Mike Caudle Hits the Radio Airwaves

Over the last two days, Mike Caudle has laid out his ethics and lobbying reform legislation that could really help clean up Salem. A number of top news radio stations have picked up the story and run with it.

OPB, Portland's NPR station, ran the following story during its news updates last night during rush hour. I heard it around 6:00 PM, but it likely played a number of times.

Dems Use Junket Case To Push For Ethics Reform

By Kristian Foden-Vencil
PORTLAND, OR 2006-09-28 While three Republican legislators struggle with questions about not reporting a lobbying trip to Hawaii, Democrats are using the issue to push new ethics legislation.

Mike Caudle, who's running against House Majority Leader Wayne Scott, says he'll be outside a fundraising dinner for Scott and other House Republicans in Portland tonight, to launch his new legislation.

Mike Caudle: "Lobbyists are powerful in Salem. They're there everyday and they have the time, effort, energy and money to be influencing decisions. And I think anything they do above and beyond just sharing their message has an influence on somebody."

Caudle wants to ban legislators from going on any trips paid for by lobbyists; to cap the value of lobbyist gifts at $300 total a biennium; and restrict retired legislators from lobbying their colleagues within two years of leaving office.

Representative Scott did not respond to OPB's requests for an interview.

Mike was also on the Thom Hartmann show on KPOJ, Portland's progressive talk station, this morning at 7:50, right during the heat of drive time. He also laid out his ethics plan there, as well as plugging our rally with the Governor tomorrow afternoon.

Radio wasn't the only medium that covered Mike's reform proposal. The blogs ate the story up, with Blue Oregon and Loaded Orygun at the lead.