[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E76]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE ``CODE OF ELECTION ETHICS''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 19, 1999

  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, most campaign reform efforts are focused 
on the financing aspect. This is an important issue, and I have been a 
strong proponent of moving forward with campaign finance reform. 
However, while the American people are tired of the abuses in our 
campaign finance system, they are equally tired of the negative 
campaigns that seem to have become the norm. The tone of campaigns--as 
well as their financing--has an impact on public trust in government 
and citizen participation in the electoral process.
  For that reason, I am today re-introducing legislation that would 
encourage congressional candidates to abide by a ``Code of Election 
Ethics.'' It is based on the Maine Code of Election Conduct, which was 
developed by the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy at the 
University of Maine and the Center for Global Ethics in Camden, Maine. 
During the 1996 and 1998 general elections, all Maine Gubernatorial and 
Congressional candidates agreed to abide by the state Code. The Code 
worked well, and Maine voters benefited from generally positive, issue-
based campaigns. Maine's voter participation rate was among the highest 
in the nation.
  This Code of Election Ethics asks candidates to be ``honest, fair, 
respectful, responsible and compassionate'' in their campaigns. The 
bill requires the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate to 
make public the names of candidates who have agreed to the Code.
  I believe that the American people want a campaign system they can be 
proud of. This has to include two parts. First, we must clean up the 
way in which campaigns are financed. And second, we must elevate the 
level of the debate between candidates, to ensure that we engage in 
civilized and substantive campaigns. The Code of Election Ethics will 
serve as a reminder to candidates, and provide the public with a 
yardstick by which to measure the performance of candidates.
  Something must be done to enhance people's confidence in government 
and faith in our democracy. I believe this bill is a step in the right 
direction. I am proud to have Representatives Allen and Hinchey joining 
me as original co-sponsors, and I hope that many of you will add your 
support to this effort to improve the quality of congressional 
campaigns.

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