BELLINGHAM—Bob Burr announced today that he had filed as a "Prefers Democratic Party" candidate to oppose incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray. He stated that "America's future depends on the ability of its people to channel their anger at the ballot box and to restore power to themselves. The rich and powerful corporations are now in control. Sadly, we have become a government of large corporations for large corporations."

"We will never save our country until we get the hugely corrupting influence of self-interest money out of politics," said Burr. "Public financing of elections is absolutely critical. Polling shows that 80% of Democrats, 78% of Independents and 65% of Republicans support public financing of federal elections, as do all geographic and demographic subgroups. Yet, leadership in the Senate and House are not moving public financing forward. Patty Murray is part of that tone deaf leadership. She is not listening. She is very comfortable in our pay-to-play system. She is part of the problem, not part of the solution. That is why I feel it necessary to challenge her from within the Democratic Party."

Burr stated that ever since Sen. Maria Cantwell and over half of the House Democratic caucus had co-sponsored The Fair Elections Now Act, a first step setting up strict standards for optional public financing, he and others had been pursuing a commitment from Murray to it. "It became increasingly clear that public financing was not even on Patty Murray's radar screen. She had not even read the proposed legislation. Why should she? She will likely be raising over $12 million this election cycle. A very small percentage of that money will come from donors of S200 or less. The current system works great for her, but not for us." Burr also believes in term limits. "Patty was a good Senator before she became so entrenched in the system." Burr has pledged to serve only one term. Not only will he not accept PAC money, he will accept absolutely no money from any source. "I will waste no effort raising funds and will owe no favors, concessions or tax breaks to anyone."

"Campaign finance reform and other curbs on corporate power are essential to making true progress on the other, greater crises facing America", said Burr. "The near financial collapse, the bank bailouts, the wanton destruction of the Gulf of Mexico, and the massive exportation of jobs abroad would never have happened if Congress and corporations had not been partners in crime. The killing of a Medicare For All option in favor of a massive handout to health insurers is another sordid, recent example. Financial reform will be a pittance of what is needed. The energy bill will be too little, too late to deal effectively with either peak oil or climate change. The deficits are soaring, yet we are expanding our utterly unwinnable war in Afghanistan--a war that is benefitting nobody but the myriad of government contractors profiting from it. The approval ratings of Congress are at an all-time low for good reason. The voters are angry for good reason. It is time to just say no to the status quo. I offer that alternative."

Prior to taking early retirement and moving cross-country to Bellingham 15 years ago, Bob Burr was Vice President of Research and Development for The Prudential. There, he opened his own national research and consulting practice which he ran for 13 years before fully retiring to become an activist in various causes. He is on the Board of the Whatcom County Democrats, Vice-Chair of the 40th LD Democrats, and a member both in 2008 and 2010 of the Washington State Democrat's Platform Committee.