Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to commend my colleague from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for introducing this legislation. This would simply turn over to the Treasury for deficit reduction anything left over in our account that is used to run our offices. This is good legislation. It should move forward. I must say, however, that we should go much further than this. Part of the reason there is money in a lot of people's accounts to turn back is that we are given more than we need, typically because most Members choose to send out thinly veiled campaign mail, I would assert, under the frank, or using taxpayer dollars. If I were to hold up in an election year--now there are blackout dates, so you can't send too close to an election. But still, spending goes up considerably in Member offices during a campaign year or an election year. If I were to hold up one of my campaign pieces of mail that I pay for with my campaign and something that's sent out that has the little words on there, Paid for at taxpayer expense, they're both four color, they're both colorful, nice pieces, lauding the Member of Congress for what he or she is doing, I defy anybody to tell the difference between regular campaign mail paid by campaign funds and somebody's taxpayer mailings. We shouldn't be doing this. And it seems that we get in our offices just an increased amount that is used because nearly every office does it.…”