[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2002

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2356) to 
     amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide 
     bipartisan campaign reform:

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I come to the floor today to ask my 
colleagues, what are we doing here? We are playing games, and I, for 
one, did not come to this body to play games.
  America is being misled. We are being misled. Who is telling the 
truth?
  To those of you outside this hall that think this is reform, I say to 
you it is as bad as the current situation--and that makes it worse, 
doesn't it? It's worse because you truly believe that this bill 
represents real reform. It doesn't.
  And to those of you who stand in the way of real reform, I say to 
you, move aside.
  All of these arguments on the ``process'' are lost on the American 
people who just want reform, pure and simple. We are playing a game 
with those who have more vested in the ``process,'' than they do in 
principle. And when principles loses, what does that say about us?
  Never did I think that my vote on dearly held principles would doom 
reform. But that is the conundrum that has been handed to me--those who 
would choose to kill reform and those who would choose ``less reform'' 
as ``good enough'' have boxed me into a corner. Who would have ever 
thought that ``doing the right thing'' may be the wrong move?
  Many of my colleagues and my constituents alike know that I am a 
long-time supporter of campaign finance reform. I have been a strong 
supporter since we first began this struggle for real reform three 
years ago, and my party's opposition then and since has never stopped 
me from voting my conscience, holding to my principles.
  I have always, and will continue to believe that a total ban on soft 
money is necessary to reform our campaign financing system, and I will 
cast my vote to ban soft money again. Likewise, I believe that we must 
practice what we preach, and so I will vote to make these reforms 
effective today, not more than two years from now. They are needed now, 
they were needed when we first began this reform movement.
  This issue is not about winning elections, it can't be. It is about 
restoring the public's faith and confidence in what we do . . . it's 
all principle. It is about cleaning up a flawed system, where whether 
true or not, the perception is we are all bought and sold! I reject 
that thinking--I reject that label. I am not, and neither are far too 
many of my colleagues in this House, to let that label stand. We, as a 
collective body, are too good to let that perception be taken for 
granted by our fellow Americans.
  For my votes on principle today, I will no doubt be raked over the 
coals by editorial boards, and people on both sides of the issue, and 
that's fine. I can take the heat because I know I am fulfilling the 
obligation I've been given by the good people of New Jersey's 11th 
Congressional District, and that is, to vote my conscience, in their 
best interests, all the while holding fast to principle.
  My votes today will be principle over politics. I won't play games. 
How easy it would be to do what is ``popular.'' To look the other way, 
and vote the way editorial boards want me to, or the way my leadership 
wants me to, or the way Common Cause wants me to. But what is popular, 
and easy, is not always what is principled, and that, for me, is an 
easy decision to make.
  Today I vote for real reform. And with those votes, I stand on 
principle. Mr. Chairman, I hope I do not stand alone here today. But if 
need be, stand alone, I will.

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