Ed Whitfield: “President Clinton and Vice President Gore got their hands caught in the cookie jar. If they did not violate Federal…”

“President Clinton and Vice President Gore got their hands caught in the cookie jar. If they did not violate Federal campaign laws, they came as close to wholesale violations as any Presidential campaign in the history of America. Now that the President cannot seek reelection, he has made campaign finance reform a primary goal. Labeling efforts to change finance laws as reform does not mean it will be better. In fact, most campaign finance reform proposals would make our system worse. We spend more money advertising Coca-Cola, beer, pizza, and washing detergent than we do on political campaigns in Federal offices. Political action committees have brought people into the political system, individuals voluntarily contributing money. We should encourage that participation, not discourage it. I, for one, do not want the Federal Government controlling who contributes money and who they contribute it to, a clear violation of first-amendment rights. Members of this body should not be stampeded into supporting campaign finance reform simply because a few people view it as politically correct.”