Shein looks to challenge not just Rep. Neal, but system as a whole

Bill Shein is running a proudly unconventional and unapologetically progressive campaign for United States Congress, and he’s running to win.

“I’ve been outspent 100 to 1,” said Mr. Shein in an interview with The Beacon’s editorial board. “Typically in a race [where] you’ve got someone outspent like that they’re invisible. Instead I’ve framed the debate in this campaign.”

A resident of the Berkshires for the last 10 years, Mr. Shein makes his living as a writer, web designer and IT consultant. A humorist, Mr. Shein has had a column in The Berkshire Eagle since 2004.

He’s also been involved with the Occupy Movement and Occupy the Berkshires. He lives in Alford.

One of the notable aspects of Mr. Shein’s campaign is that he’s refused to accept donations larger than $99.

“The lack of money is the key point here,” said Mr. Shein, adding he believes he can win without taking money from the interests he believes the Democratic Party should be fighting against.

“We spend hours talking to people, it’s not just slogans, it’s not just bullet points,” he said.

As for issues, he has a number of specific public policy proposals he says he’ll advocate for, should he be elected to congress.

Mr. Shein divides these proposals into three areas: democracy issues, economic issues and environmental issues.

On democracy issues, Mr. Shein advocates for the public financing of elections, overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court decision and banning lobbyist contributions to members of Congress and former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists.

Mr. Shein is also a supporter of universal, automatic voter registration.

“Everyone should be on the rolls,” he said.

Mr. Shein also backs making Election Day a holiday.

On economic issues, he supports the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Budget for All, which he points out was supported by retiring 1st District Congressman John Olver but voted against by Rep. Neal.

Mr. Shein is also a supporter of relieving the debt burden of students leaving college.

“Why are the student [loan] rates not zero?” he said. “To me that’s a good investment, to pick up the costs of that interest.”

Mr. Shein also backs a New Deal-style jobs program, and more direct investment in job creation.

“We need to build up enterprises based in our community that are owned by people here,” he said. “I want us to give advantage to small business.”

In order to help small businesses and the self-employed, Mr. Shein would like to raise or eliminate the cap on social security taxes.

“If we eliminate that cap we can look at reducing the social security tax rate,” he said.

Mr. Shein also backs single-payer health care, in part to reduce the costs small businesses take on in trying to provide health care for themselves and their employees.

He vehemently opposes any extension of the Bush era tax cuts for the wealthy.

On the environment, Mr. Shein is dedicated to combating climate change.

“Climate change is here because we have not done nearly enough for 20 years,” he said, pointing to the damage done by Hurricane Irene to the northeast.

Mr. Shein favors a carbon tax on our nation’s fossil fuel producers and using the money raised to give taxpayers rebates to offset rising energy costs, reduce the deficit and invest in green energy technology research and deployment.

Mr. Shein believes all three of these areas – democracy, economy and the environment – are interconnected and many of the problems he’s trying to address are the direct result of bad public policy.

As for the primary campaign itself, he is strongly critical of Rep. Neal.

“Congressman Neal raises all the same money that [Republican Senator] Scott Brown raises,” said Mr. Shein. “90-something percent of his money is corporate PACs and lobbyists. A Democrat for goodness sake.”

Despite running against two better-financed opponents, Mr. Shein is focused on victory and strongly believes he can win.

“I would not have entered this race if I didn’t think it was winnable even with…the self-imposed restrictions,” he said. “I’m optimistic for what will happen on the 6th.”

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on August 30, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry