Political Quotes

Bill Bennett: As I said at the outset, it demonstrates just how ridiculous it is for the Federal Government to get into the business…

On the recordSeptember 29, 1997
As I said at the outset, it demonstrates just how ridiculous it is for the Federal Government to get into the business of determining who can spend what and for how much in a constitutional way. You end up so contorted and distorted in your attempt to get around the obvious constitutional ban on this kind of nonsense that you create a circumstance that virtually no one can defend on practical grounds: More money going for a candidate in New Jersey than for a candidate in New York, different rules applying to a candidate in Delaware than apply to a candidate in Wyoming. All of this is voluntary, but it becomes voluntary because there is a huge bribe out there waiting for you if you agree to give up your constitutional rights. I think it is absurd. I was delighted over the weekend to read the comments of George Will, who said that this debate is one of the most fundamental we have had since the founding of the Republic.
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Bill Bennett

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the implications of campaign finance reform during a floor speech.

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