Yesterday, I decided to call Rep. John Garamendi’s (CA-10) office in Washington, D.C. He’s my representative and I wanted to voice my opposition to the Senate Health Care Bill. I spoke with a female staffer and politely told her that, while I support health care reform, I oppose the Senate Bill because it wasn’t true “reform.” She said the Congressman thinks it’s a good bill and that he campaigned on health care reform. I told her I knew that. I also mentioned that I voted for him. When I tried to give her specific reasons why the Senate Bill would harm our system rather than reform it, she refused to listen. She said she was very busy and hung up on me. Being the persistent person that I am, I kept calling back. Each time I tried to finish my point, she hung up.

I called one more time. This time she said, “If you call one more time, we will notify Capital Police.” I asked why my conduct warranted involving federal law enforcement agents. She said I was “harassing” her. I tried to explain that trying to convince a representative to change his or her vote didn’t constitute “harassment.” Before I could fully explain, she hung up again.

I called back. This time, I asked to speak to her supervisor in order to report her repeated hanging up as well as the threat she made. I was placed on hold. Thinking I was holding for her supervisor, I was shocked when a Federal Agent with the Capital Police picked-up the telephone.

At first, the Agent was curt with me. He claimed I was harassing Mr. Garamendi’s staff by continually calling after being told to stop calling. I asked him when it became a federal crime to lobby a congressman. He said that it wasn’t but it was a crime to “harass” congressional members and staff pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 223. I told him I was an attorney (which I am) and that I would research the statute he had cited.

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The San Francisco Bay Area may just prove to be the 3 am the wake call the Obama Administration doesn’t want.  This November 3, a potential trend setting – special election – is taking place in Congressional District 10.  CD 10 is the old Ellen Tauscher (D) seat  she vacated when she became #3 in the State Department.

It is a battle featuring a Big Government Liberal, aka John Garamendi,  and the Republican David Harmer who is employing an interesting, new strategy.   Before I get to Harmer:  I know what you are thinking:  The SF Bay Area?  A Republican pick up?  The answer quite possibly could be YES.

Polling shows the race just outside the margin of error and the Generic Congressional ballot is even closer.  With one month to go (1) enthusiasm is running high among Harmer supporters and (2) John Garamendi is a classic target for a rebound election.

According to Garamendi, we have to “change the mindset” of Californians on Prop 13 – the landmark property tax reform passed by the CA voters in 1978 to keep higher property taxes from running people out of their homes.   Garamendi wants to end Prop 13 as we know it and the two-thirds majority vote needed for the CA Legislature to pass a budget or levy taxes.  He also supports higher income taxes “without apology”  – most of the time.  Recently, however, he was caught double dealing on the issue as highlighted by this Harmer Campaign video. Beyond that, Garamendi wants “European-style” health care for America. 

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