John Doolittle: “we constantly hear these days from reformers who support a bigger Federal Government that campaigns cost too much and…”

“we constantly hear these days from reformers who support a bigger Federal Government that campaigns cost too much and that government must step in and further regulate campaign spending. But I ask my colleagues, is spending on political advertising really out of control? Consider this: Tonight Americans will watch the final episode of Seinfeld and a 30-second ad purchased tonight during that final episode will cost $1.5 million for 30 seconds. By contrast, the cost of a typical congressional race is about $0.5 million or one-third the 30-second ad tonight on Seinfeld. By restricting a candidate's ability to spend campaign dollars, we will restrict his ability to speak to potential voters through television, radio, mail and personal appearances. This is the very type of speech the Founders sought to protect through the first amendment to the United States Constitution. When we support spending limits, we must feel that there is too much speech in political campaigns and that candidates communicate too much with voters. How is it that spending a few billion dollars exercising our most precious rights as Americans is deemed to be excessive while the tens of billions of dollars spent on disposable consumer products is not? Free political discourse and plenty of it is infinitely more valuable to the protection of our liberties than any beer or car commercial can ever be.”