Johnson should back election funding bill

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson's aid to a constituent with cruise arrangements was nice and appropriate, as are his many notes of congratulation on anniversaries, your kid's making the honor roll. etc.

But those little chores do not justify the very adequate salary, staff and health care we provide him with. I expect my congressman to help find a solution to our health care situation; Johnson says that our health care system is "the best in the world" and he opposed reform in the House, in spite of the fact that American health statistics are near the bottom of all developed nations.

I expect to see my congressman's name as a sponsor or co-sponsor of significant legislation. I haven't seen Johnson's name on any such bills.

Here's an opportunity. There is a bill before Congress called the Fair Elections Now Act that would give candidates for the Senate and the House the opportunity to run as "clean election" candidates with a modest amount of public funding but no money from private interests or lobbyists.

The bill would go a long way toward getting big money out of politics. It has over a hundred co-sponsors. Let's see if Johnson will join them.

CAMERON

SATTERTHWAITE

Urbana