Joan Blades Quotes

Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our government. It's in the Constitution, and it's something that should be honorable and good.

What I intend to do is be just a really fierce advocate for Minnesotans here in Washington, D.C.

I send messages to the White House continuously.

I think people across America want a leader who's actually going to listen to them.

I am chairman of the Africa subcommittee in the House of Representatives.

One of the first members of Congress I met when I was first elected in 2008 was Barney Frank.

A messy participatory process is representative democracy at its best.

When I was introduced to Johnson he was a freshman Congressman.

There are good people in the lobbying industry. Lobbyists can serve a very useful purpose.

I have run two small businesses in Kansas, and I have seen how government can crush entrepreneurism. That's why I ran for Congress. It just so happens that there are a lot of people in south central Kansas who agree with me on that.

Senators will do what they think they need to do to represent their constituents.

I knew quite a lot about politics before I went to Parliament.

The place where the system and people's intentions meet is the political arena.

The best way you make policy in Washington is by doing it yourself.

Most people working day in and day out do not have the time to come to Washington to look out for their interest. Moreover they don’t know how.

[Describing a congressman's role:] ... a sort of super lobbyist for his constituents.

My constituents tell me they want a fight, and that's what I'm here to do.

To enable consensus politics to develop we need to empower people where they live. This means devolving financial resources and political power down to the community level. One of the greatest blocks to movement is fear. This fear can only be removed when people feel their voices are being heard by government and when they have a say in their own lives and communities.

You name me a profession and I’ll name you a lobbyist that represents them.

It is time the American people saw the incredible power of staff members ...and how little power the members who are elected by the people, as opposed to the unelected, have in the decision-making process.

You can’t change Washington from the inside. You can only change Washington from the outside.

I want to be the kind of elected official who not only pays attention but who acts on behalf of people - just average people. Fancy lobbyists get to tell their story, but the average person doesn't.

It's all about representing the forgotten men and women, to make sure that they have a voice and members of the Freedom Caucus take that very seriously.

Alaskans deserve a fighter in the United States Senate who will always stand up for Alaska, who understands our great potential, who has the experience, respect and seniority to accomplish that. I am that senator.

No matter where we go in the state, I hear from Mainers that they are ready for someone to stand up for them in Washington.