Vote Smart

If you'd like to be more informed about your representatives in Congress, this is a great site: Project Vote Smart. It contains a Who's Who at all levels of Federal and State government and provides extensive info on their background and positions on the main issues. A key component of the site is the Congressional National Political Awareness Test (NPAT), in which candidates are asked which issues they would support if elected. Sadly, only a handful have actually taken the test.

I was inspired to do a little research on Republican Representative Cliff Stearns, who represents my district here in Jacksonville, Florida, because, according to the email I received today from MoveOn.org (see previous post), he voted against reducing the proposed public broadcasting budget cuts. Great guy. He's a hardcore conservative who represents the antithesis of many of the things I value, which include separation of church and state, protecting the environment, doing away with the death penalty, allowing gay marriage and adoption, tightening up gun regulation, among many "liberal" (ooh, that's such a bad word anymore) positions I hold.

I took it upon myself to write Mr. Stearns a little note to ask (a) why he voted against public broadcasting and (b) why he has refused numerous requests to take the NPAT. We'll see if I get a response. You'll be the second to know.