California's fair share of federal funding

By Mary Ose

My campaign is about challenging the status quo and giving this great region and all of you the open, honest and reliable representation you deserve.

I'll say what needs to be said, I'll do the work that must be done, and I won't be afraid to tell you the truth.

Here's an example, the kind of truth we don't hear much about:

For every tax dollar California sends to Washington, we get back only 77 cents.

Where does the rest of it go? Other states, other projects, other priorities -- anywhere but right here -- where it belongs.

That's a scandal. As your Representative in Congress, I'll fight to bring our fair share home.

They get the money + we get the traffic.

They get the services + we pay for illegal immigration

This applies to education, public safety, health care and more.

I'll join Governor Schwarzenegger in demanding our fair share + to help our city and county governments balance their budgets without raising taxes.

It's about time we got down to business.

I'm not about making easy choices and avoiding hard decisions.

I'm not about only saying "no" -- I'm about finding the best ways to say "yes."

Although I've never been elected to a federal office, I have been to Congress before -- with the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce on its annual Cap-to-Cap trip.

Alongside other business, health care and community leaders, we went to Washington to make our case and to fight for our fair share.

Let me tell you what I found out: How very important it is to have Representatives who understand the needs of our community and who understand the danger of higher taxes, excessive litigation and runaway federal spending.

Most of all, I learned two critical things we must have at the highest levels of government:

· accessible representation

· best public servants.

Unlike professional politicians, I can declare my independence from politics as usual and mean it.

I don't have a vested interest in a political life. My only higher ambition is to serve our communities, our region, our state and our country.

I will work with President Bush to build a stronger, safer America with a more vibrant and growing economy.

Again, I'll help Governor Schwarzenegger bring more jobs and our fair share of federal funding to California.

I'll work to get the funding we need for local road improvements, flood protection, public safety and schools.

And I will be your partner in building a better region, a better state, and a better country.

If I have your trust and your vote, I'll make a promise to everyone in this district: I'll always call this place home, and I'll be nobody's representative but yours.