Jeeni Criscenzo is running for Congress in California's 49th District.

She signed our pledge in 2006. To learn more about her visit Jeeni's website  or read her answers to our questionaire below.

Why are you running for office?
I am running for four reasons:
 
 1) Because I realized that our survival as a free, 
democratic nation depends on changing the balance of 
power in Congress this November and the best way to get
someone in Congress who will stand up for people and not 
corporations disguised as people, is to go there and do it myself. 
 
 2) Because no incumbent who has rubber-stamped everything this Administration has
done, should go unopposed. Just because Darrell Issa is one of the richest men in
Congress doesn't mean that he gets to stay there if he isn't doing the job. People
deserve a choice and there has never been a better time for a progressive Democrat
to win in a Republican district. The people in California's District 49 are ready
for a change.
 
 3) Because the few brave progressive Representatives we have in Congress need
people with courage and passion to stand beside them, and I will.
 
 4) Because I can. I have the talent, intelligence, guts and experience to do this
job and I've reached a point in my life where I have the time and opportunity. I
realize that nothing else I could do with my life could be more important than to
be part of the team who will save our democracy.
 
 My goals are to get to work undoing the damage this Administration has done to our
economy, our environment, our liberties and our soul as a nation. With a Democratic
majority, I would push first to impeach both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney and
withdraw our troops from Iraq.
  
What qualifies you to represent working families?
  I genuinely care about people. I believe people have good bullshit detectors and
when they meet me they know I'm the real thing. They may not agree with me on
every issue, but they know I'm listening to them and acting with compassion and
integrity. 
 
 I will work for universal healthcare for everyone, energy independence, workers'
rights, and social justice, including compassionate immigration reform. And the
Republican majority in my district will know that I also care about them and their
families. We can find common ground. I agree with them that the government doesn't
belong in my phone conversations, my library records, my doctor's office or my
bedroom. 
 
 I literally walk my talk. I don't own a car because I want to teach by example that
we can use public transportation and walk and car pool. I have a very humble
lifestyle that is congruent with my beliefs, which is why I can promise that I
won't be bought, not during my campaign and not after I'm elected.
   
  
What are the main issues affecting the people you would represent?
  1)      Ending the Illegal Occupation of Iraq:
 All of the excuses for invading Iraq have been revealed as lies. The illegal
occupation of Iraq is bankrupting our country and provoking increased hostility
toward the US, not only in the Middle East but among former friends and allies. We
must stop sacrificing our sons and daughters in a conflict that has nothing to do
with defending America. With no exit strategy, this administration is showing they
have no intention of ever leaving Iraq. Gradual troop reductions will only put our
troops at greater risk and prolong the inevitable. We must end this illegal
occupation and bring our troops home. And we must provide our returning troops with
the medical care they need, the opportunities for education and employment they
have earned and help in making a transition into a civilian life that they deserve.
 
 2) Sustainable Environmental Solutions: 
 Global warming poses a greater threat to our country and the future of humanity
than any enemy. This administration has replaced the head of every environmental
protection agency with representatives from the industries that pose the greatest
threat. Corporations and special interests are poisoning the water, air and soil.
The United States should be leading the way in being a responsible caretaker of our
planet.
 
 3) Fiscal Responsibility:
 In addition to over $250 billion that has been squandered on the Iraq invasion, the
Department of Defense cannot account for over $6 trillion. Our national debt
exceeds $8 trillion which means that every citizen owes over $27,000. Yet our
Congress continues to approve tax breaks for the wealthy and subsidies for powerful
corporations. We must get back to fiscal sanity and it can't be done on the backs
of the middle class and poor.

What is your position on the “Right to Work” issue?
   
  I think the “Right to Work” campaign is a smokescreen to break the backs of
unions. I support unions. There may be some corruption in unions, and we should
work to stem corruption anywhere is happens. But we should never forget that
people died, people lost their homes, people were beat up and put in jail, just to
form unions where they could have some power to stand up for the worker. We cannot
allow this administration to continue it’s systematic campaign to destroy unions
or we will lose everything our parents and grandparents worked for.
  
Do you feel government entities should change zoning laws to accommodate big
block retailers like Wal-Mart?
   
  I don’t think we should do ANYTHING to accommodate big block retailers like
Wal-Mart. I refuse to shop at these places. They are destroying the very fabric of
American communities. They have a terrible record on workers’ rights, pay low ages
and provide little or no benefits. They purchase from overseas, putting American
manufacturers out of business, they undercut local businesses so people can no
longer walk into town for groceries, hardware, toys, or prescriptions and
toiletries. They do not give back to the community like local businesses and their
record on environmental responsibility is terrible. So why should we invite them
into our communities – it’s equal to inviting in the plague. 
  
   14. Do you support initiatives like the “Fair Share Health Care” Bill that would
force large companies to either provide health insurance for their employees or
pay into the state’s healthcare system?
   
  The Fair Share Health Care bill is a move in the right direction for getting
healthcare to the 46 million people in this country who don’t have health care
insurance. What I really want to see is a Federal single-payer, universal
healthcare system like the plan proposed by Kuehl – California SB840
   
  
What is your position on living wage ordinances?
   
  We must institute a Federal Living Wage. The current minimum wage equals poverty.
No one who works 40 hours a week should have to go hungry or be homeless.