August 26, 2008 — Ed O'Reilly is an unconventional candidate and he has an unconventional proposal to open up government to ordinary citizens.
O'Reilly, a Democrat running against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, promised Monday that if he is elected, he will post on his Web site every meeting he is scheduled to attend as a senator.
That means, he said, that citizens can find out if he is meeting with lobbyists and can come to his office and attend.
Opening what are normally private meetings to the public would also allow watchdog groups such as Common Cause to monitor what lobbyists are saying, he said during an after an appearance on North Attleboro cable TV.
O'Reilly said lobbyists and special interests have taken control of Washington, and he wants change that. "I want to break up the clubby atmosphere," he said.
