Sylvester Turner: “I rise to urge a no vote on the previous question because of my strong belief that it is time for this Congress to act…”

“I rise to urge a no vote on the previous question because of my strong belief that it is time for this Congress to act and to act quickly on campaign finance reform. Recently the New York Times quoted a woman by the name of Pam Elliott in Tennessee who said, ``The special interest groups are spending millions to get their point across and people like me aren't heard at all. ``Money talks,'' says Ms. Elliott. Unfortunately, Ms. Elliott is right. Money does talk. In fact, it not only talks but it shouts. So loud that it is drowning out the voices of ordinary Americans who want to participate and be heard in the political process. As the tide of special interest money has increased, voter turnout and confidence in Government has fallen to a dangerously low level. Voters have concluded that their votes mean far less than a wealthy contributor's dollars, and they believe that our Government is for sale to the highest bidder. Experienced lawmakers from this Chamber have left this House, because they are weary of spending their time panhandling for dollars. And qualified citizens have declined all across this country to run for office because they are unable and are unwilling to stoop to the level necessary to raise the millions of dollars needed to run for office today. Less than half of the voters in this country even bother to participate in casting a vote for a candidate for President because they are turned off by the political process as we know it.”