News
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In The News: John Sarbanes named to conference committee crafting opioid bill
May 20, 2016
By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun
Rep. John Sarbanes will serve on a conference committee charged with reconciling the vastly different opioid addiction bills passed by the House and Senate, offering him an opportunity to help address one of Baltimore's most intractable problems.
Sarbanes, a Baltimore County Democrat who represents portions of Baltimore City, was named to the conference committee Tuesday by House leaders. The five-term lawmaker was one of the few Democrats to shepherd a bill through the House last week intended to mitigate a national increase in heroin and prescription drug overdoes.
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In The News: Federal lawmakers tout House opioid abuse bills
May 19, 2016
By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun
Members of Baltimore's congressional delegation on Monday touted a package of bills passed recently by the House of Representatives intended to address the national opioid abuse epidemic, but they also pointed to the shortcomings of that legislation -- including a lack of funding.
The House and Senate have both approved bipartisan legislation on heroin and prescription drug abuse, but the packages are substantially different. Both measures, which now must be resolved by a yet-to-be-appointed conference committee, do not include new money to pay for the programs lawmakers envision.
Rep. John Sarbanes of Baltimore County was the original sponsor of one of the House-passed bills. His proposal would encourage and train doctors to prescribe overdose reversal drugs, such as Naloxone, when they prescribe pain medication and other opioids.
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WYPR Maryland Morning Interview
May 6, 2016
On Wednesday I had the opportunity to be on WYPR’s Maryland Morning. Click here to hear my interview with Tom Hall.
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In The News: A manifesto to mend our politics
April 23, 2016
David Ignatius, The Washington Post
It has become a truism that the American political system is suffering from dysfunction. But weirdly, even the insurgent candidates, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, don’t talk much about how they would fix it. This is a populist insurgency without a clear manifesto.
So it’s refreshing to hear Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) present a detailed action plan to try to repair what’s broken. This proposal isn’t a cure-all. It wouldn’t fix the immigration problem or fund Social Security or fight terrorism. But by changing the way we fund elections, this proposal could make it easier to elect the politicians who would make the U.S. government work again for its citizens.
Sarbanes presents his proposal in the current issue of the Harvard Journal on Legislation. It’s a simple idea: Congress should free itself from big-money, special-interest domination by encouraging an alternative system of small contributions that would be matched with public funds. This isn’t a new idea — Teddy Roosevelt proposed a version back in 1907 — but it’s a good one, and a way to start curing what ails us.
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In The News: Around Pasadena- Fed grant to benefit Fort Smallwood Park, Hancock's Resolution
February 15, 2016
"This will launch an educational partnership around the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail," Sarbanes said. TTEC aims to educate students about the state's role in the War of 1812 by getting them out of the classroom and onto historic sites.
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In The News: Towson Park Receives Grant from National Park Service
February 11, 2016
“The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is an important connection to the outdoors and a vital link to our local history,” Sarbanes said in a statement. “With the support of the National Park Service, more Maryland teachers will be able to provide students with rich, hands-on learning experiences about our local history and about protecting our local trails and public lands.”
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In The News: New documentary takes a look at prescription drug abuse epidemic
February 10, 2016
Now, our nation's leaders are calling it a public health crisis that has reached epidemic proportions. It is getting so bad that it is getting attention from Hollywood to the halls of Congress. Even the president is getting aggressive in the fight.
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In The News: Howard County Council members propose 'citizen funded campaign system
February 4, 2016
Two Howard County Council members proposed a new publicly funded campaign system Monday that matches small campaign donations using public funds.
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In The News: Diluting the power of big money
February 3, 2016
THOSE OF US who cherish the First Amendment often argue that the best antidote to offensive speech is not a ban or regulation, but simply more speech. A similar logic supports a bill in Congress that would rebalance the grotesque influence of big money in political campaigns by giving a louder voice to small donors. “We’re not restricting anyone’s speech,” said US Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland, sponsor of the bill. ‘‘We’re adding speech.”
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The Intercept's Series On HR 20
July 16, 2015
Recently The Intercept's Jon Schwarz did a series of articles focusing on The Government By People Act.
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HuffPost Live Interview with Alyona Minkovski
July 14, 2015
I was recently on HuffPost Live's Political Junkies dicussing money in politics and the Government By the People Act (HR 20).
Click below to watch the interview.
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We the Podcast: Money in Politics
July 14, 2015
I recently got a chance to talk about money in politics on Rep Keith Ellison's We the Podcast. Be sure to give it a listen (just 10 mins long) and let me know what you think!
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An interview with the Washington Monthly
June 11, 2015
I recently spoke with the editor in chief of the Washington Monthly about The Government By the People Act.
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Washington Post: How Democrats can make voters care about big money in politics
June 4, 2015
Greg Sargent recently had a piece in The Washington Post, about my campaign finance reform efforts.
Read his entire article here.
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New York Times: Poll Shows Americans Favor an Overhaul of Campaign Financing
June 2, 2015
The New York Times recently reported on a new poll which shows that Americans want campaign finance reform.
Read the entire article here.
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Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition
June 2, 2015
The Conservation Fund recently covered a new effort launched by myself and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake to help increase green spaces in the region. Read the entire article here.
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NH Register: How to fight back against big money in politics
April 25, 2015
I recently wrote an article with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro which explains the importance of passing The Government By the People Act (HR 20). Read the entire piece here.
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Baltimore Sun: Restoring people's faith in government
April 17, 2015
I recently had a piece in The Baltimore Sun, about how a small-donor matching system could fight back against Big Money in politics. Read the entire piece here.
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Washington Post: A campaign finance idea whose time has come
March 25, 2015
Harold Meyerson of The Washington Post explains why it is time to pass The Government By the People Act (HR 20). Read the entire article here.
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The Atlantic: More Campaign Spending From More People
February 15, 2015
Lee Drutman of The Atlantic recently profiled The Government By the People Act (HR 20). Read the entire article here.