Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03)  joined fellow freshman Democrats who helped lead the charge to prioritize and pass the For The People Act to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow debate and an up or down on the floor of the Senate.

“Leader McConnell stands in the way of ending the era of bought and sold politicians,” said Rep. Phillips. “Refusing to even hold a vote on the For The People Act keeps our government in the pocket of special interests and keeps our elections open to foreign attacks. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, and it should concern every single American. It’s time for McConnell to put country over party and bring H.R.1 to the floor.”

You can video of the full press conference HERE.

The For the People Act passed the U.S. House in March and is a once-in-a-generation anti-corruption, election security and money in politics reform bill. Phillips authored three amendments that were included in the final bill, addressing the “revolving door” of Executive Branch officials to lobbying careers and strengthening the Federal Election Commission.

“Across the country, the American people have made clear that they want Congress to enact meaningful anti-corruption reform,” wrote 62 freshman Democrats in a letter to McConnell. “That's why we pledged action on comprehensive campaign finance, ethics, and voting reforms as the first priority for the 116th Congress. As newly sworn-in Members, we got right to work on the For the People Act (H.R. 1), the most comprehensive set of pro-democracy reforms in a generation, passing it out of the House in March. Following a campaign season in which corruption and the power of special interests was a central theme, H.R. 1 delivered on our promise to clean up Washington and create a democracy that works for all of us.”

You can read the full text of letter HERE.

“In the 2018 midterms, the American people demanded reform and elected leaders who would fight against the special interests controlling Washington,” said Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United. “By passing the For the People Act so swiftly, the new Democratic majority proved they are accountable to voters, not special interests. The House has done its job, but because of Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate hasn’t even held a hearing on the bill. Mitch McConnell is acting like a puppet in the hands of the Big Money corporate special interests that keep him in power. McConnell should listen to the people and allow the Senate to vote on the For the People Act.”

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