Political Quotes

“basically there have been unfair characterizations about undue foreign influence. This is not about undue foreign influence. This is about the violation of constitutional rights for permanent residents in order for them to participate more fully in the American process when many of their families are already citizens. Mr. Chairman, I am in full support of H.R. 417, the Shays-Meehan Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, which is a true campaign finance reform bill. This legislation bans soft money and bars foreign nationals from contributing funds towards U.S. campaigns. I would like to express my strong opposition to the Bereuter/Wicker amendment, which prohibits legal permanent residents from making financial contributions toward our political campaigns. First, and most importantly, this particular amendment is an attack on the First Amendment right of legal permanent residents. These residents, also known as 'citizens in training,' are entitled to many of the same rights as American-born or naturalized American citizens. After all, unlike foreign nationals, legal permanent residents pay taxes and are drafted into the military. These permanent residents are stakeholders in our society; they invest in our community. Their children are and will become citizens of the United States. By voting for this amendment, we are taking an unfair and unconstitutional step towards campaign finance reform.”