Answer the Questions, Senator

Project Vote Smart has question, Senator Shawn Keough (R-Sandpoint) doesn’t want to give answers:

Each election cycle candidates for legislative office receive many many questionnaires from special interest groups. This year, I have had about 50 in my mailbox. This year I’ve elected not to respond to any of them. While some are sincere in their requests for information, most are at best slanted with loaded questions designed to entrap the candidate and at worst could be construed to be a contractual agreement when a candidate is required to sign a statement locking them into the answers without consideration for the future which might include new information or changes in circumstances.

The latter is in regards to “Idahoans for Tax Reform” with their “no tax increase” pledge. Now, I’ll give Senator Keough one point, many of the questionaires ask loaded questions. Project Vote Smart doesn’t. It’s a non-partisan resource that asks where people stand on the issues and it’s helpful in research making up your mind.

In the ten years I have been honored to be the State Senator for our area, I have built a strong track record of being accessible to any one and any group within my legislative district. I respond to my phone calls, my letters, my e-mail, I speak to constituents at the bank, the Post Office, the grocery store, the gas station, at restaurants when I’m with my family, on the beach, at soccer games – in short anywhere, virtually anytime. I also sit down with members of the press at election time and answer all their questions plus make my self available to the press virtually 24/7 year round.

So, if you’re note quite bold enough to call or e-mail Senator Keough and you don’t happen to run into her, you’re left to trust what the media tells you about her. Personally, as a candidate I filled out all the questionaires sent me and the only one that took a real long time was the Idaho Education Association, because they wanted money for projects while the state was running a deficit and they wanted essays on them. Most are very brief and quick, “Yes/No” surveys with maybe one or two essays. Fifty might take ten hours. Voters are going to be educated by then and unfortunately, they’re going to read that Senator Keough didn’t care enough to respond, because at this time nobody’s paying attention to her overwrought explanation.

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