While certain Democrats have returned approximately $558,000 in dirty money received from "Crooked Charlie" Rangel, others have joined with Republicans calling for Charlie's resignation.

Congressman Rick Larsen has, so far, done nothing.

Rick hasn't returned a single dime and remains predictably mute on the subject. At this point, Larsen is standing behind his pal Rangel, refusing to condemn his wildly unethical behavior.

Here's what liberal columnist Richard Cohen had to say about Rangel back in September of 2009:

"He (Rangel) suffers from the degenerative disease called Congressional Sclerosis. Its symptom is the belief that the rules, especially the petty ones, no longer apply to you. This happens over time. It comes with seniority and a sense of victimization that combine to produce the onset of entitlement for goodies to which, in the course of things, you are not entitled."

Rick Larsen, on the Rangel issue and so many others, continues to prove himself to be anything but a leader, having rubber stamped the Pelosi/Obama agenda and earning a well deserved 0% rating from the American Conservative Union.

Have you had enough yet?

Rick is holding onto Rangel's $24,000 tightly and remains silent on the subject. How can we trust him to stand up to corrupt lobbyists and Wall Street con artists when he refuses to hold his own friends like Rangel accountable?  Larsen pretends to be a hardworking and honest politician "standing up for families." In truth, he has fast become a poster boy for all that is wrong with the U.S.Congress.

The man is simply out of touch!  My friends, isn't it high time "We the People" handed Larsen his pink slip and sent him to an early retirement? Help me return honesty and credibility to the U.S. House of Representatives.

I can beat Rick Larsen on November 2 but I can't do it without your help! We are continuing our fundraising drive by asking 1000 American patriots to give $24 to counter the $24,000 of dirty money Larsen received from his pal "Crooked Charlie" Rangel.

Let's take our country back! It starts with removing Rick Larsen from Congress, along with Pelosi and Rangel. Help get the country back on the right track.

Commits to Fight for Repeal in Congress

WASHINGTON, DC–Washington’s Second Congressional District candidate John Koster signed the American Family Business Institute’s (AFBI) “Death Tax Repeal Pledge” at a press conference today.  The event was hosted at Morrison Farms (Mount Vernon, WA). 

By signing the pledge, Koster commits to vote for permanent repeal of the Federal Estate Tax, commonly referred to as the “Death Tax.” 

AFBI’s President Dick Patten praised Koster for signing the pledge, saying “By supporting estate tax repeal, Koster will help save local jobs and businesses.”

A recent study from the American Family Business Foundation, AFBI’s research and education arm, found that repealing the Death Tax would increase nationwide employment by 1.5 million jobs.  In Washington alone, repealing the Death Tax would add nearly 34,000 new jobs.

“Koster has been a strong advocate for permanently repealing this unfair double tax.  He understands that the Death Tax penalizes family farmers and business owners when they die.  I’m encouraged that he has committed to taking a more active role in the repeal fight,” Patten added.  “With the economy in the midst of a prolonged recession, we need to be helping family businesses and farmers, not hitting them with an additional tax.”

The estate tax is a tax on the net value of a decedent's estate, including all personal and business assets, before distribution to their heirs.  Because business assets are included, the Estate Tax hits family business owners and farmers – the engines of economic growth -- particularly hard. 

The Federal Estate Tax has expired for one year in 2010, but will return at a 55 percent rate on all assets over $1 million in 2011 unless Congress acts first.  Most political observers expect a heated legislative battle over the tax this year. 

The American Family Business Institute is a national, non-partisan organization of farmers and business owners who are committed to permanent repeal of the Death Tax. 

Walk with John in the Annual Stanwood-Camano Summer Parade!

The Parade Takes place on Saturday, August 7th at 11am.  Please arrive by 10:30am.

The parade route is along 271st Street NW in Stanwood.

For more info, please contact the campaign office at 360-926-2235 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Join the Koster Campaign Team at the Bellingham Tea Partiy's Ice Cream Social on Friday August 6th.

What: Ice Cream Social

When: Friday August 6th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Where: Pioneer Park at 2004 Cherry St. Ferndale, WA

This will be a great time to meet John Koster and other supporters at a fun event!  There will be FREE ice cream and hotdogs as well as music and games.  You will need to bring your own side dishes, silverware, and soft drinks.

July 23, 2010 - Notorious tax cheat Charlie Rangel was charged with multiple ethics violations on Thursday by the House Ethics Committee.

It may come as a suprise to some, but Rangel has contributed $24,000 to my opponent Rick Larsen's campaign. Will Larsen return the $24,000 in tainted campaign contributions?

PROBABLY NOT!

Don't forget, Larsen did his best to keep the deposed former Ways and Means Chairman in his position of power, voting twice to sweep his ethics problems under the rug while sitting on thousands of dollars in dirty money.

In 2006, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proclaimed when Democrats took the House, "The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history."

SERIOUSLY??? 

In truth, the Pelosi, Larsen, Rangel Congress has ballooned the deficit, increased the debt, bailed out the big banks, and raised dirty campaign money to retain power.To say the least, this does not seem ethical, open, and honest to me!

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION! 

I am asking 1000 American patriots to give $24 to counter the $24,000 of dirty money Larsen received from his pal "Crooked Charlie" Rangel.

Let's take our country back! It starts with removing Rick Larsen from Congress, along with Pelosi and Rangel. Help get the country back on the right track.

PLEASE DONATE YOUR $24 TODAY!

Report from Open Secrets

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Arlington, WA. - July 22, 2010 - Rick Larsen recently voted for the Dodd-Frank Act, an over-reaching, big-government regulatory law that encroaches in every aspect of the financial sector and will likely open the door for permanent taxpayer-funded bailouts for Wall Street and limit consumer's access to credit.

John Koster commented, "Rick Larsen is at it again. The Dodd-Frank Act is a bill drafted by career politicians who have never created a job. This legislation will hurt hard-working Washington families and small businesses because it over-reaches and fails to adequately reform the main cause of the housing meltdown-Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Also, instead of addressing the problems of the big banks that Rick Larsen already bailed out, this bill makes all financial companies, even local regional banks who have responsible business practices, shoulder the costs of increased burdensome regulation."

Koster continued, "This bill is bad for our economy and does not help our hard-working families at all. It will hurt access to credit for our small businesses who want to expand and hire new people. It also increases the likelihood of future bailouts and it gives the same bureaucratic regulators that failed to oversee financial markets, and subsequently oversaw the consequential financial meltdown in 2008, unprecedented power."

Koster concluded, "Rick Larsen bailed out the big banks, increased our debt, ballooned the deficit, and has destroyed our economy. Throughout this recession, Rick Larsen has proved time and again that he is more interested in growing government than he is in growing jobs."

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