Two Weeks from Tonight

-by Bill Romjue

On Tuesday, March 16th, you can take the first step toward nominating a candidate for the U.S. Senate, by participating in your precinct caucus.  Andrew recorded a new video explaining this process.  (To find your caucus location, please click here.)

We need Andrew's leadership in Washington now more than ever.  Today Andrew called for an end to the filibuster and to secret meetings, pointing out that Senate rules and courtesies are stifling action on pressing issues.
 
In a conference call with reporters, Andrew cited the recent impasse in the Senate, in which a single Kentucky senator held up federal unemployment benefits to 9,000 Coloradans and additional hundreds of thousands of jobless Americans across the country.  "Millions of Americans are suffering while their senators strut about the stage," Andrew said.  "We need Washington to work -- so that we can, too."
 
Andrew urged Congress to adopt three practices in use in the Colorado legislature, where he was Speaker of the House.

"First, I think we ought to end this practice of allowing one senator to put a hold on the action of the entire U.S. Senate," Andrew said. "We don't allow that in Colorado; we shouldn't allow it in Congress.

"Second, we ought to eliminate the use of the filibuster altogether.  It's an anachronism that no longer serves a useful purpose, if it ever did. We don't have a filibuster in Colorado. We don't talk bills to death; it just sometimes sounds that way. The Senate of the United States would do well to follow the lesson of the Colorado legislature and take up-or-down votes on bills rather than delaying progress on important issues like these.

"And third, we ought to put an end to backroom deals. The U.S. Senate and House ought to adopt Colorado's Sunshine Law, which requires all meetings of two or more members of a public body to be conducted in the open -- open to the public and open to the press.  A little Colorado sunshine would do a world of good in Washington, D.C."

If you like the way Washington works, vote for someone else.  If you believe we can do better, stand with Andrew on March 16th. 

Sincerely,

Bill Romjue
Campaign Manager 
Romanoff for Colorado

P.S.:  Andrew posted his first entry on Huffington Post.  He offers a heartfelt explanation of his commitment to public service.  Please forward to your friends.