Campaign Finance Reform - Write Your Congressmen!
Hi Mephisto,
I was pleased this morning to receive a reply to my earlier emails to my local congressman, regarding the passage of the Shays/Meehan bill. I responded, and I'm copying both Rep. Walden's comments, and my reply below. I would encourage anyone who has the time and interest to let your Congress-folk know how you think about the rot in Washington.
<Copy>
From: greg.walden@mail.house.gov wrote:
February 19, 2002
Mr. Raymond G. Duray
Bend, Oregon 97701
Dear Raymond:
I appreciate your contacting me in support of campaign finance reform. As
I'm sure you know, the revised Shays-Meehan measure was approved by the
House on February 14th after nearly 15 hours of debate. During the
debate, even sponsors of the bill realized there were some gaping holes in
the legislation that would have allowed parties to use millions in "soft
money" to pay for "hard money" campaign efforts. We were able to close
that loophole and improve the bill.
While I did not support the final passage of the Shays-Meehan measure, I
did vote for a complete ban on "soft money" that would have taken effect
immediately. The Shays-Meehan bill as passed still allows upwards of $60
million in soft money to flow to state, local, and county political
committees -- in effect just re-routing where the money goes. I voted to
close that loophole, but our attempt failed. I also opposed efforts to
increase contribution limits to federal candidates from $1,000 to $2,000.
I remain concerned that various provisions of the Shays-Meehan bill
violate our Constitutional guarantee of free speech, but that is for the
courts to decide. I am also concerned that in a few years we will find
that while the bill shifted money away from the national parties, it
empowered even more the individual special interest groups.
I realize we disagree on this issue, but I felt it was important to let
you know both how and why I voted for a different method to reform
campaign finance.
Best regards,
GREG WALDEN
Member of Congress
P.S. I encourage you to visit my web site at walden.house.gov
to learn more about what we're doing in Congress and fill out my online
survey. You can also email me any comments you may have on this or other
issues and sign up for my e-newsletter.
.......................................................
<My Reply>
Dear Representative Walden,
I am honored that you would take the time to write to me with your personal views on the issue of campaign finance reform. Thank you very much.
I have signed up for your email updates, per your suggestion. I have not filled out the survey today, because though I've joked in the past about "Vote Early, and Vote Often", I did fill out the survey last week and I don't want to skew your results.
Speaking of which, my primary concern in supporting Shays-Meehan is that I see a dramatic decline in ethical standard and a dramatic rise in what I perceive to be corruption of the political process, particularly at the national level. I've followed your career since moving to Oregon in 1997, and I voted for you in the most recent election because I trust you, and I can see your basic integrity and concern for the citizens of the district. You could say I'm a fan.
But as regards corruption, ethics and campaign finance reform, I hope that whatever course you chose to take, that it is the interests of the citizens of this district that take precedence over the payoffs to special interests who grease the wheels for your election campaigns and associated expenses. I know this a naive hope.
I have been following the Enron case with astonishment at how far we have gone down the road to ruin by selling the
government to immoral criminals like Ken Lay, Andy Fastow and Jeff Skilling. It is appalling. The Washington Post article on Ralph Reed's hypocrisy says it all. Attempting to sell his mailing lists to Enron for $384,000.
washingtonpost.com
Reed stated that "In public policy," he wrote, "it matters less who has the best arguments and more who gets heard --
and by whom."
I find this to be absolutely disgusting.
Please make up your own mind on campaign finance reform, but in doing so, remember that we, the citizens of your district, are counting on you to look out for our best interests, and not those of whoever is will to pay you the biggest bribe. Your integrity is crucial to my continued support. Thank You.
Sincerely, Raymond G. Duray
PS: Why are we cynical?
"Behind all the marble and pageantry in Washington is nothing more than a cabal of con artists out to rob innocent people of their wealth and liberties." -Donald Boudreaux
Source: wesalexander.home.mindspring.com |
