Political Quotes

“this amendment simply raises the $1,000 limit for individual contributions to House candidates to $2,000, which is the same as the Senate-passed bill sets for Senators. The Senate-passed bill raised their $1,000 contribution limit for the first time since 1974 to $2,000. I believe that all 435 Members of the House should pay close attention to what is happening, because I also believe that this legislation will succeed through the legislative process and ultimately be signed into law, and I do not think it is appropriate for the Senate to have a different level on individual contribution limits than House candidates. I also think we need to look over the last generation at exactly what has happened in individual contribution limits to House candidates. In 1974, this $1,000 was established, and individuals had that much influence in the process at that time. The fact is that the value of $1,000 in 1974 was a lot greater than the value of $1,000 in 2002. As a matter of fact, if it was indexed to inflation, which we index other factors of money and value, if it was indexed to inflation, it would be well over $3,000. I realize raising it from $1,000 to $3,000 would be too much to swallow at one time. So this amendment is designed to strike a balance, to raise it to $2,000, which was the balance struck that 59 U.S. Senators voted for when this legislation cleared that body, because it is a reasonable approach.”