Sarbanes Statement on the President's State of the Union Address
January 28, 2014
Sarbanes: "Power of our vote, not the size of our bank account" is the path back to government by the people
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today released the following statement after the President's State of the Union address:
"I applaud President Obama's focus on economic policies that make sense for everyday Americans. Raising the minimum wage, making college affordable, strengthening employment and retirement security -- these are policies that enjoy overwhelming support among the broader public. But big money special interests have threatened to make the fight ahead a difficult one.
"Before the President's speech even began, big money campaign donors like the Koch Brothers had pledged their formidable opposition to even a modest increase in the minimum wage.
"Last year, through campaign donations and lobbying efforts, the Kochs' nebulous web of dark money organizations leveraged more than $400 million to bend public policy in their direction. At the current minimum wage, it would take nearly 30,000 full-time workers a full year to earn an equivalent amount.
"Big money special interests are blocking the priorities of everyday Americans. In a political system where ‘money equals speech,' the dangerous flip side is that ‘no money equals no speech.' And that has been the political reality for too many Americans.
"The President said ‘It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.' I couldn't agree more. We need a return to government by the people."
"Before the President's speech even began, big money campaign donors like the Koch Brothers had pledged their formidable opposition to even a modest increase in the minimum wage.
"Last year, through campaign donations and lobbying efforts, the Kochs' nebulous web of dark money organizations leveraged more than $400 million to bend public policy in their direction. At the current minimum wage, it would take nearly 30,000 full-time workers a full year to earn an equivalent amount.
"Big money special interests are blocking the priorities of everyday Americans. In a political system where ‘money equals speech,' the dangerous flip side is that ‘no money equals no speech.' And that has been the political reality for too many Americans.
"The President said ‘It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.' I couldn't agree more. We need a return to government by the people."
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