ELECTION 2014 | CONGRESS | 15TH DISTRICT | Some East Bay Democrats have been wondering for some time exactly when State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett would show a more offensive stance in her bid to unseat Rep. Eric Swalwell. On Thursday night, Corbett launched the first volley in what could be a contentious race for the 15th Congressional District, when she ripped her opponent for accepting his pay during the 16-day government shutdown last October after publicly declaring he would not.
“This lack of integrity and honesty by Mr. Swalwell is very disappointing,” said Corbett in a statement posted on her campaign’s Facebook page. “The public has a right to expect honesty from their elected officials. Thousands of unemployed Californians who are struggling to make ends meet after their benefits were terminated by Congress deserve better.”
The controversy started this week when KTVU reported Swalwell was one of a few local representatives who pledged to not receive their paychecks during the government shutdown. The latter sent by Swalwell requesting he not be paid, however, is more than slightly convoluted.
However, the rush last year by hundreds of lawmakers last fall to stand resolute with government workers came with more than a whiff of political expediency and grandstanding attached to it. Besides, who was going to expect someone would check if you got paid or not?
ebcitizen.com 
Talk about a novice who has no idea what he's doing. Swalwell is in way over his head and that's why he made the paycheck lie.
Swalwell's lies when he ran against Stark were never reported in the press and most of us overlooked them because we didn't like Stark, including me. This is a different race against Ellen Corbett who is a well liked, experienced, capable and trusted woman. My wife and I voted for Eric last time but this time will vote for Ellen. His lies have caught up with our Congressman. We can't stand someone who says one thing and does another.
Congresswoman Ellen Corbett in 2014. Not a Liar!
LikeLike
Mrs. Miller and I will be supporting our outstanding CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL. We can't support novices who have no idea what they are doing and would be in above their head. We also would never support anyone who whores for the unions. The public knows that teachers and nurses' unions are nothing but whores for the special interests. They resonate with special interests only.
We'll be supporting a breath of fresh air, CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL 2014!
LikeLike
This is why Ellen Corbett will win:
1) The letter Steven Tavares cited has a press release form Swalwell's Office saying; “Rep. Swalwell Refuses Paycheck During Shutdown until Working Federal Employees are Paid”
2) In the same press release there is Swalwell himself saying “in the event of a shutdown, I will refuse my paycheck until federal employees who must work during the shutdown are paid.”
3) Citing a a letter Swalwell wrote to the congress: “In the event of a federal government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed. Others, who are deemed to perform essential services, will be forced to work. Despite the fact that these latter employers have to work, they will not receive paychecks during the period of a government shutdown. However, it is my understanding that I, as a Member of Congress, will continue to receive a paycheck.
I believe it is simply wrong and unfair for me to receive my salary while Americans working hard across the country as part of our federal workforce receive nothing until this appropriations crisis is resolved. Therefore, I ask that until federal employees who must work during a federal government shutdown are paid, I not be given my paycheck.”
3 counts of lying to the public in one day. You really disappointed me Congressman
LikeLike
The voters will not be swayed by a weak leader. We will vote for the people we trust, and I trust Ellen Corbett.
LikeLike
What the president said.
You don't follow his lead, you're a traitor to the party and the country.
LikeLike
Not to the voters in our District. We are voting for the candidate that isn't corrupt. Senator, soon to be Congresswoman, Ellen Corbett.
LikeLike
Thank you, POTUS.
YOURS is the definitive and final word on this subject.
LikeLike
This is why Ellen Corbett will win:
1) The letter Steven Tavares cited has a press release form Swalwell's Office saying; “Rep. Swalwell Refuses Paycheck During Shutdown until Working Federal Employees are Paid”
2) In the same press release there is Swalwell himself saying “in the event of a shutdown, I will refuse my paycheck until federal employees who must work during the shutdown are paid.”
3) Citing a a letter Swalwell wrote to the congress: “In the event of a federal government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed. Others, who are deemed to perform essential services, will be forced to work. Despite the fact that these latter employers have to work, they will not receive paychecks during the period of a government shutdown. However, it is my understanding that I, as a Member of Congress, will continue to receive a paycheck.
I believe it is simply wrong and unfair for me to receive my salary while Americans working hard across the country as part of our federal workforce receive nothing until this appropriations crisis is resolved. Therefore, I ask that until federal employees who must work during a federal government shutdown are paid, I not be given my paycheck.”
3 counts of lying to the public in one day. You really disappointed me Congressman
LikeLike
The president supports our great congressman, which is more than good enough for us. Oh yeah!
LikeLike
Don't blame Steven for reporting that our congressman is a liar or that he says one thing and does another. Blame our congressman for doing it and thinking he can get away with it. Tavares is the only one reporting truth to power with investigative work. Swalwell is too much of a flip-flopper and continually tries to mislead people. I like Ellen Corbett because she actually cares about the poor and the middle class. Eric says one thing and does another. Can't trust him.
LikeLike
The majority of the voters are in Ellen Corbett's Senatorial District or her old Assembly District. That's why Swalwell staffers constantly post on the Citizen. They are scared of losing their jobs. Ellen is very popular in the 15th and will win in November. I predict with 54% of the vote. Ask your candidate to release his internal poll he took. He won't and he hasn't released it because it shows him losing a close race.
LikeLike
The majority of the voters are in Ellen Corbett's Senatorial District or her old Assembly District. That's why Swalwell staffers constantly post on the Citizen. They are scared of losing their jobs. Ellen is very popular in the 15th and will win in November. I predict with 54% of the vote. Ask your candidate to release his internal poll he took. He won't and he hasn't released it because it shows him losing a close race.
LikeLike
The majority of us in the 15th, and especially the Valley, love our congressman. We will be voting for him in overwhelming numbers.
Prediction: he'll take at least 75% of the vote.
LikeLike
Ellen has a good chance of winning since she hasn't been caught in lie after lie like our congressman and most of her Senatorial District is in the Congressional District. Swalwell has made too many mistakes and most of us realize that.
LikeLike
Don't blame Steven for reporting that our congressman is a liar or that he says one thing and does another. Blame our congressman for doing it and thinking he can get away with it. Tavares is the only one reporting truth to power with investigative work. Swalwell is too much of a flip-flopper and continually tries to mislead people. I like Ellen Corbett because she actually cares about the poor and the middle class. Eric says one thing and does another. Can't trust him.
LikeLike
I didn't vote for Swalwel. But I got invited and attended 3 of his townhalls. I was very impressed with the respect he showed his constituents, his knowledge of issues. He has converted me and I am going to vote for him this time. I am impressed by his left and right of center politics instead of the hard core divisiveness in Congress.
LikeLike
Ellen Corbett is a professional politician. She has not served her constituents well from her office in Sacramento. I wonder how she would be successful in serving her constituents from far away DC. You folks need to ask why she is interested in Swalwel and why is it she does not say what she would do or what she has done while in Sacramento. I expect her to experience the lives that her constituents lead everyday. Travel BART, take the highway into the city during rush hour, stand in line at the grocery store, go and stand i n line at the DMV. Is it her stand that we should vote for her because Swalwell accepted his salary after having publicly stated that he did not want to be paid. If that is the criteria we should use then why her? Why not vote for other candidates who are also contesting that seat.
I didn't vote for Swalwel. But I got invited and attended 3 of his townhalls. I was very impressed with the respect he showed his constituents, his knowledge of issues. He has converted me and I am going to vote for him this time. I am impressed by his left and right of center politics instead of the hard core divisiveness in Congress.
LikeLike
Anon 12:16 -This article is about Swalwell reneging on his paycheck pledge. Just another lie and mistake by your boss:
Don't blame Steven for reporting that our congressman is a liar or that he says one thing and does another. Blame our congressman for doing it and thinking he can get away with it. Tavares is the only one reporting truth to power with investigative work. Swalwell is too much of a flip-flopper and continually tries to mislead people. I like Ellen Corbett because she actually cares about the poor and the middle class. Eric says one thing and does another. Can't trust him.
P.S. At least you posted on a Saturday this time and not during the time the taxpayers were paying your salary. Hope you aren't using a work computer which would be illegal.
LikeLike
Shame on Swalwell for cutting off benefits for 1.7 million Americans. The extension of federal benefits was started by Bush and continued by both parties when the unemployment rate was this high.
It's about real people, people with families struggling to meet mortgage payments, struggling to put food on the table, to make ends meet, and includes 200,000 military veterans among those folk who are losing their benefits.
Then he lies and says he won't take his pay, but does anyway.
This is why my friends and I will be voting for Ellen Corbett this year….she has a heart and cares about the 90% of us who aren't rich too.
LikeLike
This article is about Swalwell reneging on his paycheck pledge.
Don't blame Steven for reporting that our congressman is a liar or that he says one thing and does another. Blame our congressman for doing it and thinking he can get away with it. Tavares is the only one reporting truth to power with investigative work. Swalwell is too much of a flip-flopper and continually tries to mislead people. I like Ellen Corbett because she actually cares about the poor and the middle class. Eric says one thing and does another. Can't trust him.
LikeLike
6:44 on the 19th and 6:54 on the 21st say the same thing Swalwell staffer:
Corbett has a huge profile in the East Bay and attends community events tirelessly. No I am not staff, just a supporter of her efforts and I admire her record. She cant be paid off by big lobbyists, and has fought the hard fight ever since being elected. (Pharma, Food Industry, Hospitals, Chemicals, Power – all line up to testify against her bills.) LOOK AT HER RECORD! Swallwell is hanging on from his fingernails to keep his seat.
LikeLike
Corbett has a huge profile in the East Bay and attends community events tirelessly. No I am not staff, just a supporter of her efforts and I admire her record. She cant be paid off by big lobbyists, and has fought the hard fight ever since being elected. (Pharma, Food Industry, Hospitals, Chemicals, Power – all line up to testify against her bills.) LOOK AT HER RECORD! Swallwell is hanging on from his fingernails to keep his seat.
LikeLike
10:16 must be Corbett herself – no one can be that blinded by facts. There were no UI benefit extensions in the bill for Swalwell to vote on – theUI benefits were taken out before the bill came up for a vote. Democrats were going to place them in a stand alone bill in hopes it would embarass republicans – the republicans weren't embarrassed.
What do you say about all the cuts Corbett voted for during the state budget – billions of dollars worth. Did she take a stand and vote NO like Sandre Swanson of Oakland – hell no she didn't! So don't give spread your delusion that Corbett is something she is not. As Dr. Phil would say – Get Real!
LikeLike
Wow 9:17 You really are a kiss ass staffer, but at least you are not posting during work hours which would be against the law. Oh wait, some of your posts on this and other articles have been during work hours, wasting taxpayer money.
It matters what Swalwell did when he voted to cut off benefits to 1.7 million Americans just before the holiday season. 200,000 military veterans were also affected. What an a–hole! He had the gall to try and defend his actions by saying he was doing the right thing.
Barbara lee did the right thing and stood up to the leadership and voted against cutting off those benefits. We need more women who seem to care more about the middle and lower class. That's why I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett.
I have a friend and her family that was affected by the decision of this current heartless congressman and they will probably lose their home.
Vote Ellen Corbett in 2014 because Swalwell doesn't deserve our vote after what he did to those who lost their job through no fault of their own.
LikeLike
Shame on 4:34 for being misinformed – first the Republicans didn't allow the unemployment extension to be in the budget – so there were not any benefits to vote for or against on the house floor. Just google the issue and you can find out yourself.
Swalwell didn't take his pay until the rest of the workers received theirs – including back pay. He worked for us in Washington DC and deserves to be paid – period.
Finally, if you think he can magically wave a wand and put UI benefits in a budget bill – then ask yourself why Corbett voted for budgets that eliminated dental and eye are for poor adults, eliminated dental care for poor children, significantly reduce day care for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, cut more than $3.5 billion in CalWorks for the working poor, cut $2.4 Billion in MediCal benefits for the poor, and cut $145 million for healthy families? How about increasing tuition for students – five fold since becoming a senator?
It's not because either one of them wanted to do – the republicans used their power of government shutdowns and holding the budget process hostage. So – please come better informed before spewing such dribble – AND NO – I'm not his staff person.
LikeLike
Shame on Swalwell for cutting off benefits for 1.7 million Americans. The extension of federal benefits was started by Bush and continued by both parties when the unemployment rate was this high.
It's about real people, people with families struggling to meet mortgage payments, struggling to put food on the table, to make ends meet, and includes 200,000 military veterans among those folk who are losing their benefits.
Then he lies and says he won't take his pay, but does anyway.
This is why my friends and I will be voting for Ellen Corbett this year….she has a heart and cares about the 90% of us who aren't rich too.
LikeLike
8:08 You will soon be out of a job when your mistake prone flip-flopping boss is defeated. You and Swalwell have no shame. You can't defend his record because there is no defense for lying.
LikeLike
11:24 is that Corbett staffer that no matter what the facts are – he/she and wife will blindly vote for Corbett.
Why is it that if someone writes a positive thing about Swalwell – it must be his staff – he IS the Congressman that got voted in by democrats and will be endorsed by democrats at the state convention? Give it up!
LikeLike
If you cut and paste the same comment to different stories, the system automatically identifies it as spam. This may be your problem.
LikeLike
7:29 is a Swalwell staffer who has posted on this blog many times. His style is very easy to identify. The fact is Swalwell LIED or deliberately intended to mislead. My wife and I will not vote for him again. It will be Ellen this time. Keep posting the truth Taveres, no one else has the courage to do so.
LikeLike
7:29 – your comment will most likely get erased too as Tavares is now censoring comments that are not pro-Corbett.
He erased several comments already that basically said Swalwell promised not to accept a salary until the federal government workers were back to work and when the salaried employees received their back pay. He kept his word.
It's no different when the state budget was late year after year and Corbett didn't get paid as well as her staff until the budget passed – then Corbett was paid retroactively.
However, the one year when State Controller Chiang held their pay for a flimsy budget – she sued to get hers. However, she tries to knock Swalwell. There's a black pot out there…
At least when the federal budget was at an impasse – Swalwell didn't take a junket to India as Corbett did in 2008.
And the censorship begins in 3, 2, 1…
LikeLike
Ellen Corbett is a professional politician. She has not served her constituents well from her office in Sacramento. I wonder how she would be successful in serving her constituents from far away DC. You folks need to ask why she is interested in Swalwel and why is it she does not say what she would do or what she has done while in Sacramento. I expect her to experience the lives that her constituents lead everyday. Travel BART, take the highway into the city during rush hour, stand in line at the grocery store, go and stand i n line at the DMV. Is it her stand that we should vote for her because Swalwell accepted his salary after having publicly stated that he did not want to be paid. If that is the criteria we should use then why her? Why not vote for other candidates who are also contesting that seat.
I didn't vote for Swalwel. But I got invited and attended 3 of his townhalls. I was very impressed with the respect he showed his constituents, his knowledge of issues. He has converted me and I am going to vote for him this time. I am impressed by his left and right of center politics instead of the hard core divisiveness in Congress.
We folks need to raise the level of our politics. And Steve needs to quit gutter reporting. That sort of reporting may be good in the Appalachia or areas where people are intellectually challenged. But the Bay area. Steve, stop insulting our intellect.
LikeLike
They are. Must be pro-Corbett to survive.
LikeLike
There were at least 3 comments here a few days ago – are they being censored?
LikeLike