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Voters want to know

The Gazette

August 31, 2006

p. A6

[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]


  Iowa’s politicians have the nation’s worst response rate on a basic test of how open and honest they want to be with voters. Just 5 percent of candidates for state and federal offices have returned this year’s National Political Awareness Test given by Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan group devoted to increasing public awareness and participation in elections.

  The test is based on one simple question: ‘‘Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?’’ If the answer is yes, as it should be, candidates then simply check statements that best match their positions on issues voters have said are of top concern, or indicate the level of funding or taxation they would support.

  Voters should reward the few candidates who have passed this test of basic responsibility. They should castigate candidates who have ignored the test, and maybe even shame a few of them into sending the test in late.

  So, who’s passing and failing the test? (See complete results at www.vote-smart.org) Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle has sent his test in. Democrat Chet Culver has not. In fact, Culver refused to take the Project Vote Smart test, even when he ran for secretary of state.

  It’s no surprise that 2nd District Republican Jim Leach completed and returned his test. The incumbent congressman is a member of Project Vote Smart’s founding board of directors. Both candidates in the 4th District have responded. Kudos to Democratic challenger Seldon Spencer and incumbent Republican Tom Latham. No one from the 1st, 3rd or 5th congressional districts has bothered with the test.

  Among candidates running for the state Legislature, the return rate so far is a stunningly dismal 4 percent. Here are the responsible few candidates for seats in the House who have completed the test and returned it: Susie Bell, R-Davenport; John Hulsizer, R-Dubuque; John Griswold, R-Madrid, Rep. Jeff Kaufmann, R-Wilton and Sally Vitamvas, D-Silver City.

  Only two state Senate candidates have returned the test: Tom Hoogestraat, R-Parkersburg, and Keith Caviness, R-Ottumwa. Both major political parties are advising candidates not to take the test. Party officials say the candidates will lose control of their campaign messages and they will be exposed to opposition research.

  That says a lot about the wrong turn campaigning has taken. No candidate should deny voters a way to know where he or she stands on an issue. The test gives voters information they need and want, and that should count for more than poor advice from the political parties’ national campaign strategists.