Sylvester Turner: “I rise in support of H.R. 2183, the bipartisan freshman campaign finance reform bill. Abraham Lincoln once wrote that…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2183, the bipartisan freshman campaign finance reform bill. Abraham Lincoln once wrote that with public trust, everything is possible. And without it, nothing is impossible. He recognized that a democracy cannot work unless people have confidence and trust in their government. Over the last few decades, this essential trust has been undermined, not only by periodic scandals but by the everyday practice of raising huge sums of money from wealthy contributors and special interests. Year after year, both parties raise larger and larger amounts of what people in Washington call 'soft money,' but my folks back home in Texas call 'hard cash.' People cannot help but wonder whether their government is for sale to the highest bidder. The reforms that we propose are not intended to help or hurt either party. These reforms are designed to help restore the people's confidence in the independence of their Representatives and in the integrity of their government. The only way to regain people's confidence is to pass campaign finance reform.”