In The News
Advocates of campaign finance reform have been understandably glum since Citizens United and other Supreme Court decisions all but gutted previous hard-fought-for strictures on big money in campaigns. But a new piece of legislation by Representative John Sarbanes, Democrat from Maryland, crafted for the post-Citizens environment, has picked up moods within the political reform community. Sarbanes recently sat down with Washington Monthly editor in chief Paul Glastris to talk about his Government By the People Act. Here is an edited version of that interview.
The Washington region’s congressional delegation is continuing its fight for full funding for Metro after a House committee slashed the transit agency’s allocation by $50 million. But the battle appears to be an uphill one.
Wednesday evening, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), acting on behalf of the delegation, offered an amendment to the Department of Transportation appropriations bill in which he sought to restore Metro’s full $150-million allocation. For the last six years, the transit agency has received $150 million in federal funding, part of a 10-year commitment that was authorized under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The $150 million is matched by Maryland, Virginia and the District and is designed to fund safety upgrades to the system….
… Connolly, along with the eight other members of the region’s representatives in the House: Don Beyer (D-Va.), Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), John Delaney (D-Md.) and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), released the following statement Thursday…
But Dem Rep. John Sarbanes, a longtime campaign finance reformer, insists it is anything but hopeless. In an interview today, he laid out how he thinks Democrats can make the issue matter to voters.
Sarbanes — who has long championed reform that would give candidates who restrict the size of their donations public matching funds, boosting the influence of small donors — told me that the key to making the issue matter to voters is, above all, not to discuss it in isolation.
When you think of Baltimore City, the parks aren't always the first thing that come to mind. This group wants to change that.
It's a new effort to develop more public lands and trails, conserve wetlands and clean up waterways in the area.
The four main focuses of the group are resiliency, biodiversity, equity and discovery.
To earn back the public’s trust, we need to fight back against the clout of special interests. We can do this by lifting up the voices of everyday Americans and diluting Big Money’s influence. We can do this by building an alternative to today’s big-money politics.
That is the idea behind H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act.
On April 24, the arc of the moral universe will intersect with the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Many will bear witness to that intersection, but official recognition of the genocide by the United States government will be sadly and conspicuously absent.
There are already ideas out there. For instance, Rep. John Sarbanes has a bill that would provide refundable tax credits for political contributions and give significant matching funds for small-dollar contributions in an attempt to amplify the voices of ordinary people who can only give a limited amount. That might not put the billionaires out of the politics business, but a candidate could use that idea or something like it to demonstrate his or her commitment to specific policy change, as opposed to just saying they wish the system were cleaner.
Congressman Sarbanes talks with Jared Rizzi of 'The Lid' about campaign finance reform, his "Government By The People" bill and the viability of a small-donor path for higher offices.
Sarbanes said he’s witnessed a rising level of cynicism in politics, especially among young people, which he said stems from problems such as campaign financing. Sarbanes, the author and sponsor of the Government by the People Act of 2014, told the group he will fight the idea that big money in politics cannot change.
The bill, introduced in February 2014, would encourage more Americans to participate in the political process by providing a $25 tax credit for small donations. These donations would be matched with limited public funds, allowing small donors to have a bigger impact on campaigns.
While we support a constitutional amendment to restore the authority of Congress, state and local governments to regulate campaign spending, it's a long-term fight. But there is another way dilute big money's influence: we can set up a small-donor fundraising system to compete with today's big-money politics.
That's the idea behind H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act. Under this proposal, Americans would receive a "My Voice" Tax Credit for small-donor political contributions, giving them the means to participate in funding campaigns. For candidates that agree to voluntary contribution limits, H.R. 20 would boost small donations with a "Freedom From Influence" Matching Fund, giving everyday citizens a voice that competes with wealthy donors.