Transparency and openness are essential to a fair and working government. Our democracy is strengthened when Americans are able to see exactly what their elected officials are doing and see that they are doing it in a fair and honest manner.

One of the first things I did as a Member of Congress to improve openness and transparency was to post my appropriations requests on my website so my constituents could see the projects I was requesting money for and why I felt they were important to southern Minnesota. I also pushed for reform to require all Members of Congress to post this information on their website and I am proud to say that this was required for all Fiscal Year 2010 requests. For more on the appropriations requests I have submitted, please click here.

One of the reasons I voted against the Wall Street bailouts was because I did not believe that the legislation included enough oversight to ensure that taxpayer dollars were being used in a wise and efficient manner.

I also believe the time is now for ordinary Minnesotan to come together and participate in finding common sense solutions to the challenges we face. Many of the projects I work on here in Congress have been brought to my attention by southern Minnesotans. For this reason, it is important to me for hold and particpate in public meetings and events across southern Minnesota so I can hear the opinions, ideas and concerns of constituents in Minnesota’s First Congressional District. Since coming to office, I have held or taken part in over 200 public meetings. To keep up to date about my public meetings across southern Minnesota, please sign up for my e-newsletter here.