Cord Byrd: “Mr. President, for nearly 2 years now many of our Republican colleagues, particularly those in the House of…”

“Mr. President, for nearly 2 years now many of our Republican colleagues, particularly those in the House of Representatives, have trumpeted the glories of their so-called Contract With America. To listen to some, this was the document that held the secrets to solving the Nation's problems. It was the primer for a reform-minded Congress-- something that would bring great respect to this institution and its Members. Yet, there is one item conspicuously absent from the much-touted, so-called contract. I note with amazement that what is completely missing from that celebrated ideological text is any mention of campaign finance reform. I have looked and I have looked and I have looked and it is just not there. We are told by those who promote the contract that a balanced budget constitutional amendment is good for the country. We are told that the line-item veto is good for the country. But, for seemingly inexplicable reasons, many of those who have spent their time clamoring for change have decided that putting an end to our current grotesque and out-of-control campaign spending system is just not worthy of attention.”