As long as corporations are considered persons, and money is considered free speech (Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case), those with the most money will have the loudest voices in our government. Following the money of campaign financing (www.pdc.wa.gov), I find many of the “voices” behind Barbara Bailey’s campaign include insurance industry and pharmaceutical industry special interests, such as Novartis of East Hanover, N.J.; Allergan of Irvine, Calif.; Bristol-Myers Squibb of Washington, D.C.

Since she has written legislation that would help the insurance industry adjust rates on small group pools by as much as eight percentage points without review by the Insurance Commissioner (a change from the current four percent, see HR 1868), and has voted against a program that would prohibit use of private health care information for marketing of prescription drugs (HR 1493), those industries must feel they are getting their money’s worth.

In addition, having taken money from out-of-state banking interests, Bailey has then voted in favor of larger tax breaks for out-of-state banks than what local banks may receive (HR 3191).

Her challenger, Tom Riggs, on the other hand, is not taking out-of-state or industry special interest money. Running a campaign financed by individuals and local organizations, his only “special interests” will be the citizens of the 10th Legislative District, not to be confused with the profits of Novartis or Bristol-Myers Squibb. Hopefully voters will help him overcome the financial megaphone of the incumbent.

Please check him out at www.TomRiggs.org.

Doug McKee, M.D.

Coupeville