Interview: Bern Haggerty (G) for U.S. House for 2nd District of Washington

By: Joe Urban 

1. What distinguishes you from your opponents?  

I am distinguished from the other candidates primarily by my ideas.

First, I was nominated because I am opposed to an ever-expanding global war.  I would have opposed the use of force resolution passed by Congress last fall because it gave the President the sole authority to decide which countries to invade, and how long to occupy them, in the name of fighting terrorism.  I would vote to repeal the use of force resolution and to impose strict conditions on the President's future military decisions.

Second, I favor publicly-financed elections. Congressional campaigns are reaching new highs in fundraising and new lows in corruption.  Anyone interested should go to www.citizen.org, follow the links to Congress Watch, and look at their Representative's PAC contributions.  You will find a direct correlation between contributions and votes in Congress.  For example, my representative took money from the nuclear industry and voted for Yucca Mountain; he took money from credit card companies and
voted to give credit card companies special rights in bankruptcy proceedings; he took money from pharmaceutical companies and voted to increase prices for pediatric prescription drugs.  I am limiting my contributions to $100 per person, and I will fight for
publicly-financed elections.

Third, I favor democratic trade.  The WTO, NAFTA, and FTAA make decisions that effect us in our workplaces,our homes, and our communities.  For example the WTO
recently ordered the US to pay billions of dollars to Boeing's European rival.  And, Skagit and Whatcom Counties have suffered substantial, permanent job
losses due to NAFTA.  (see www.nadbank.org for a complete list). Why do we assume we should leave these decisions to the experts?  In Europe ordinary people
are allowed to elect representatives to their trade bodies.  And, if foreign corporations are allowed to challenge our environmental and safety laws, shouldn't
we be allowed to intervene to have a say in the decisions?  I would oppose the creation of any trade body that excludes ordinary people from its decisions.

Finally, I am the best qualified candidate by education and life experience.  I am a Head Start graduate and an Eagle Scout.  I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering; I have worked in a factory; and, I have a law degree from Howard Law School.  In
addition to my experience as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in a state Attorney General's Office, I recently completed an advanced degree in
Environmental and Natural Resources Law.  I am currently a domestic violence attorney for the Lummi Nation.  I am also a husband, and the father of a
five-year-old son.

2.   How long have you been involved in politics? Do you remember the first time you voted?

My first political experience was as a boy scout.  I had to attend a city council meeting to earn citizenship in the community merit badge.  They were deciding whether to remove the shade trees along our Main Street, and they asked me what I thought.  I said
I like the trees, and suggested if they were a hazard they should trim them.  They actually did what I suggested.

I first voted in the 1984 election, but I do not remember how I voted; I was 18, and I was not aware of party politics.  In 1988 I campaigned for Jesse Jackson.

3.   What is the greatest challenge of public service?


Today, the greatest challenge is the temptation to compromise your values in exchange for the money needed to buy publicity and get elected.

4.   What is the most important issue facing the 2nd District?

The greatest threat to our district is a President and a Congress willing to spend our economy into recession in the name of fighting terrorism.  We cannot defeat terrorism with deficit spending on battlefield nuclear weapons and other war toys.

5.   What advice would you give someone thinking of running for public office?  

Don't give up on your values, no matter how much the critics sneer, and no matter how much money they offer you.

6.   What was your first car?

I have had more bikes than cars.  My first bike was a green Schwinn Stingray.  It was stolen.  Since then I have driven four used bikes.  My first car was a 1972 Chrysler Newport.

7.   What was your favorite subject in High School?   

I didn't like high school, but I enjoyed writing an essay for senior English title "Blueberries."
  
8.   How did you become involved in the (G) Party?   

I helped with the Nader/LaDuke campaign in 1996 because I was disappointed in the choices on the ballot.

9.   What is your favorite movie and favorite actor?  


I like Jesus Christ Superstar, Susan Sarandon, andDanny Glover.

10.  Will the U.S. invade Iraq by December 2002?    
  
Not if we do our jobs as citizens.

11.  If you were in the U.S. House today, what would be
your first bill to sponsor?  

A bill to repeal the September, 2001 use of force resolution.

12. Why should the citizens of the 2nd District Elect
you on Nov. 5th, 2002?   

I am the only candidate who favors meaningful campaign finance reform in both word and deed.

13. Which bills to your support in the U.S. House
today?

I would co-sponsor H.C.R. 99, a call to adopt universal health care by 2004.  I would also co-sponsor the Genetic Engineered Food Labeling bill, a strong federal hate crime law, and legislation to make the District of Columbia a state.

14. How do you improve education in the State of Washington?

The Congress is responsible for equal access to a quality education for all, including well paid teachers, adequate facilities, and access to higher education.  In Northwest Washington the Congress is responsible for fully funding the Payments In Lieu of
Taxes, which compensate local government and schools for property tax revenue lost due to untaxable federal public lands.  This program is funded at only 54 percent of its authorized levels, and it accounts for hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue. Likewise Congress must fully fund the Impact Aid programs in the Department of Defense and Education budgets to offset the added cost of children from military and other federal facilities.