More than 4,000 sign in support of Busby in race for 50th District (02/08/2006)
by Dani Dodge, Staff Writer - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Busby Officially Announces Candidacy for Congress, Turns in 4,161 Nominating Signatures (02/07/2006) (press release)

Campaign theme is integrity (02/03/2006)
by Dani Dodge, Staff Writer - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Democrat Busby leads 50th pack in campaign gifts (02/02/2006)
by Dani Dodge, Staff Writer - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Money Flowing Into California Special (02/02/06)
(article by subscription only, read excerpt below)
by David Drucker, Roll Call
[Busby's] $371,000 in cash on hand to close 2005 stands head and shoulders above the $214,000 banked by her nearest Republican competitor on the money front, state Sen. Bill Morrow (R).

BUSBY BESTS ALL IN NEW POLL (01/24/2006) (press release)

Encinitas – Today Francine Busby for Congress released polling results and a memo analyzing the poll showing Busby in a strong position to win the special election to replace Duke Cunningham. The poll showed Busby besting every one of her Republican rivals who were tested in head-to-head matchups.

"This poll confirms what voters in the district have been telling me for months: they want a representative who is committed to restoring honesty and integrity to Washington," said Busby. "Voters are tired of more of the same high health care costs, more of the same growing national debt, more of the same immigration policy and more of the same pay-to-play politics."

Busby shows political teeth in second bid for 50th seat (01/22/2006)
by Mary Curran-Downey - The San Diego Union-Tribune

BUSBY RAISES $520,000 IN 2005 (01/18/2006) (press release)

Encinitas, CA – 50th Congressional District Candidate Francine Busby announced today that she raised $520,000 during 2005 with over $271,000 coming in the last three months of the year. She ended 2005 with over $371,000 in the bank. Busby for Congress had over 1800 contributors during 2005 and over 93% of the money raised came from within California.

Busby Calls House Democrats Ethics Proposal Another 'Band-Aid' (01/18/2006) (press release)

Encinitas, Ca – Democratic Congressional Candidate Francine Busby today applauded the Democratic leadership in Congress for acknowledging the need to change the culture of corruption in Washington, but criticized their proposal as "another band-aid when a tourniquet is needed." The plan released by the Democratic leadership ends gifts from lobbyists, slows the revolving door for House staff and representatives becoming lobbyists, increases lobbying disclosure, and increases transparency on government contracts. Yesterday Busby criticized the Republican leadership's proposal as well.

"These proposals are well-intentioned but will not change the way Washington works. Proposals written by establishment politicians will inevitably serve the establishment not the voters they are intending to protect. Instead of restoring honesty and integrity to Washington these proposals are just band-aides placed over the problem," said Busby.

"I have promised the toughest anti-lobbyist practices of anyone in Congress: no gifts, no trips, no secret meetings, no outside financial relationships, and no exceptions. None of the other candidates running to replace Duke Cunningham have made that promise."

Busby Calls House Leadership Ethics Proposal a 'Band-Aid' That Doesn’t Change the Way Washington Works (01/17/2006) (press release)

Encinitas, Ca – Congressional Candidate Francine Busby today applauded the leadership in Congress for acknowledging their own culture of corruption but criticized their proposal for "using a band-aid where a tourniquet is necessary." The plan released by the leadership would ban privately funded congressional travel, limit some gifts from lobbyists and increase the waiting period for former members of Congress and former House staffers to become lobbyists.

"This proposal would not substantially change the way Washington works. Establishment politicians have proposed a reform package that sounds good for a press conference but doesn’t restore honesty and integrity to our government," said Busby.

"I have promised the toughest anti-lobbyist practices of anyone in Congress: no gifts, no trips, no secret meetings, no outside financial relationships and no exceptions. None of the other candidates in this race have made that promise."

BUSBY APPLAUDS HASTERT ENDORSEMENT OF HER PLAN TO BAN PRIVATELY FUNDED CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL (01/12/2006) (press release)

Encinitas – Today Congressional Candidate Francine Busby wrote to House Speaker Dennis Hastert applauding him for supporting her proposal to ban privately funded congressional travel. As part of her Change Legislative Ethics and Attitudes Now (CLEAN) House Act that was released on November 11, 2005, Busby called for a ban on all privately funded congressional travel.

"I am incredibly glad that you have decided to support one portion of my CLEAN House Act, which I released in November. Banning privately funded congressional travel should be one part of comprehensive ethics reform legislation," Busby wrote.

Busby's CLEAN House Act includes three additional provisions including a ban on outside financial relationships between representatives and government contractors, a ban on representatives promoting specific businesses for government contracts and ban anonymous appropriation earmarks.

BUSBY RELEASES CLEAN OFFICE PROPOSAL (01/11/2006) (press release)

Encinitas – Today Congressional Candidate Francine Busby released her CLEAN Office Proposal, a plan detailing how her office will interact with lobbyists. If elected, Busby’s office would have the toughest standards for interaction with lobbyists of any of the 535 congressional offices in Washington.

"This Congress has consistently shown a willingness to put the needs of high-powered DC lobbyists above the needs of average taxpayers and that has to change. The current lax laws have allowed a system where lobbyists write legislation and taxpayer dollars are given away in backroom, secret meetings," said Busby.

Busby's CLEAN Office proposal would eliminate secret meetings with lobbyists, limit conflicts of interest as former House staff members and former members of Congress become lobbyists, ban lobbyist funded travel, and ban any gifts from lobbyists. Busby has pledged that any member of her staff who willfully violated these rules would no longer serve on her staff. A full explanation of the CLEAN Office Proposal is attached.

Busby Calls Abramoff Plea 'A Wake Up Call for Reform' (01/03/2006) (press release)

Encinitas – Congressional Candidate Francine Busby released the following statement in response to the plea agreement by Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff that reportedly includes testifying against members of Congress and their staff in an ongoing federal corruption investigation:

"Virtually every week, Americans hear another chapter in the story of the culture of corruption in Washington, DC. Payoffs, kickbacks, backroom giveaways and sweetheart deals have become the norm in Washington and the people’s work has taken a back seat to special interest favors.

I released my Change Legislative Ethics and Attitudes Now (CLEAN) House Act in December because I believe that Washington needs to undergo dramatic and immediate reform. Twice I have challenged the other candidates in the race to sign onto the CLEAN House Act and twice they have refused to take a position.

Busby Condemns Dishonest Budget Tactics that Hide Debt Increases (12/21/2005) (press release)

"Today Congressional Candidate Francine Busby said that it is time for Congress to start being honest with the American people about the nation’s budget and its debt. She condemned the leadership in Congress for using a procedural tool to raise the ceiling of the national debt without the normally required vote. This maneuver will allow congress to raise the national debt limit by $781 to cover the cost of the budget as it now stands. This is in addition to the already unacceptable $8.2 trillion national debt."

A Battle Looms to Succeed 'Duke' (12/19/2005)
by Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Busby Statement on Special Election Dates (12/15/2005) (press release)

"For months, voters across this district have all been telling me the same thing: they want a representative who serves them with the honesty and integrity they deserve. I am committed to being a member of Congress who will work to change the way Washington does business because we can not afford more of the same Duke Cunningham style of pay-to-play politics, more of the same high health care costs or more of the same growing national debt. I am confident that voters will choose the only candidate who represents a clean break from the corruption of Duke Cunningham."

Busby: Congress, Other Candidates Ignored Cunningham Access to Security Secrets (12/13/2005) (press release)

Encinitas – Congressional Candidate Francine Busby criticized other congressional candidates and leaders in Congress for their willingness to allow now Former Congressman Duke Cunningham to continue to have unobstructed access to highly classified information while he was the subject of a federal bribery investigation.

BUSBY CALLS ON OPPONENTS TO SIGN ONTO CLEAN HOUSE ACT (12/05/2005) (press release)

Encinitas – Two weeks after releasing her Change Legislative Ethics and Attitudes Now (CLEAN) House Act, Congressional Candidate Francine Busby wrote to her opponents asking for them to sign onto her proposal. Busby's CLEAN House Act is tougher than any proposal currently supported by any member of Congress from either party.

Congress needs tough ethics law (12/04/2005)
(Commentary by Gail Chatfield)

Duke wasn't acting alone (11/30/2005)
(Op-Ed by Lewis Billig)

EMILY's List Announces Endorsement of Francine Busby for California’s 50th Congressional District (11/30/2005)
(EMILY's List Press Release)

California could provide an early political trial (11/30/2005)
dedicated server by Timm Herdt - Scripps Howard News Service

"Cunningham's 50th District could be a different story, said Republican political analyst Tony Quinn, co-author of the Target Book, a publication that scrutinizes the voting dynamics of every political district in California.

Republicans hold a 14-point edge in voter registration in the district, but there are other considerations, Quinn said.

"It's a coastal area where Kerry got 44 percent of the vote in 2004, a little better than Gore in 2000," he said. "It's less Republican than some of these other districts."

In addition, the district has a credible Democratic candidate _ Francine Busby, a member of a local school board, who lost to Cunningham in 2004 but never stopped running.

"The best shot possible to win a district like that is now," said Bob Mulholland, campaign adviser to the state Democratic Party. "There's a dark cloud over the Republican Party.""

Resignation speeds up 50th District politicking (11/29/2005)
by John Marelius - Staff Writer, The Union Tribune

"Busby has been seeking to make the case that all of the Republicans are Cunningham cronies by regularly calling on them to join her in demanding his resignation.

"I am the only candidate to succeed Congressman Cunningham who has felt that his reported transgressions should require his resignation," Busby said. "As we turn our attention to the future, I believe the people of the 50th Congressional District will welcome the only candidate who represents a clean break from Congressman Cunningham's ethics.""

Cunningham's resignation brings special election (11/29/2005)
by Gig Conaughton - Staff Writer, The North County Times

"But longtime Republican political consultant Tom Shepard said voters in the district could be more moderate than reputed, and could vote for a Democratic candidate.

"That's a weird district," Shepard said. "Coastal voters behave very differently than inland voters. Independents on the coast lean to the (political) left, and inland tend to lean to the right."...

Like Shepard, who said a Democratic candidate could win, Busby said she thought her "bring ethics back to Washington" message would get her enough outraged Republican votes to win. She said that message would ring louder with Cunningham's resignation after admitting felonies.

"First of all, if you look at past elections, the results are not as heavily Republican as most people think," she said. "And I also believe that people are ready for change.""

Francine Busby calls Cunningham Resignation "Sad day for the people" (11/28/2005)
(press release)

"Congressman Cunningham's guilty plea to bribery charges and his announcement of resignation makes clear what I have been saying for months: the people of the 50th Congressional District deserved -- and still deserve -- better representation."

Busby Challenges Foes to Support Ethics Plan (11/28/05)
(article by subscription only, read excerpt below)
by David Drucker, Roll Call
Trying to tar her eventual Republican opponent with the ethics problems of Rep. Duke Cunningham (R), 50th district Democratic candidate Francine Busby has unveiled an ethics-enforcement proposal that she plans to introduce if elected next year.

Busby bills the Change Legislative Ethics and Attitudes Now House Act as being more ambitious than any similarly proposed bill. The proposal would, among other things, ban a Member’s outside financial relationships and would place strict limits on a Member promoting businesses seeking government contractors or waivers on federal regulations.

In a written release, Busby challenged the Republicans running for the nomination in the 50th district to support her proposal.

Busby is the only Democrat running in her party’s primary.

"Each of them has a simple choice: be a candidate who is committed to bringing ethics back to Washington or a candidate who represents more of the same Duke Cunningham style of pay-to-play politics," Busby said.

Local Candidate Proposes Cleaning House (11/22/2005)
by Evan McLaughlin, Voice of San Diego

"A Democratic candidate vying to replace an embattled North County congressman said Monday that, if elected, she would present legislation holding lawmakers to a higher ethical standard.

Cardiff school trustee Francine Busby said she believes Congress should enact an ethics reform package that curbs elected officials' dealings with government contractors, hinting that Rep. Duke Cunningham's alleged cozy relationship with a defense contractor could have been avoided had the right safeguards been in place."

Democratic congressional hopeful calls for finance reform (11/21/2005)
by William Finn Bennett - Staff Writer, The North County Times

BUSBY UNVEILS 'CLEAN HOUSE ACT' (11/21/2005)
(press release)

Congressional hopeful swings through Del Mar (11/18/2005)
by Susan Grant - Staff Writer, The Coast News

Wyland, Busby top fund-raisers in 50th District (10/17/2005)
by William Finn Bennett - Staff Writer, The North County Times

BUSBY RAISES $147,000 IN 3rd QUARTER - Busby Has Raised More than Entire Amount Raised During 2004 Campaign (10/12/2005)
(press release)

At the Races (10/11/05)
(article by subscription only, read excerpt below)
by Josh Kurtz, Roll Call
"College professor Francine Busby is running on the Democratic side. Last week, Busby urged the Republicans in the race to join her in calling on Cunningham, who is under federal investigation for his close ties to a defense contractor, to give up his committee assignments. Busby said the Congressman’s continued oversight of military and intelligence agencies represents a threat to national security."

AN ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY - Busby asks other candidates to join her in calling for Cunningham to step down from committee posts (10/06/2005)
(press release)

AFTER DELAY INDICTMENT BUSBY ASKS: 'WILL OTHER CANDIDATES SILENTLY ENDORSE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION?' (09/28/2005)
(press release)

AFTER BRIBERY LAWSUIT, BUSBY AGAIN ASKS ALL CANDIDATES TO JOIN HER CALL FOR RESIGNATION (08/26/2005)
(press release)

Plescia Ends Pursuit of Cunnningham's Congressional Seat (08/25/2005 - no online link available)
by Dani Dodge - Staff Writer, San Diego Union Tribune
"Only one Democratic candidate, Cardiff school board member Francine Busby, has declared her candidacy. Instead of jostling with rivals for the June 6 primary, Busby is trying to needle the Republican field.

Tuesday, Busby unveiled a Web-based commercial and called on Republicans to state whether they believe Cunningham should resign immediately.

"Either the Republican candidates are standing with Cunningham and his ethical problems, or they will break with the powerful party leadership and call for his resignation," Busby spokesman Brennan Bilberry said yesterday. "That is the choice they will make."

Those Republican candidates questioned yesterday didn't take the challenge seriously.

Morrow called Busby's effort a partisan strategy.

"He's not even indicted and I'm focusing on the race," said Morrow, R-Oceanside. "People want their faith and confidence restored in elected officials and I think that's something I can do."

Another candidate, former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian of Carlsbad, declined to comment on Cunningham or Busby's challenge."

FRANCINE BUSBY: OTHER CANDIDATES SHOULD JOIN CALL FOR CUNNINGHAM RESIGNATION (08/23/2005)
(press release)

Democrat has all the buzz in 50th district race (08/08/2005)
by Logan Jenkins - UNION-TRIBUNE

Cunningham's Aftermath (07/18/2005)
(article by subscription only, read excerpt below)
by Josh Kurtz and Ben Pershing, Roll Call
"On the Democratic side, national party leaders are growing increasingly
enthusiastic about Francine Busby, a college lecturer who was the 2004 nominee
against Cunningham.

Busby finished 21 points behind Cunningham last year, but her campaign was badly
underfunded, and she spent little more than $200,000.

But Busby has seen a fundraising surge in the past few weeks, pulling in more
than $100,000 since news of Cunningham's ethical troubles surfaced. Party
leaders — and even some grudging Republican operatives — praise her grassroots
operation.

"We're very excited about Busby," said Adrienne Elrod, a spokeswoman for the
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee."

Donations High for Duke, Rival (07/16/2005 - no online link available)
by Dani Dodge - Staff Writer, San Diego Union Tribune
"Controversy surrounding Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham prompted a flurry of
campaign contributions in the 50th district last month.

In the second-quarter reporting period that covered campaign donations from
April 1 to June 30, Cunningham, a Rancho Santa Fe Republican, collected
$133,309, while his Democratic opponent, Francine Busby, collected $100,684.
That's more than half of the amount Busby collected in her entire 2004 campaign
against Cunningham."

Government officials react to Cunningham decision (07/14/2005)

Scramble to Replace 'Duke' Is On (07/14/2005)
by Mark Walker - Staff Writer, The North County Times
In Washington, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the GOP is in for a fight. The party's national offices are unwilling to cede the seat to the Republicans and are ready to bankroll a fight.

The party's likely standard bearer is Francine Busby, who lost to Cunningham in 2004, drawing about 37 percent of the vote. Busby has already declared her candidacy.

"We think we have a very strong chance to pick up a seat here," said campaign committee spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod. "We have a very strong candidate who has already put together a strong campaign, raising more than $100,000, with $64,000 of that raised in just the last two weeks."

Busby, a member of the Cardiff school board, issued a statement shortly after Cunningham's announcement calling for him to resign immediately rather than serve out the remainder of his term.

"If his ethical problems make it impossible for him to run a campaign, they also make it impossible for him to effectively represent the people of his district," Busby said in her statement.

Ethics open cash spigot for Dems (07/12/2005)
by Patrick O'Connor

Busby Statement on Cunningham Retirement (07/11/2005)
(press release)

BUSBY BREAKS $100,000 (07/06/2005)
(press release)

Cunningham woes spell campaign dollars for Democrat (07/06/2005)
by William Finn Bennett - Staff Writer, The North County Times

Cunningham Cancels Appearance (07/04/2005)
by William Finn Bennett - Staff Writer, The North County Times

Filner Endorses Busby (06/27/2005)
(press release)

Cunningham says he showed 'poor judgment' (06/24/2005)
by MARK WALKER - Staff Writer, The North County Times

BUSBY STATEMENT ON UNION-TRIBUNE REPORT (06/13/2005)
(press release)

Democrat Busby opens campaign office for 2006 election (06/07/2005)
by William Finn Bennett - Staff Writer, The North County Times

Candidate Busby back for 2006 race (05/27/2005)
by Stephen Keller - Staff Writer, The Coast News

Cunningham doesn't represent her on issues (05/21/2005)
by Gail Chatfield - Commentary, The North County Times

Francine on the Ed Schultz Show! (05/11/2005)
Francine appeared on the Ed Schultz show today, one of the most important progressive radio shows in the nation. Francine talked about her candidacy and important issues.
Listen Now with (Realplayer / MP3)

Francine kicks off drive for education funding! (04/28/2005)
Francine was the first speaker in Caravan for the Kids, an effort to confront Governor Schwarzenegger and state legislators with the need for more education funding.
Link to the article about the effort in the North County Times
Watch the video

Francine's writings have also appeared in various newspapers:

The Policy is Flawed – Not Cardiff Schools

Recently, the entire Cardiff School District (ranked in the top 10% in the state), was placed on a “ No Child Left Behind” watch list because one student in one subgroup did not take a test. A second offense of this nature could put the District in jeopardy of losing federal funding. As absurd as this may seem, similar scenarios were repeated throughout the county, state and country.

Since No Child Left Behind was enacted – and under funded – our schools have jumped through hoops and redirected valuable time and tax dollars away from classrooms to meet its requirements. At least 28 states including California have spent even more resources to contort this “one-size fits-all” behemoth into workable bits and pieces to serve thousands of individual schools across our diverse nation. States are scrambling for amendments for reasonable accountability standards, full funding for mandated costs, practical solutions to the “highly qualified teacher” requirement and waivers from punitive sanctions.

As enacted the law sets all public schools up for failure Each year as the bar for “proficiency’ is raised, more and more schools will fail to make the grade. In the year 2014, public schools will implode when 99% of all students including those with special needs, English language learners and the economically disadvantaged are required to meet proficiency standards that have no relation to reality.

What then? When a school “fails”, parents have the right to transfer their children to a “better performing” public school including the cost of transportation and take their federal education dollars with them. Students may also take their federally funded “vouchers” to pay for private tutoring.. These “tutors” cannot be teachers from their own school. These tutors are not required to be credentialed or “highly qualified” and can be “faith based.” Even students who do not attend or have never attended local public schools will be entitled to take their share of federal education dollars out of the school. As these dollars flow into private hands, the true intent of No Child Left Behind will be fulfilled. Those students who have no access to high performing public schools or who cannot afford the full tuition for private schools or “tutors” will be served with leftovers in our diminished public schools.

No Child Left Behind, is undermining public schools, demoralizing teachers and threatening to undercut the very students that it was purportedly designed to serve. When high achieving districts like Cardiff “fail”, it is obvious that it is the policy that is dysfunctional, not the schools.

I call upon Representatives Cunningham, Issa and Hunter to cooperate with their Democratic colleagues who have proposed reforms to make “No Child Left Behind” more productive than punitive and to fully fund the federal mandates that place a burden on our schools. Our children, teachers and families need the support of our elected public officials to advocate for our public schools.

Congressmen Need Lesson in Math

The trio of Republican Congressmen are alone in singing the praises of No Child Left Behind.

Certainly, school administrators who met with Cunningham (April 11) were singing a different tune. If school board members had been invited to his “Town Hall Meeting” we would have joined their chorus for real reforms.

Issa, Hunter and Cunningham began their commentary in support of No Child Left Behind, (April 9) with, ”If money were the solution to the problems in America's schools, we would have solved these problems long ago.”

Well, here’s another math problem to solve. In 1978 when California spent $600 more per student than the national average we ranked #1. Thirty years later, we spend $400 less than the average and rank 44th. Test scores have followed the same trajectory. See any correlation?

Perhaps they need to be tested every year until they are “proficient” in understanding that investment in our children’s education equals higher achievement.

Bush’s budget provides $9.4 billion less next year than was promised in the No Child Left Behind Act.

The real test is to see if these guys are going to fight to “close that gap” for our children or dismiss us with more platitudes.