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Graham Signs 'Anti-Perk' Pledge; Republicans Call It Unoriginal

Gwen Graham signed a pledge to reject government perks at Lake Ella Thursday.
Nick Evans

Democratic congressional hopeful Gwen Graham is working to distinguish herself from her Republican opponent and an unpopular congress.  At Tallahassee’s Lake Ella Thursday, she spoke about the importance of compromise. 

“How you break the gridlock is by electing people who are willing to work together,” Graham says, focusing on the issue of immigration reform.  She says the issue hasn’t been addressed yet because house members are unwilling to find solutions through compromise, but says she’ll work across the aisle.

“[I’m] willing to put aside partisanship in order to do the right thing, and that’s my commitment.  That’s what I’ve been committed to from day one.”

Graham also attacked Florida Republican Congressman Steve Southerland for taking a paycheck during the government shutdown.  Graham, along with Democratic challengers in seven other states, signed a pledge rejecting perks like the congressional gym and called on Southerland to do the same. 

The National Republican Congressional Committee issued a statement calling it a “copy and paste” perk plan because democratic challengers in other states have presented similar plans.  NRCC Spokeswoman Katie Prill says Graham is misleading voters by presenting the plan as her own.

Graham is running against Southerland to represent Florida’s second district.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.