# Jared Polis

Jared Schutz Polis (born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, and businessman, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since January 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 to 2007, and five terms as the United States representative from Colorado's 2nd congressional district from 2009 to 2019. He was the only Democratic member of the libertarian conservative Liberty Caucus, and was the third-wealthiest member of the United States Congress, with an estimated net worth of $122.6 million.

## Quotes

* In 1821, Major Stephen H. Long made an expedition to the area now known as Weld County and declared the land was not fit for human prosperity. Almost two centuries later it is without question that Major Long did not have the vision or the admiration for this great place as those of Weld County have today.
** Jared Polis, "Happy 150th Birthday to Weld County, Colorado", Congressional Record, November 4, 2011.
* From our humble beginning as a supply town for miners, to the national leader in smart growth and environmental stewardship we are today, Boulder has always been dedicated to the careful balance of entrepreneurship and wise land use.
** Jared Polis, "Boulder, Colorado's Sesquicentennial", Congressional Record, June 25, 2009.
* I rise today to commemorate one of the most fateful days in the history of the State of Colorado, the day the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant outside of Boulder nearly became America's own Chernobyl, some 30 years before that terrible accident in the Ukraine.
** Jared Polis, "Commemorating the Rocky Flats 1969 Fire", Congressional Record, May 12, 2009.
* Having alternative currencies is great, right, because, historically, government's had a monopoly on currency. … At the end of the day, why should only politicians—either directly or indirectly—control the currency? We can reduce transaction cost, provide an alternative, and—look, I don't know whether it'll be Bitcoin or not—but I think the concept of digital currencies is here to stay, and the fact that a politician would write to try to ban them in their infancy is just the wrong way to go about it. Let the market determine whether there's any value there or not. … If people are saying, "Look, we gotta ban Bitcoin because it's somewhat anonymous and anonymous transactions can occur," or "because it's possible for criminals to use it," all of those arguments can be used to say, "Just ban dollars." … The government doesn't need to "treat" it [Bitcoin] at all. … The government policy should be completely agnostic about what unit of exchange is used.
** Jared Polis, interviewed by Kennedy, Matt Welch, and Kmele Foster on The Independents, Fox Business (10 March 2014).

## About

* Boulder Rep. Jared Polis is something of a hero to the medical marijuana industry, but recently he took on another fight: the battle against the Stop Online Piracy Act.
** Bryce Crawford (January 19, 2012). "Congressman fights SOPA with porn". Colorado Springs Independent (www.csindy.com).
* Imagine an Internet geek running for office, perhaps none too seriously, on a platform saying: "If elected, I will insert 'The Internet is for Porn' into the congressional hearing record, which will be preserved as an official public document for all time." Whatever his motivations, Polis did just that.
** Declan McCullagh (December 16, 2011). "'Internet is for Porn' pops up during House SOPA debate". CNET News (news.cnet.com).
* Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado has announced the birth of a new son, making him the only openly gay member of Congress to be a parent.
** Associated Press (December 1, 2011). "Gay congressman announces birth of new son". Houston Chronicle.
* Jared Polis of Boulder is the first openly gay man elected to Congress as a non-incumbent.
** Associated Press (August 10, 2009). "Colo. delegation votes party lines on hate crime". KXRM (www.coloradoconnection.com).

## See also

* Democratic Party (United States)
* United States Congress
* United States House of Representatives

## External links

* Governor Jared Polis official government website
* Jared Polis for Colorado campaign website
* Jared Polis Foundation