[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REINTRODUCTION OF THE ``CODE OF ELECTION ETHICS''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2001

  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, most campaign reform efforts are focused 
on the financing aspect. This is an important issue, and I am a strong 
proponent of moving forward with meaningful 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. I strongly believe that 
the tone and content of campaigns has an impact on public trust in 
government and citizen participation in the electoral process.
  For that reason, I am reintroducing 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 in 
1995 at the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine with the 
assistance of the Institute for Global Ethics. In the past three 
elections, most Maine candidates for Congress and Governor have signed 
a Code, pledging to conduct ``honest, fair, respectful, responsible and 
compassionate'' campaigns. The Code has worked well, and Maine voters 
have benefited from generally positive issue-based campaigns. Maine's 
voter participation rates consistently have been among the highest in 
the nation.
  Similar Codes have been used in other states, including Washington 
and Ohio. My legislation would make the Code available to candidates 
nationwide and would require the Clerk of the House and the Secretary 
of the Senate to make public the names of candidates who have agreed to 
the Code. The Code of Election Ethics will serve as a reminder to 
candidates, and provide the public with a yardstick by which to measure 
candidates' performance.
  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, and I hope that many of you will add your support to this 
effort to improve the quality of congressional campaigns.

                          ____________________