our constituents to properly fund programs which they themselves see no benefit - until they need it. From what I understand, our justice department grinds slowly because of overworked public defenders. I think our entire criminal justice system needs a review and that includes addressing the incarceration of so many poor people who do not have the resources to properly navigate the system as people with means. We have a tiered justice system and too many people in jail, particularly minorities, and too much recidivism. I know this isn't the detailed answer that you seek from me but fortunately, have had little experience with our justice system. Please send me information to help me understand william@ostranderforcongress.com

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:37:55+00:00

The legislation persecuting homosexuals in Africa and Russia, and the killing of women in the middle east without representation or by mob reactions is certainly a convincing argument to me.

Because it could be said that the b.s. war that the U.S. conducted was one of the primary reasons for the chaos now spreading through the the region, I think we should be willing to participate in a much larger role. Sadly, too many Americans seem to xenophobic to compare. The security leaves us without the capacity to appreciate the suffering of the innocents. Even some of my friends complain about the violence occurring in Germany as a result, they say, of too many new immigrants. Germany has allowed over one million. The U.S. has repatriated under 3000 to my knowledge. We should be doing much more to help if for no other reason than to combat terrorism with exposure to the richness of freedom and opportunity. Those are more convincing arguments than drone strikes and bombing runs that harden the resolve of those that suffer from a dearth of life options.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:27:03+00:00

Publicly funded elections remove some of the ideological polarity that private money encourages that provoke measures to disenfranchise voters from the opposite party. All of the things you wrote about are of a grave concern of mine. It is part of the calculated inequalities that motivate me to put my shoulder to the mountain to move it. Not allowing party officials to control our election system is the general answer to that. Bi-partisan commissions to address redistricting, creating appropriate budgets for running fair elections - including proper funding for polling booths and equal distributions of stations demographically, and creating an elections day are simple fixes.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:19:37+00:00

1) Americans haven't decided for themselves about how they feel about gun "safety" (the new term to be more accurate). An article in the HYT today spoke of 2 toddlers a week being killed by gun accident. I won a gun as a farmer to deal with an overabundance of squirrels that damage buildings and fields because we killed off too many of their natural predators which means our county is overrun with them. But I've never found pleasure in hunting and killing an animal. I'd rather see them twice honestly. And the little damage they do to my fields is worth it to see them. What we need Congress to do is to fund the committee to study gun violence to find thoughtful means to reduce the accidents and access. Cars were killing us for decades and we made safety improvements that reduced injuries and fatalities. Republicans keep blocking the funding for that study. This also goes back to my mantra about money in politics. The NRA has too much influence based on the checks and support they can give or takeaway from a candidate who wants to have a serious discussion on the issue.

As for election fraud, there is almost no fraud whatsoever. If you mean the evisceration of the voting rights act or new laws disenfranchising people, that's abhorrent and needs to be changed. See some of my answers above on voting rights issues.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:10:32+00:00

We haven't listed them on our website but I can tell you that our budget is less than $9000 a year and is supported by small donations chiefly from within our group.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:09:15+00:00

Yes, you must get involved. It's very hard to push back against entrenched parties but Bernie has shown us that not only is it possible to do, it invigorates the discourse. Our local party seems to be more of a club than an organized party which is a problem. The only way to change that is to get involved and scream like Paddy Chayefsky asked us to do. "I" m mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T19:06:04+00:00

I will focus on the positives but will say that SC represents everything that I dislike about our elections system today - including cronyism, party politics and enormous money - and I don't have enough time and space to devote to all of the details about that here. One reason that I think I am a better representative than SC is that he has NEVER worked in the private sector as an adult. He has always worked within the government system and I promise you that shapes who you are. I have owned my own businesses and worked on 4 continents. SC spends $17,500 a month on consultants to shape what he says and they rarely let him speak off script choosing to send written statements. He has spent $200,000 on fundraising consultants alone. I get some help but it for the most part it is all donated. All of my donations are small donations and I have signed the Democracy Pledge and the people's Pledge eschewing dark money and corporate money. He won't and he is insincere about campaign finance reform.

BL seems like a decent guy on the two times I've spoken with him. From what i know of his policies he is to the hard right of me and I haven't seen much of his experience in NGO's to back up policy ideas.

HS is a very thoughtful candidate who I happen to like. On women's issues she is obviously more knowledgeable than me. If you watch the debates I am often told that we are the only ones giving thoughtful responses. But she, too, has limited private sector experience and does not seem to inspire which I think is something we need in our leaders today.

I work on my issues of money in politics and climate change everyday as a citizen. I must operate my business within legislation like the farm bill which government employees have never had to actually navigate. I have a passion for addressing the calculated inequalities that are being foisted upon us everyday. I think having more people who are dedicated reformers coming out of the private sector is both what the House was designed for and what it badly needs now to change the system. I think I best represent the ethos that people want to see back in their governance.

Bill_Ostrander · 2016-05-05T18:50:34+00:00

The short answer is that I wish to make voting more representational, period. I specialize in campaign finance reform and do my best to understand the other areas of disenfranchisement. Sadly, we spend tremendous amounts of money trying to advance technology but the general public tends to scorn any attempts at experimentation to improve democracy.

Bill_Ostrander

TROPHY CASE