Category: Dean Phillips

Campaign reform bill needs your support

A bill to reform election rules, campaign finances and lobbying has passed the U.S. House. Make it a priority.

I have been in the room where it all happens.

Most of the time it’s a boardroom, conference room or club room, where a politician’s big political donors line up for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and, for an extra charge, a personal photograph.

As a successful businessman, I was invited to countless functions like this over the past 20 years. And with each invitation, my frustration grew.

View the complete March 11 commentary by Congressman Dean Phillips on The Star Tribune website here.

Historic “For the People Act” Passes House with Three Amendments Authored by Rep. Phillips

Rep. Phillips’s contributions to H.R. 1 strengthen democracy reform bill that must now be taken up by the Senate

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) voted for the historic democracy reform bill, H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which passed the House today. The bill is a package of ethics, voting rights and campaign finance reforms aimed at reducing the influence of special interests in our politics. It was the first bill that Phillips co-sponsored in Congress.

Rep. Phillips authored three amendments that were included in H.R. 1’s final passage. Those amendments strengthen the independence, bipartisanship and diversity of the Federal Election Commission – the nation’s election watchdog – and reinforce ethics standards for Executive Branch officials by closing a loophole that allows them to run a lobbying shop as soon as they leave government service.

The bill will now head to the Senate where Mitch McConnell has already refused to bring it to the Senate Floor for a vote. Continue reading “Historic “For the People Act” Passes House with Three Amendments Authored by Rep. Phillips”

Rep. Phillips to Host HR1 Community Conversation Saturday, March 9

As House prepares to vote, Phillips reschedules open-to-the-public reform discussion for Saturday, March 9 in Hopkins

BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) will host a free and open-to-the-public community conversation focused on H.R.1, the For the People Act, a sweeping campaign finance, ethics and electoral reform package that Phillips co-sponsored on his first day in Congress. A February blizzard forced the event, originally scheduled for February 20, to be postponed.

The House is expected to pass H.R.1 on Friday.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON H.R.1 – THE “FOR THE PEOPLE ACT”

WHEN:  Saturday, March 9,  2019, Doors: 1:30 PM, Start: 2:00 PM

WHERE:  Hopkins High School Little Theater, 2400 Lindbergh Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305

WHO:

  • Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03)
  • Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon
  • Tiffany Muller, President, End Citizens United
  • Prof. David Schultz, Hamline University

Rep. Phillips Takes to the House Floor to Voice Full Support for HR1, The For the People Act

Phillips: “We cannot address our country’s greatest challenges when we place special interests over our common interests.”

WASHINGTON, DC – This afternoon, Rep. Dean Phillips took to the House Floor to voice his full support for H.R. 1, the For the People Act. The bill is a sweeping government, ethics and election reform package and was the first bill Phillips co-sponsored in Congress. The House will vote on the bill this week.

Phillips will participate in a livestreamed town hall discussion on H.R.1 tonight at 6 PM CST on the NowThis Politics Facebook page.

Click here to view Rep. Phillips’s remarks

Below is the full text of Rep. Phillips’s remarks:

Madame Speaker, Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Takes to the House Floor to Voice Full Support for HR1, The For the People Act”

TONIGHT: Rep. Phillips to Participate in Livestreamed Town Hall on H.R.1

WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) will join other members of Congress to take questions on H.R. 1, the For the People Act in a livestreamed town hall. He will be joined by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), the lead author of H.R. 1, and other freshmen members of Congress.

The event begins at 7:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central and will be livestreamed by NowThis Politics on their Facebook page. Questions will be submitted online via Twitter using the #TownHallForThePeople hashtag, and live Facebook comments.

H.R. 1 is a sweeping campaign finance, ethics and electoral reform package that Phillips co-sponsored on his first day in Congress. The House will be voting on the bill this week.

LIVESTREAMED TOWN HALL ON H.R. 1 – THE “FOR THE PEOPLE ACT”

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 7:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Central
WHERE: NowThis Politics Facebook Page
WHO:
Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03)
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD)
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ)

Rep. Phillips Signs On as Original Co-Sponsor of Same-Day Voter Registration Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today announced that he is an original co-sponsor of the Same Day Voter Registration Act, which would require same day voter registration by national law.

“Our government is at its best when everyone participates, and I’m on a mission to bring more people to the table,” said Phillips. “Same day voter registration is just common sense and a proven way to increase voter participation. Our Congressional District had the highest voter participation in the nation thanks in part to same day registration. I’m proud to join this effort to bring that opportunity to the whole country.”

Same day voter registration consistently increases turnout. The bill would allow eligible voters to register on any day voting takes place – including early voting days. Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Signs On as Original Co-Sponsor of Same-Day Voter Registration Act”

Rep. Phillips Votes for Bipartisan Universal Background Checks Bill

Phillips makes good on promise to support meaningful gun violence prevention measures in historic House vote

WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today voted for the successful passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act Of 2019.

“Thoughts and tweets don’t save lives, action saves lives,” Phillips said. “I made a commitment to take real action for gun violence prevention and I was pleased to follow through on that today with my colleagues in the House. Universal background checks are supported by an overwhelming number of Americans and gun owners. This bill is long overdue and a good first step for gun violence prevention. I will continue working with my colleagues to keep our families safe.”

Under the current system, gun buyers are not given a background check if they buy from an unlicensed gun seller. This loophole allows millions of guns to change hands every year without a background check. A study found that up to 80 percent of firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained without a background check.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act closes this loophole by requiring all gun sellers – including private vendors, online sellers, and sellers at gun shows – to conduct background checks on potential buyers. The measure is supported by overwhelming majorities of Americans and gun owners like Rep. Phillips himself.

 

Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors Privileged Resolution to Terminate Pres. Trump’s Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today announced that he has co-sponsored Rep. Joaquin Castro’s privileged resolution to end President Trump’s emergency declaration.

“The president’s emergency declaration is an end run around both chambers of Congress, the ideals of both parties and the Constitution itself,” said Phillips. “It is not up for debate: the power to appropriate funding sits with Congress. The President has overstepped the bounds of his office, and his unilateral approach to governing needs to stop. Both parties should be working hard to pull the plug on this dangerous precedent.” 

Today, nearly two dozen former Republican members of Congress wrote a joint letter urging Republicans to vote for the resolution. Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors Privileged Resolution to Terminate Pres. Trump’s Emergency Declaration”

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, Hennepin County leaders discuss priorities

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips on the floor of the U.S. House on Jan. 3, 2019. Credit:
Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune file

Official calls the meeting with freshman Democrat a “breath of fresh air.”

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips spent Wednesday learning about the Hennepin County Board’s proposed federal legislative wish list, promising to be a vocal advocate for the county’s light-rail projects, health care, the opioid crisis and homelessness.

“I was here to learn, listen, understand and explore,” said Phillips, a Democrat who defeated Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen in last year’s Third District election. “I view Hennepin County as a laboratory,” he said. “I want to take its best practices back to Washington and possibly expand them into national models and bring some federal ideas back to the county as well.”

County Commissioner Mike Opat called the hourlong meeting with Phillips “a breath of fresh air.” It was the first time in many years, he said, that the person representing Hennepin County’s western half in Congress has wanted to listen and try to help.

View the complete February 20 article by David Chanen on THe Star Tribune website here.

Rep. Phillips Sponsors Bipartisan “Honest Ads Act” to Bring Transparency to Online Ads, Prevent Foreign Influence

Phillips continues to lead on reform as H.R. 1 reform package advances in committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today announced that he is the only freshmen member of Congress who will appear as an original cosponsor of the Honest Ads Act in the 116th Congress. The bill is aimed at strengthening our democracy – as well as national security – by increasing the transparency and accountability of digital political advertising. The Honest Ads Act has bipartisan support, boasting an equal number of Republican and Democratic sponsors.

“Our democracy faces threats from both the inside and outside,” said Phillips. “Nowhere is that more apparent than in digital political communication and advertising. From dark money groups circumventing disclosure requirements, to foreign governments interfering in elections, it is time to update laws to protect our democracy. The Honest Ads Act does that in a bipartisan fashion. I thank Sen. Klobuchar for her leadership and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.”

The Honest Ads Act will update disclosure requirements for political advertising for the digital age. Specifically, the bill requires the same disclosures for digital political ads that are currently in place for broadcast, expands public filing requirements and requires all advertising platforms to do more to prevent foreign interests from influencing the American political conversation. Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Sponsors Bipartisan “Honest Ads Act” to Bring Transparency to Online Ads, Prevent Foreign Influence”