Not running to be a political telemarketer

Mt. Pleasant, WI—Ryan Solen is an unusual candidate where fundraising is concerned; he only accepts personal donations, no contributions from businesses or PAC’s, has held few fundraisers, and he does not participate in “call time” calling potential donors one after the other and asking for money. He doesn’t want to be beholden to any group that may influence how he would vote should he be elected to Congress and during the campaign he wants to focus on the campaign, on meeting people in the 1st Congressional District and listening to their needs. This mindset will follow him to Washington, D.C., where it is known that Representatives are strongly encouraged to spend three or more hours each day on the phone fundraising.

Ryan Solen observes that House representatives who get elected are often “expected to spend hours per day in Washington DC to be on the phone calling and asking for money. And, that’s wrong. I won’t do it. I refuse. I am not running this campaign to become a telemarketer.” He is running to represent his district in Wisconsin.

Solen’s opponent, Paul Ryan, is the ultimate telemarketer. Paul Ryan spends most of his time fundraising rather than representing his constituents or bothering to campaign for reelection.  He was outside Wisconsin much of September and most of October fundraising for other Republicans.  He will spend barely one week in his own district this election cycle.  That shortchanges the people who voted him into office.

Paul Ryan said, to the media via a spokesperson and never to Ryan Solen’s campaign, that he couldn’t participate in the debate Solen planned for last Saturday because the voters in the district already knew him and that he would campaign in the last week of the election. It is now the last week of the election and Paul Ryan was on CNN today talking about, among other things, how he was fundraising for more out of state Republicans. When, exactly, will the Speaker speak to his own constituents?

In the 2016 election cycle, Paul Ryan has $15 million. More than half of that money comes from super PACs and massive corporations. Among his wealthier contributors are the Koch brothers, multinational banks such as Bank of America, venture capitalists such as the Carlyle Group, and huge pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer.

Solen and asks, “What has he accomplished for his constituents?” Not much.

Paul Ryan’s Legislative Effectiveness Score is “Below Expectations.” He ranks in the bottom 1/3 of all House Representatives since 1973.  Solen notes, “We’re paying all that money out of our taxes so Paul Ryan can travel between DC and Janesville rather than representing the people who voted him into office.”

Ryan Solen finds Paul Ryan’s indifference to his constituents repugnant. Solen doesn’t believe in “begging for money to earn a few more votes to get ahead.” Unlike Paul Ryan, he “will not go to Washington to make calls on behalf of the party” at the expense of the people he represents.

On November 8th, constituents who want a representative rather than a political telemarketer have an opportunity to vote in a representative who cares about his district and rather than fundraising.  If you want a representative instead of a political telemarketer, vote for Ryan Solen next Tuesday.

About Ryan Solen

Ryan Solen is an Army veteran of the war in Iraq and is seeking to represent Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. He is a Digital Forensic Specialist and Computer Security Analyst. He is a married father of four and enjoys reading, writing, doing karate with his family, and relieves stress with his vintage Lego collection.

He is the Wisconsin Democratic Party’s Nominee to run for the U.S. House of Representatives to replace Paul Ryan. For more information, please visit www.solenforcongress.com

Committee to Elect Ryan Solen for Congress

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.