If I, Peter Bearse, am privileged to be elected to serve the citizens of New Hampshire’s First Congressional District (NHCD1), then I pledge, as did the Founders of our country upon their signing of the Declaration of Independence, “my life, my fortune and my sacred honor” to fulfill the following provisions of this Contract. The Contract provides a basis for evaluating my performance. It is binding and enforceable. If the provisions are not fulfilled, then either you, the voters, will vote me out or I will resign for lack of my ability to perform. In any event, I pledge to serve no more than five terms if re-elected.

* To the extent that preferences of the majority of voters in the District can be known and proposed legislation affects them, I will vote their preferences, not my personal opinions when such legislation comes up for final approval in the Congress. My office will be constantly “taking the pulse” of voters in the District to learn “preferences of the majority.”

* To the extent that proposed legislation affects more the lives of those who do not yet vote, such as young children and grandchildren, I will consult with and respect the opinions of voters in the district, but I will vote in light of the best knowledge available on expected future impacts, as well as in light of constituent opinion.

* On matters of life & death, war & peace, and the Constitution, I will vote my conscience, no matter what the drift of “majority” opinion may be.

* Except for the portion needed to pay for living expenses while working in Washington, I will reinvest my Congressional salary to pay for additional services to constituents that go beyond what is typically provided through Congressional expense budgets; for example: additional information and outreach to people throughout the district, and additional district offices.

* Monthly reports to constituents, provided on hardcopy via “snail mail” and via the Internet (e-mail and website) will include (unlike the “Newsletters” of others):

Straight reporting of facts that you need to know -- no B.S., P.R., political propaganda, ideology or self-promotion. No “Communications Director”, “spinmeister,” or “P.R.” person will be hired; that is, none of your tax dollars will be used to find clever ways to B.S. you. Straight communi-cation with constituents will be the responsibility of everyone in my congressional office, including me.

Complete, detailed accounting of how the tax dollars you provide to me are being used, in terms of both time and money. You will see, for example, how much money I and my staff are spending on travel, food and entertainment and how much time I am and staff are spending in committee, on the floor of the House, helping constituents and investigating issues, both in NH and Washington. Similarly, on an annual basis: How your tax dollars are being spent in the overall federal budget, how much tax money is going out of the District and how much is coming back in.

Reports on the congressman’s work with others in committees, where most of the most important work of the Congress gets done or undone.

Access to select flash video, cadcam recordings or video tapes of congressional proceedings that will be posted on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, et.al. Ø Excerpts from special investigative reports on major issues that concern voters in the District, plus how to follow up on them. Ø A lot of reporting that you don’t see in the newspapers – of what really goes on in Washington – in committees, cloakrooms, Congressional game-playing, lunches, dinners and Congressional junkets. Ø Summaries of the congressman’s townhall meetings. * The campaign website will continue after the campaign is over. It will be further developed, with all candidate promo-stuff eliminated, as a resource and vehicle for constituents to interact with each other and to get together among themselves and with their Congressman over issues, projects, problems, questions, protests and political action(s). * I will not rely on lobbyists or other representatives of special interests for money or information. * I will rely on groups of NHCD1 citizen volunteers with special concern and knowledge on major issues; for example, a Citizens’ Committee on Social Security, another on National Security, etc. * Form letters will earn only canned, form letter replies; individual letters will receive personal replies responsive to individuals. Replies will be provided in the same order in which they were received. No priorities will be assigned on the basis of campaign contributions. The congressman and his staff will attempt to provide replies within a few days of receipt. Any delays in providing replies will be explained [as when a mountain of mail is received on some issue]. * Townhall meetings will be made much more frequent and more accessible – time-wise, geographically and via public access TV channels. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to participate during the event via Internet web services or afterwards, via full audio-video (AV) and text reporting available online, followed by participation in online forums, blogs, Q&A, etc. via the congressman’s and other website(s). * Popular participation in congressional politics, legislative debates and federal government rule-making will be encouraged, assisted and made as easy as possible, at every turn and in every way possible. During my term(s) of office, the voice(s) of the people will be made louder and clearer to power brokers and government officials. * I will spend more time in the District and be more accessible than my predecessors. * Internet technology will be used to the max to help build community, political and otherwise, throughout NHCD1. * AS a POLITICAL LEADER as well as your representative, I will fight for… ü An independent Citizens Ethics Committee to monitor the ethical mis-behavior of Members of Congress. ü A “None of the Above” option on ballots. ü Independent redistricting committees ü Tax incentives for political volunteerism ü Term Limits: To serve no more than 5 terms. [Note: Term limits have been declared unconstitutional at the federal level but I will honor the limit myself & advocate term limits for state and local elected officials.] ü Spreading democracy worldwide via example, development & disaster assistance rather than war. ü Against genocide: in concert with other nations. ü TAX REFORM: Via a “Fair Tax” (similar to a national sales tax), + ELIMINATE the IRS! ü SOCIAL SECURITY ü No earmarks for “pork” ü Free media time &/or money expenditure limits for campaigns ü Participatory democracy ü The 1st and 2nd Amendments, in every way ü Revamp of the Congressional Committee structure to enable more and better attention to long-term issues, unintended consequences, “what if” questions and system-wide, cross-cutting issues. ü A more deliberate approach to legislating, including (1) a requirement that representatives must read bills before voting on them, and (2) a higher hurdle for so-called “emergency” voting on matters to rush legislation through without advance committee work or public hearings. ü A more honest approach to legislating, including a prohibition on Representatives shoe-horning unrelated initiatives into big or “omnibus” bills. ü Reduced powers for Congressional leadership and more leeway for the rank-and-file; i.e., a less hierarchical, more democratic Congress. ü Independent evaluation of government programs [of which there’s now little or none, dependent on the agency] ü “Sunset” provisions in bills that would establish new programs or major government initiatives. Programs would automatically end in 5 years unless reauthorized. ü Experimental programs: New programs should first be initiated on a limited, small-scale, experimental basis to see whether they work before a lot of taxpayers’ money is devoted to them. ü Elimination of old laws, programs and regulations that have proven to be monuments to some past Congressman or continued paydays to a bunch of bureaucrats whose time has passed. ü Jobs & economic development. ü Entrepreneurship & Innovation as keys to our nation’s global competitiveness. ü Affordable housing. ü A revolution in education, including competition, school choice, merit pay for teachers, performance benchmarking, accountability, and greater emphasis on teaching critical and creative thinking. ü More & better public health, universal health insurance and illness prevention policies. ü Government decentralization & local government, accessibility and openness, at all levels. ü NO unfunded mandates. ü The public’s right to know and full accountability. ü WHISTLEBLOWERS & WHISTLEBLOWING ü Energy independence & comprehensive programs to slow global warming & climate change. ü Reform of foreign aid/international development assistance programs. ü The sacredness of human life; especially, reduction of genocide. ü Traditional marriage, & pro-family policies. ü More reliance upon private markets, less on bureaucratic regulations. ü + EVER LOOKING TO DEFINE & HONOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST -- on any issue!! The long list of issues for issue-advocacy leadership owes to a candidate who would not hesitate to use the "bully pulpit" of Congressional elected office -- to speak out truthfully even when the truth hurts -- to help lead debates on leading issues with long-run consequences, even while representing the current drift of district voters' opinions on issues during final votes on bills before the Congress.