Political Quotes

“As I am sure the manager of the bill knows well, the State of Connecticut recently voted to guarantee all ex-felons on probation the right to vote. Nonetheless, the amendment Senator Specter and I have crafted is narrow in scope. It does not extend voting rights to prisoners. Some States do that. I don't believe in that. It does not extend voting rights to ex-felons on parole, even though 18 States do that. It does not extend voting rights to ex-felons on probation, even though some States do that. This legislation simply restores the right to vote to those individuals who have completely served their sentences, including probation and parole. Finally, this legislation would only apply to Federal elections, but it would set an example for the rest of the States to follow what we do in Federal elections. Even though we have delegated to the States time, place, and authority, Congress has retained the ultimate authority with ample precedent to set qualifications for Federal elections. We did that with motor-voter registration and others. The revolutionary patriot, Thomas Paine, said: The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which all other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he also has not a vote in the election of representatives in this case. We must do away with Thomas Paine's definition of slavery.”