Paul Coverdell: “I want to come to the reference to the Constitution by the Senator from Kansas. The Constitution that says that…”

“I want to come to the reference to the Constitution by the Senator from Kansas. The Constitution that says that: Congress shall enact no law to abridge speech. It does not say there are no exemptions. It says the Congress shall enact no law to abridge speech. Let us put this in context. This language is in the first amendment of the Bill of Rights which grants us the right to speak as we would, the right to worship as we would, the right to assemble, which is also part of this debate, and the right to petition our Government without fear. All of us would like to see the campaign process improved. There have been many who have mentioned transparency or disclosure, making sure that the American people know what is happening and when it is happening and trust in their judgment to make good decisions about whether they like it or do not. This legislation abridges the Constitution, begins to manage speech, picks winners and losers, and attacks the fundamental rights of assembly.”