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LGBT Advocate Senator Gillibrand Releases First Ad In General Election

09/15/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand won her primary handily, but that does not mean that she is taking the general election for granted. Her first ad is out and she is running on her record of being transparent in how she does her job. Currently, the ad entitled “Open” is running in the Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo markets. Back when she was first elected to Congress, she posted a list of her official meetings, personal financial disclosures and a complete record of all of the money she earmarked for New York on the internet.

These moves have earned her praise from the New York Times and from the Sunlight Foundation. It has also inspired some other members of Congress to follow suit.

The ad goes on to tout the fact that Senator Gillibrand voted against raising her own pay, and has urged the part to hold a vote to end automatic pay raises for members of Congress. The ad also highlights her push to create a searchable database of all earmarks including the amount requested, the amount approved by committee, and the amount approved in the final passage. The database would also require an explanation of why the government should be funding the project, as well as where the money is going to.

Gillibrand is running against Joseph J. DioGuardi in the general election. Current polling shows a lot of undecideds, but with Gillibrand ahead by double digits.

Here is a transcript of the ad followed by the ad itself.

Sen. Gillibrand:

I haven’t been in Washington long, but I’ve been there long enough to know that things are broken.

That’s why I’ve made transparency and accountability a top priority.

I was the first member of Congress to post my official schedule, personal financial disclosures, and the taxpayer money I request for New York on the Internet.

And I took on my own party to end automatic pay raises for Congress.

I’m Kirsten Gillibrand and I approve this message because people who work for a living can’t raise their own pay, and Congress shouldn’t either.