Barney Frank: “First let us talk about the time. Yes, if this bill had come up in a timely fashion last year, it would have been…”

“First let us talk about the time. Yes, if this bill had come up in a timely fashion last year, it would have been effective for this cycle. The amendment purports to say let us put it into effect right away. Seventy House seats will be decided in primary in 3 weeks. The States of California and Illinois between them have more than 70 House seats. The primaries are in 3 weeks. Members can differ about a lot of this bill, but it is simply not logically possible to argue that they are for this bill and are going to have it go into effect 3 weeks before primary which have been conducted heretofore under the old rule. That is just not arguable, and to have someone say I am for the bill but I want to make it take effect right away and then call me a hypocrite is like being called silly by the Three Stooges. It simply does not make any sense. One cannot purport to be for this bill and say that they are now going to put it into effect 3 weeks before 70-some-odd primaries. The other point that the gentleman raised has some validity. There is some ambiguity in the bill; and as Members know, it will be corrected in a recommit.”