Political Quotes

“I don't know why we are debating this Constitutional Amendment. It was not made in order by the Blue Dog discharge petition, which led to this debate in the first place. I think what's really going on is the Leadership is not dealing in good faith. If that continues, I would suggest the discharge petition may have to be resurrected. Whatever the case, I believe a Constitutional Amendment is unnecessary to get good campaign reform, especially a soft money ban and campaign disclosure. Congress has plenty of room under the case Colorado Republican Party versus FEC to ban soft money. In the case, the Supreme Court said: Reasonable contribution limits advance the government's interests in preventing corruption. Congress might decide to change the campaign laws limitations on contributions to political parties if it decided it needed to. And in Buckley versus Valeo the Court said: Limiting corruption and the appearance of corruption is a constitutionally sufficient justification for campaign contribution limitations. Political quid pro quos or apparent quid pro quos undermine the integrity of our system of representative democracy. But even if I do not think an Amendment is necessary, I don't question the original sponsors' motives. In fact, a number of Democrats and Republicans have cosponsored such amendments.”