On the recordFebruary 10, 2016
We are here for another Future Forum discussion, and tonight our topic is restoring our democracy, campaign finance, and voting rights. Americans agree, our voting system and our political system is broken, and the integrity of our democracy is at stake. Future Forum is a House Democratic Caucus group consisting of 17 of our youngest members who have gone across the country to 11 cities, now, talking to young people about their democracy and what they care about. We were just in Dallas this past Friday, hosted in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by Congressman Marc Veasey, as well as being joined by Congressman Ruben Gallego of Phoenix. Today we are following up on what we heard in Dallas and what we have heard in many of the cities before it, which is, for all the issues facing millennials, many of them understand that, at the root of the problem is the influence of outside money in politics and access to the ballot box. Joining us tonight is one of the leaders in the House on the issue of money and politics, Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland. He is the lead sponsor of the Government By the People Act. Also we will be joined by Congressman Kilmer, from the Seattle area, and Delegate Plaskett, from the Virgin Islands. So I am going to first ask Congressman Sarbanes this question, which we have heard from so many millennials across the country: What can we do to restore their faith in their government? I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).
