Month: October 2016

I received a questionnaire from KATU News yesterday.  I do not answer all questionnaires I get since many are biased or deceptive, but I liked this one.  It had some good questions that I think people should know about my campaign.  Below are the questions as well as my responses.

1)      What’s it like for you running as a republican in this election?  This is my first time running a political campaign.  Its has been educational to say the least.  

2)      Do you feel Donald is helping your candidacy, hurting your candidacy, or having little to no effect? Why?  I think the presidential election in general has been a distraction for all other candidates on the ballot.  We have two less than stellar Presidential candidates fighting it out for the highest position in the land making great headlines, but taking attention from the local candidates and issues.

3)      What’s happening now in the Republican party is called a “civil war” by several media outlets. Is that how you would describe it? Why or why not?  I have been focused on my campaign and really have not been involved directly in party politics let alone inter-party politics.  

4)      How much support are you getting from your national party?  None.  I am self funding my entire campaign.  I have been solicited several times by the party to donate to them as a registered Republican, but never has the party called me to congratulate me as the nominee let alone offer any financial support.  

5)      How much support are you getting from your state party?  Financially, None. I chose to self fund my own campaign and that is what I am doing.  I did not request any money nor has any been offered.  

6)      Both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have claimed that our election system is a rigged system. Do you agree? Why or why not?  There is a lot of truth to that statement.  Not only the corruption that was made known by Wikileaks with the Democratic National Committee emails, but also with the system itself.   Special interests heavily fund incumbents making it difficult for challengers  to raise the funds necessary to be able to secure a win.  Also, campaign finance laws passed by the establishment have been created to restrict the amount of money individuals and groups can donate to candidates.  This hurts challengers the most as they do not have an established funding network.  These regulations favor the establishment, and without term limits, we will continue to see very little change in Congress.  

7)      You’re running against an incumbent Democrat whose seat is considered safe, during an election where your party is in turmoil. What’s the biggest hurdle standing between you and winning the election? The only hurdle I have is getting the 165,000 votes I need to win.  If I am able to succeed by self funding, my votes will cost me 3 cents each.  My competitor Suzanne Bonamici, an incumbent who has taken a size-able amount of money from special interests that mostly reside out of this state will spend approximately 200 times that amount per vote.  

8)      What would be your number one priority, if elected?  My first goal is to shrink the size of government.  Large government is expensive, promotes corruption, and limits freedom.  I think a smaller federal government is something almost all Americans agree on.

9)      Why should Oregonians vote for you? People should vote for me because I am not beholding to any group or special interest.  My job is and will be to Represent the people of District one.

When I first began my run for Congress, I had no idea of the level of influence corporations, unions and various Political Action Committees (PACs) have on campaigns.  I truly believed a US Representative represented the people of their district and the money they spent was limited and mostly from constituents.  The sad thing is that is far from the truth.  Money dominates most political campaigns and the influence of groups is astonishing.  I am self funding my own campaign because I feel we should expect better from our elected officials.  We should elect based on character, integrity, and honesty….not on who has the largest campaign bank account.   My competitor Suzanne Bonamici is no better and no worse than the average politician.  She accepts donations and has continually amassed quite large “war chests” for her various reelection campaigns.  A list of her corporate, union, and PAC donors is available on the Federal Election Commission website.  The list was last updated at the end of June, so I am sure it has increased quite a bit since then.  I have included the list below.  I have also included my complete donation list for comparison.  If you are curious about some of the groups supporting Ms. Bonamici, I recommend “Googling” them. It is eye opening to say the least.

 

BRIAN HEINRICH FOR US CONGRESS- All Donors:

BRIAN HEINRICH (self) Dundee, OR     $5000 (limit)

 

BONAMICI FOR CONGRESS- Committee Contributions as of 6/30/2016:

A&B FED PAC Honolulu, HI $1000

AAJ PAC Washington DC $7000

ACADEMY OF NUTRITION & DIETETICS (AND PAC) Washington DC $4000

ACE GROUP PAC Philadelphia, PA $1500

ACTION COMMITTEE FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION Arlington, VA $1500

AFGE PAC Washington DC $1000

AFLAC PAC Columbus, GA $1000

AFSCME PEOPLE PAC Washington DC $1500

AFT COPE FUND Washington DC $5000

AICPA PAC Durham, NC $2500

AIR LINE PILOTS ASSN INT’L Washington DC $2000

AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC Frederick, MD $1000

ALASKA AIR GROUP INC PAC Washington DC $2000

ALLERGAN, INC. PAC Orange, CA $2500

ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC Fort Worth, TX $1500

AMERICAN APPAREL & FOOTWEAR ASSOC. PAC Arlington, VA $2000

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS Park Ridge, IL $4000

AMERICAN ASSOC. OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS PAC Austin, TX $1000

AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION PAC Arlington, VA $2000

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY ASSOC. PAC Reston, VA $2000

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING CO. PAC Washington DC $1500

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS PAC Washington DC $3000

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR PAC Moorhead, MN $10000

AMERICAN DENTAL PAC Washington DC $2500

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION PAC Washington DC $1000

AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION PAC Washington DC $1000

AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION Washington DC $1000

AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION PAC Silver Spring, MD $4000

AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCiATION PAC Alexandria, VA $3500

AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOC. PAC Alexandria, VA $1500

AMERICAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSN APMA PAC Bethesda, MD $1500

AMER. SHORT LINE & REG. RAILROAD ASSOC. PAC Washington DC $1500

AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOC. PAC Washington DC $1000

AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ACTION FUND Washington DC $5000

ANHEUSER-BUSCH PAC Saint Louis, MO $1500

BADGER PAC La Crosse, WI $2000

BALL CORPORATION PAC Broomfield, CO $2000

BNSF RAILPAC Fort Worth, TX $5000

BOEING PAC Arlington, VA $6000

CAMBIA HEALTH SOLUTIONS PAC Portland, OR $2500

CIGNA CORPORATION PAC Washington DC $1500

CISCO SYSTEMS E-PAC Sacramento, CA $1500

COMCAST CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Philadelphia, PA $1500

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM PAC Washington DC $3000

CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION PAC Arlington, VA $2500

COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS Washington DC $4500

COVINGTON & BURLING LLP PAC Washington DC $2500

CULAC THE PAC OF CREDIT UNION NAT. ASSOC. Washington DC $10000

DAVITA HEALTHCARE PARTNERS, INC. PAC Federal Way, WA $1000

DEALERS ELECTION ACTION COMMITTEE Mc Lean, WA $1000

DEMOCRATS RESHAPING AMERICA (DREAMPAC) Washington DC $1000

EBAY INC COMMITTEE Alexandria, VA $1500

ELECT ELLEN ROSENBLUM FOR ATTORNEY GEN. Portland, OR $250

EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN PAC Falls Church, VA $3000

ERNST & YOUNG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Washington DC $2500

FEDERAL EXPRESS PAC Memphis, TN $1500

FLIR SYSTEMS INC EMPLOYEE PAC Wilsonville, OR $2500

FLUOR CORPORATION PAC Washington DC $4000

FOOTWEAR DIST. & RETAILERS OF AMER. PAC Washington DC $1000

FRIENDS OF RYAN DECKERT Portland, OR $400

GENENPAC San Francisco, CA $5000

GENERAL ELECTRIC PAC Washington DC $1000

GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY PAC Washington DC $2500

GENESEE & WYOMING INC PAC York, PA $2500

GOOGLE NET PAC Washington DC $1500

HARDWOOD FEDERATION PAC Washington DC $1000

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL PAC Washington DC $7500

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PAC Washington DC $1000

IBEW COPE Washington DC $2500

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IND. COUNCIL PAC Washington DC $1000

INSURED RETIREMENT INSTITUTE INC. PAC Washington DC $1000

INTEL PAC Washington DC $10000

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS Washington DC $3500

INTL. BROTHERHOOD OF BOILERMAKERS CAF Kansas City, KS $1000

INTERNATIONAL PAPER PAC Washington DC $5500

INTL. UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES Hanover, MD $10000

J STREET PAC Washington DC $3000

JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES AND EDU. PAC (JOE PAC) Washington DC $1000

K&L GATES LLP PAC Washington DC $2000

LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS PAC Washington DC $2558

LIUNA PAC Washington DC $2500

LOCKHEED MARTIN EMPLOYEE’S PAC Arlington, VA $6000

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO PAC Springfield, MA $2500

METLIFE INC. EMPLOYEES’ PPF-A FEDERAL ONLY New York, NY $2000

MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY GROWERS PAC Bay City, MI $3500

MICRONPAC Boise, ID $1000

MICROSOFT CORP. PAC Redmond, WA $3000

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOP. SUGAR (MDS PAC) Wahpeton, ND $2000

MORGAN STANLEY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE New York, NY $1000

NAT’L ASSN OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS PAC (SPAC) Alexandria, VA $1000

NAT’L EMERGENCY MEDICINE PAC (NEMPAC) Dallas, TX $3500

NARFE PAC Alexandria, VA $1000

NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS PAC Washington DC $1000

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF FOREST OWNERS PAC Washington DC $1000

NAT. ASSOC. OF INS. & FINANCIAL ADVISORS PAC Fall Church, VA $5500

NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSN PAC Alexandria, VA $3500

NAT. CABLE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSN PAC Washington DC $1000

NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOC. PAC Bethesda, MD $2500

NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES PAC Washington DC $1000

NAT. WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEES ORG. PAC Washington DC $3000

NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH PAC Columbia, SC $3000

NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION PAC Washington DC $2000

NIKE, INC. PAC Beaverton, OR $10000

NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS PAC Portland, OR $1500

NOVO NORDISK PAC Washington DC $1000

OCEAN CHAMPIONS PAC Capitola, CA $10000

OFF THE SIDELINES PAC Washington, DC $2500

ORBITAL ATK INC. PAC Arlington, VA $5000

OREGON NURSES PAC Tualatin, OR $500

PACIFIC SEAFOOD GROUP EMPLOYEE PAC Clackamas, OR   $500

PACIFICORP-PAC. POWER/ROCKY MTN. POWER PAC Portland, OR $1000

PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF INC GROUP PAC New York, NY $1000

PFIZER PAC New York, NY $1000

PGE BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE Portland, OR $5500

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND New York, NY $1500

PROFESSIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SPECIALISTS PAC Washington DC $1500

PRUDENTIAL INS. COMPANY OF AMERICA PAC Newark, NJ $2000

RAYTHEON PAC Arlington VA $5000

REALTORS PAC Chicago, IL $4000

RETAIL INDUSTRY LEADERS ASSOC. PAC Arlington, VA $1000

SEIU C.O.P.E. Washington DC $5000

SEMI POLITICAL ALLIANCE SEMICONDUCTOR E & M Sacramento, CA $2000

SENIORS HOUSING POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Washington DC $2000

SNAKE RIVER SUGAR CO. PAC Boise, ID $2000

SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BEET SUGAR COOP PAC Renville, MN $1000

STANDARD INSURANCE PAC Portland, OR $1000

STOEL RIVES LLP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Portland, OR $1000

SUGAR CANE GROWERS COOP OF FLORIDA PAC Belle Glade, FL $1000

TARGET CORP CITIZENS POLITICAL FORUM Minneapolis, MN $1000

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED PAC Dallas, TX $1000

THE COMMITTEE FOR A LIVABLE FUTURE Portland, OR   $5000

THE GAP INC. PAC San Francisco, CA $1000

THE HOME DEPOT PAC Washington DC $10000

THE NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDU. Washington DC $2000

TIAA-CREF PAC Washington DC $7500

TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION PAC Washington DC $1500

UNION PACIFIC CORP FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVT. Washington DC $5000

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES PAC Hartford, CT $3000

UNITED TRANSPORTATION UNION North Olmsted, OH $2500

UPS PAC Atlanta, GA $6000

VERIZON GOOD GOVERNMENT PAC Washington DC $1500

WAL-MART STORES INC. PAC Bentonville, AR $5000

WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE PAC Denver, CO $2000

WEYERHAEUSER PAC Federal Way, WA $5000

 

I started my campaign roughly 16 months ago with one basic idea in mind, that it is not right to take money from my fellow Oregonians for their voices to be heard.  People work hard for their money and they deserve to keep it.  They also deserve representation that works hard to keep their taxes low and the government limited.  That is why my tagline is, “I don’t want your money, I just want your vote.”  It is short, to the point, and true.  My name is Brian Heinrich, and with your support, I will be your next Representative for Oregon’s 1st Congressional District.     

 

On Saturday, I was down in Corvallis at the Oregon State football game with my family when a friend of mine mentioned that the Oregonian released their endorsements for the 2016 general election.  He jokingly said, “They gave you a whole sentence….”  I was shocked since the Oregonian never interviewed me for their endorsement.  A week or so earlier, a person on their staff emailed me and scheduled a time to call, but failed to do so.  On Sunday, I looked up the Oregonian endorsement page.  My friend was wrong….they gave me half a sentence.  Needless to say it is not the lack of their endorsement that upsets me, but the fact that they present themselves as doing their due diligence in vetting the candidates, but in reality did very little.  In response to their failed effort, I submitted the following letter to the editor:

To the Oregonian Editorial Board,

My name is Brian Heinrich and I am running for US Congress in Oregon’s first district. I would like to express my surprise and disappointment by the lack of effort of your editorial board regarding your endorsements for the 2016 general election. I was contacted on October 4th by Len Reed, your associate editor, regarding my candidacy. I responded rapidly and provided multiple opportunities for him to contact me, and I gave him my personal cell phone number. While he did respond by email and say he would contact me via phone later in the day, I received no calls nor voice mails, nor any follow up communication. Therefore, you can understand my disappointment when I was informed by a friend that you endorsed my opponent, Suzanne Bonamici. Also, the portion of the single sentence that you dedicated to me provided information that is easily found on my website (https://heinrichfororegon.org)

It is this lack of thorough investigation and research that makes people distrust the media, and rightfully so. I am saddened to discover that this is what has become of our free press. You are no longer assisting the public but intentionally misinforming them.

I encourage your readers to contact me directly at (503) 307-0139 or via email at heinrichfororegon@gmail.com. I will be happy to answer any of the questions your readers might have.

Yours truly,

Brian J. Heinrich

Candidate for US Congress, Oregon District 1

 

So with this letter, I encourage anyone who would like to know more about me or my candidacy, to please contact me.  I will be happy to take your phone call, text, or email.  Do keep in mind as I am self funding this campaign, that I work full time and may not be able to answer immediately.  I will respond and I look forward to earning your vote. As listed in the letter, you can reach me via phone/txt at (503) 307-0139 and email at heinrichfororegon@gmail.com   Thank you for your interest and support.  And as I have said since the beginning, “I do not want your money, I just want your vote.”