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“Government By the People Act” would make Congress more responsive to needs of everyday citizens
East County News Service
March 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- During a roundtable discussion at the Copley-Price Family YMCA, Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) unveiled the Government By the People Act (H.R 20), a bold new reform that would help everyday people in San Diego and across the country fight back against wealthy and well-connected special interests.
The Government By the People Act would return political speech and power back to the American people by establishing a small-donor campaign finance system that competes with today’s big-money politics. The bill would provide voters with a refundable $25 tax credit to support a candidate’s campaign and would boost that donation with a six-to-one match. Taken together, the tax credit and matching funds would create a viable new campaign finance system to compete with today’s big-money politics.
By giving candidates the ability to power their campaigns on the backs of everyday people – rather than going hat in hand to wealthy special interests – the Government By the People Act would allow Congress to better channel the will of the people and advance policies supported by most Americans – without them being distorted by the corrosive influence of special interests, supporters contend.
“A priority of the government should be to ensure people have a voice in elections because our nation is stronger when we’re all involved in the decision-making,” said Congresswoman Davis. “Average Americans don’t feel they have a stake in their government and the problems facing our nation are not being addressed. We need to empower people and give them a role in the future of their country.”
“Whether it’s creating good jobs, education, health care or the environment, wealthy campaign donors and well-connected Washington insiders are blocking progress on the issues that everyday people in San Diego and across the country care most about,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “We need to break Congress’ reliance on big-money donors so that we can return to a government of, by and for the people.”
To learn more about H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act, visit: http://sarbanes.house.gov/bythepeople.
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