Press Releases

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today released the following statement after joining Representative John Sarbanes (MD-03) and 135 other Members of Congress to sponsor the Government by the People Act, a bill to empower everyday Americans to shape their government and stop special interests from commandeering the election process:

“The most recent statistics about the influence of large-money donors in our elections paint a disturbing portrait of the enormous power special interest wield over our political system – and the incredible challenges ordinary Americans face in making their voices heard.

“The American people deserve a government that answers to all its citizens, not just those who can afford to write the largest checks. Unless we want to continue this cycle of marginalizing voters and enlarging the role of (oftentimes anonymous) special interests, Congress must take action.

“That’s why I will continue to be a champion of the Government by the People Act, a long-overdue bill to amplify the voices of voters and small donors and allow campaigns who rely on grassroots support to combat the influence of PACs and Super PACs who try to flood the airwaves with negative ads.”

The Government by the People Act would:

·         Amplify the power of small contributions by creating a Freedom from Influence Matching Fund to match all donations of up to $150 six times over for candidates who agree to place limits on large donations to their campaigns;

·         Encourage small donor participation by creating a new $25 refundable “My Voice” tax credit; and

·         Help grassroots candidates who face an onslaught of negative ads financed by outside money by providing them additional matching funds in the final months of their campaigns.