A Message From Congressman Sarbanes
I am proud to be leading the charge in Congress to limit the influence of Big Money on politics and government and amplify the voices of everyday Americans. Whether it’s the economy, energy and the environment, health care or any other critical issue, special interests and well-connected insiders are calling the shots in Washington. We need to return to a government of, by and for the people. That’s why I’ve introduced the Government By the People Act.
Updates
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In the News: Sarbanes Prepares for Elevated Role as Leading Reformer in Congress
September 18, 2018
Sarbanes Prepares for Elevated Role as Leading Reformer in Congress
Josh Kurtz, MARYLAND MATTERSAs Democrats push to retake the U.S. House of Representatives in November, government ethics and political reform have become an increasingly important part of their message. And that means an elevated role for Maryland Congressman John P. Sarbanes (D).
Sarbanes is House Democrats’ apostle of political reform, the chairman of the Democracy Reform Task Force. He’s the architect of the party’s multi-pronged good government agenda. If the Democrats seize the majority, he will play a leading role in shaping the suite of reform bills that Democrats will try to advance through Congress.
“I’m focused on trying to map out what a reform package would look like,” Sarbanes said in a recent interview in the Capitol, a few steps away from the House chamber, where votes were taking place.
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In the News: House Democrats’ top priority if they win in November is a sweeping anti-corruption bill
September 11, 2018
House Democrats’ top priority if they win in November is a sweeping anti-corruption bill
Ella Nilsen, Vox“I’m hoping that it’s the first or second bill this fall. It’s just that important.”
If Democrats win back the House in 2018, a consensus is emerging on what they need to do first: Pass a sweeping anti-corruption bill.
One specific legislative package has emerged, largely crafted and sponsored by the chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD). The agenda — recently formalized by a House resolution — is designed to rein in the influence of money and lobbying in Washington, expand voting rights in the United States, and increase public financing of campaigns. Democrats are prepping a final version of a bill to be ready to go if they are in charge by January 2019.
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In the News: House Democrat: here are 8 scandals Congress should investigate instead of Twitter bias
September 5, 2018
House Democrat: here are 8 scandals Congress should investigate instead of Twitter bias
Tara Golshan, VoxTwitter’s Jack Dorsey is testifying in Congress. Democrats think it’s a waste of his time.
Congress is wasting Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s time when it should be investigating the Trump administration’s wrongdoing, Maryland Democrat Rep. John Sarbanes told Dorsey at one of his two congressional testimonies Wednesday.
Dorsey spent Wednesday fielding questions in the House about how Twitter’s efforts to combat dangerous information and misinformation shared on the social media platform is actually censoring conservative voices.
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Sarbanes, House Democrats Call on Congressional Negotiators to Protect Fair Access to SNAP
September 4, 2018
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) joined more than 100 Democratic Members of Congress today in calling on Congressional negotiators to reject harsh and unfair work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
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Sarbanes, House Democrats Urge Secretary DeVos to Back Away from Plan to Put More Guns in Schools
September 4, 2018
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined more than 170 House Democrats in demanding that Secretary Betsy DeVos prohibit the use of federal education funding to buy guns for teachers and school staff. The letter comes in the wake of a New York Times report that revealed the administration’s plan to allow schools to redirect federal education funding intended for services like mental health counseling in order to purchase firearms or firearms training.