When I speak to groups visiting Washington, D.C. or to my constituents back home as I travel around my west metro district, I often start by telling them something that most find surprising: I love my job.
This usually elicits laughter — understandably, given the current state of affairs — but it’s true. As I reflect on my first year representing Minnesota’s Third District in Congress, I do so with deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve in these historic times. I have made lasting friendships, met people and visited places I never would have encountered before, and achieved several legislative successes along the way.
Still, there’s no denying the fact that Congress is broken, and our politics are in serious need of repair. I speak often about the deficiencies of the social and physical design of Congress, as well as the rules that govern our process and procedures. For now, however, I’d like to focus on the single most important impediment to meaningful progress at the federal level: money in politics. Continue reading.