Washington, D.C.--Public Campaign responded today to comments by White House Spokesperson Jay Carney that concerns over fundraising by members of the deficit reduction committee is "silly criticism."

Statement from Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign:

"We're sure that Jay Carney did not mean to say that concern over the influence of money in our political process is simply 'silly criticism,' and that it was an off the cuff remark. Carney, the President, and every member of Congress knows that political approval ratings have hit the floor. And to a large degree it is because the American people think Congress is bought and sold by big money special interests. Members of the deficit committee should be focused solely on the job at hand--crafting a thoughtful and effective approach to reduce our deficit--without worry about whether such a plan will affect their campaign bank accounts.

“We are not critical of Senator Murray’s qualifications as a lawmaker or a deficit committee member. But we do believe that any member appointed to the committee should stop fundraising while serving the American people on this powerful and historic committee. It sends the wrong message to place a Senator who is primarily responsible for fundraising for her caucus on this body. At a time when Americans are losing their jobs, to appoint a senator whose responsibility is to help her colleagues keep theirs through big dollar fundraising is tone-deaf at best.”

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