Vote Lynn Rivers

Rep. has been asset to district, University

Voters in Ann Arbor are fortunate to be represented by a real class act. U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor), currently seeking a fourth term in Congress, has proven herself an exceptional asset to the House of Representatives. Her experience and her stance on key issues makes Lynn Rivers the clear choice for Congress.

During her six years in the House, Rivers has championed many important causes. Foremost in the minds of students should be her avid support for increased funding for education and devoting more money to federal student aid, particularly grants. As a beneficiary of this kind of aid, she realizes the importance of allowing people with limited resources to have equal opportunities for quality education. She also stresses the importance of grants, which would free students from the burden of paying off loans over the first few years of their post-academic careers.

In addition to her concern for the needs of students, Rivers has made great efforts to be accessible to her constituents at the University. She returns to Ann Arbor frequently, hosts public coffee hours every week and has chaired many town meetings on campus. This accessibility is important because it gives students a chance to voice their opinions in a forum where a member of the government can hear them.

Rivers' stance on many issues demonstrates her clear concern for human rights and personal autonomy. She is a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose. She is also involved with environmental issues and she is a strong believer in the right to privacy, online and otherwise. She also co-sponsored a bill that would declare MP3 usage legal.

It is not only Rivers' support for these issues that makes her an exceptional representative, though - she has demonstrated an integrity that is becoming ever more rare in politics. She voted against a pay raise for members of Congress and although this raise was approved, she writes checks to give the raise back. Rivers and her staff have also been very frugal, refusing many perks as a matter of policy.

Rivers' opponent, Republican Carl Berry, is a solid candidate. A moderate Republican whose primary focus is education, Berry has some good ideas and presents a very likeable image. All the same, he cannot compete with Rivers' combination of integrity, experience and accessibility.

When asked by the Daily in an endorsement interview why she deserves our endorsement again, Rivers said that her stances are the same as they have always been. Indeed, she has been remarkably consistent - and consistently right for the voters of Ann Arbor. Vote Lynn Rivers for Congress.