Rep. Justin Amash: The Two-Party System Needs to Die

The libertarian congressman from Michigan discusses why Attorney General Jeff Sessions sets of his alarm bells, his plan to reform civil asset forfeiture laws, how to get rid of the Export-Import Bank, and why the internet is poised to kill the two-party system.

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"Hopefully, over time, [the] two parties start to fall apart," says Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan) in an interview with Reason recorded last week at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas. "I can go straight to Twitter or Facebook or elsewhere and tell people exactly what I stand for."

First elected in 2010, the libertarian congressman helped co-found the influential House Freedom Caucus, sponsored bills to cut spending and defang the National Security Agency, and took an active role in the successful effort to depose John Boehner as house majority leader.

A critic of executive power and champion of constitutionalism, the Grand Rapids native is a thorn in the side of Donald Trump, serving as one of only two GOP co-sponsors of a bill calling for an independent, investigative commission into the president's Russia-related behavior. He frequently calls out the administration on social media, and is on the receiving end of a White House call to get primaried.

This interview was recorded on July 21, 2017.

Cameras by Justin Monticello and Meredith Bragg; edited by Mark McDaniel. Graphics by Bragg.

[TheMotoManiac]

Justin Amash, Rand Paul, Thomas Massie are all great politicians (senators and congressman) and one common thing that connects them all is that they cross party lines to vote for freedom of the people rather than stick to their party line vote. We don't deserve them, but we really, really need them.

[BeirutBallin]

Who’s here after Justin announced his exploratory candidacy?

[calvini]

Met him on a plane. Twas a good man.

[fundude]

I don’t agree with him on everything but i like a guy who has the guts to stand up for what he believes in.

[stymiesnerdly]

Thank God we have people like Mr. Amash & Mr. Massie in DC.

[Bloodylaser]

I've never met Congressman Amash but I find him to be a very honest man, I really like it when he goes on facebook and explains how he voted this way. Easily one of the original tea partiers who did not sell out when he came to DC unlike Kinzinger or Ayotte.

[BrockJamesStory]

Im proud as hell to say that Justin Amash is my

[Karltheknight]

Justin Amash is the only Libertarian representative, & he an Orthodox Christian, now you have to admit that's pretty cool.

[tacokoneko]

omg i love the comment sections on reastontv! everywhere else on youtube the comments section is a bloody hellscape of war between violent communists and fascists, and here everyone is very liberty oriented, something I've never seen before!

[branlarsn]

There is no "Russia behavior" give it up.

[fritoman]

I would love to see regular interviews with Amash, Massie, and Paul for inside scoops.

[t-motionofficial]

Amash for President!!! He is the best option we have

[willnitschke]

Unfortunately this guy is a dim wit. Eliminating the two party system creates a one party system, I.e., communist countries don't have political parties. The US might be better served with more than two parties, but advocating for no parties is equivalent to advocating for governmental non accountability,

[adamsmith]

Justin is a inexperienced kid. He spend two years in law one of which was working for his Dads company. He needs to go back to the private sector he loves so much and learn something.

[jefferyshall]

I generally like Justin, but he was dead wrong on the Russia investigation and now we know that for a fact!

[TheCrewChief]

I am glad, that I don't vote for anyone who will vote for a bill that is marginally better than the bill or law it may, or may not be replacing in one form or another!

That is why, as a life long voting Independent, I have voted none of the above!

Because, I want something that is either the best a person can possibly do, or forget it and don't mess with something that you are not going to make the best for everyone as a whole!

[JRWtheIII]

Bravo! One of your best interviews! Cheers to both Mr. Welch and Congressman Amash.

[tristansvoboda]

The two party system cannot go away. Under a first past the post system, it is mathematically guaranteed.

[tristramcoffin]

I actually align with Justin Amash much more closely than to Donald Trump. However, I look Amash in the last 12 months and realize he is much too ambitious to truly be a Libertarian.

[adh]

One ? clown, what have you accomplished outside of being elected to represent the constituents you've now abandoned?