When meeting with Jmore’s editorial board on Sept. 24, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) repeatedly expressed concerns about the potential for an autocracy in the United States if Republicans won both the House of Representatives and Senate in the midterm elections on Nov. 6.
“It’s time to call out the cavalry. We need to restore sanity before it’s too late,” he said, alluding to the Trump administration. “Give us the gavel. The stakes could not be higher.”
Jmore recently caught up with Sarbanes, 56, who this week won reelection in the 3rd District, which he has represented since 2007.
Jmore: What will Democrats do as the majority party in the House?
The first priority for the new Democratic House majority will be passing a bold, sweeping pro-democracy package [led by the Democratic Reform Task Force, which Sarbanes chairs] that will tackle money in politics, voting rights and ethics. Democratic challengers across the country ran on these reforms.
Democratic leadership in the House is committed to cleaning up Washington. And on Tuesday, voters across America made an emphatic statement that they want to see bold changes to our political system. Now, Democrats are going to follow through.
Our current political system is dominated by Washington insiders, well-connected special interests and big money. It blocks progress on a whole host of issues that Americans care about. If we can clean up the system, then we can deliver on other priorities: reducing health insurance premiums, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, giving relief to DREAMers and rebuilding our infrastructure. But democracy reform must come first.
What about the record number of women in the House?
The new Democratic House Caucus will not only have a record number of women serving in Congress, but it will also feature women of very diverse backgrounds, including former CIA operatives, teachers and nurses. As members of Congress, our own experiences inform how we do our jobs. Having a Congress that better reflects the makeup of our country – not just with more women but with more men and women of color – will help ensure that Congress represents all Americans and focuses on the issues that are important to a broader swath of the public.
How will Maryland be affected by the new House?
Flipping the House will be a boon for Maryland. Seven members of our state’s Congressional delegation in the House are Democrats, so I hope that we can stop the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on our nation’s federal employees and ensure that our public servants receive the pay and benefits they deserve. I also hope that we can build on the success we’ve had protecting the Chesapeake Bay while we were in the minority, and use our new status in the majority to shore up federal investment and commitment to the Chesapeake Bay.
How can we fight increasing anti-Semitism?
As elected officials and leaders, the first thing we can do is temper our rhetoric. When extremists see politicians such as President Trump echo their bigoted language and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, it validates them. It fuels their prejudices and beliefs, and it encourages them to spread their hate more openly. We must also seize on every opportunity to demonstrate solidarity in the wake of terrible tragedies, including the [Oct. 27] mass shooting at the Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh. I was moved by the incredible outpouring we saw across the country by Jews and non-Jews who stood shoulder to shoulder against anti-Semitism and bigotry.
Participating in a number of these gatherings in Maryland gave me hope that if we harness what is best in ourselves and our communities, we can repair our country as we seek to repair the broader world. I think there’s more to be done from the policy side as well. We need to fully fund the Countering Violent Extremism program and make sure that the program does not ignore neo-Nazis and violent white supremacist organizations. They are the greatest domestic terror threat we face in this country.
The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security can also do more to share information about white supremacist activity with local law enforcement. Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve consistently supported funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides security funding for synagogues and other important institutions. Following the massacre in Pittsburgh, I called for increased funding for that program.
Do you believe a Democrat will be elected president in 2020?
I’ve always believed, as did my father [former Maryland Sen. Paul Sarbanes], instead of looking to the next office or the next race, you do your job, you work hard for your constituents and they’ll reward you when the time comes. I think that’s what Democrats will do for the next two years, starting with the democracy reform package. We’re going to work on the issues that matter to our constituents. We’re going to listen to and address their concerns with real solutions.
Come 2020, those solutions will present a real contrast to what we’ve seen from President Trump and the Republican Party, especially their broken promises to drain the swamp and take on special interests in Washington.
Peter Arnold is an Olney, Md.-based freelance writer.
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