Ann Kirkpatrick: “I strongly support H.R. 1, and I commend Congressman John Sarbanes for his persistent work on this legislation. We have…”

“I strongly support H.R. 1, and I commend Congressman John Sarbanes for his persistent work on this legislation. We have an opportunity here to reduce the role of dark money in politics and make it easier for Americans to participate in our democracy. This is not a partisan issue. This is an American democracy issue, and H.R. 1 is the best solution to cleaning up corruption in Washington. I am proud of my colleagues for working on this historic and necessary package. {time} 0930 You see, Madam Chair, I ran as a publicly funded candidate in Arizona under our public financing law called Clean Elections when I first ran for the legislature. This meant I had to go out and get a certain number of $5 contributions from constituents in my district, which I then turned in to get my public financing. It was the same for everyone who was running as a Clean Election candidate, regardless of party. It equalized everything. One of my favorite stories is that I was walking from my law office down to the post office to check my mail, and this cowboy pulled up in his pickup truck at a stoplight and rolled down the window, and he said, ``Hey, Ann. You don't know me, but I gave you $5.'' So he felt empowered in my election. I walked over, and we had a conversation in the middle of the street. That is the way it should be. This puts power in the pocket of the people, not special interests, and that is the way it should be.…”