Statement by the President: "... I will sign (CFR) into law."

Office of the Press Secretary ^ | March 20, 2002 | George W. Bush

[erk]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2002

Statement by the President

Like many Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, I support common-sense reforms to end abuses in our campaign finance system.  The reforms passed today, while flawed in some areas, still improve the current system overall, and I will sign them into law.

The legislation makes some important progress on the timeliness of disclosure, individual contribution limits, and banning soft money from corporations and labor unions, but it does present some legitimate constitutional questions.  I continue to believe the best reform is full and timely disclosure of campaign contributions.

###

---

Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020320-21.html

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[Alas]

This is pure politics. He must know it will fail in the courts. But he goes on record as being for 'reform', without having to actually live under the law. That's my theory, anyway.

I hope you're wrong, that would make W no better or differant then clinton, a common liar.

Mark

[cactmh]

I don't wish I had voted for P.B. What good would that have done?

[Luke FReeman]

You forgot the BARF ALERT!

[Conservative til I die]

I've lost a lot of faith in the President with this decision, as well as the amnesty issue. He doesn't use the bully pulpit to refute crappy legislation, capitulates constantly, and sells out the Republican Party regularly.

[dalereed]

I doubt that it will do any good but vote.com is taking a poll on whether Bush should sign it.

Should Bush sign CFR

[VRWC_minion]

But he didn't say he would enforce the unconstitutional parts did he ?

[Don Carlos]

The only other father/son presidents the U.S. ever had were both one-termers. Told my wife when this CFR bill got hot n heavy, that if W signed it, he would be a one term president like his dad.

Have not read the bill and thus can't comment on its merits. But good or bad, it looks to me like W can't win. If he vetoed it, the press would kill him. On the other hand, if he signs it, large part of his supporters desert.

Decisions like this are the main reason I never ran for president (in my dreams!).

[sinkspur]

Watch and learn.

Wanna bet?

[dittomom]

So, is Bush going to actually say this on camera. I want to see his face when he signs on to trashing the First Amendment!!!

[Congressman Billybob]

Okay, the younger Bush is both stupid and unreliable on a critical issue, like his father was before him. From a personal standpoint, I would like to rub his nose in it. From a professional standpoint, I will give it my all to defeat Shays-Meehan in the Supreme Court.

If my colleagues and I succeed in doing that, we will save Bush's bacon not because he deserves the help, but because the Constitution deserves the help.

Bush is now officially a wuss and I will distruct until proven otherwise his future statements on any subject.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "The Truman Factor."

[DallasJ7]

Not that this wasn't expected. Oh, I forgot. The Republican Party is dead, and Bush is a one-term President. Whatever.

Hopefully, McConnell, ACLU, ACU, and others are ready to file a suit and get the 60-day restriction removed as soon as possible.

[linn37]

oh yeah I'm wishing I had voted for Pat B ...lmao

NOT

McConnel has already set it up to take it to court as soon as it is signed.

[mwl1]

Does anyone have a sense of how quickly the US Supremes will hear this case?

[VRWC_minion]

Whenever we speculate how Bush is going to let us down we are normally happy with the final outcome. Bush hasn't played his cards yet. Let us wait to see how he handles it. He has a whole boat load of options yet.

[dittomom]

Yeah, and 78% think he should NOT sign it.

I haven't decided how mad I am about this yet...

[mlo]

There are a number of things conservatives can overlook, but criminalizing free speech isn't on the list.

Not a defense, just an observation. Conservatives aren't any more known for their defense of free speech than liberals are. It depends on what the speech being targeted is, for both sides.

As for the unconstitutionality of this law, or course it is. But why act like this law is THE test? Congress passes laws every year, and presidents sign them, that are unconsitutional. The Supreme Court has already ruled on the speech issue presented in this law, and it WILL be struck down. Bush is fully aware of this, as are the politicians that passed it. This is all about politics, for both sides.

[kayak]

I'm with you! This matter is far from over at this point.

[WOSG]

I'm with you there on why he is doing but, but I still dislike it intensely. This is a very bad decision. It was bad for the Congress to pass it, and bad for him to sign it. But these Repubs seem to want to go down the path of doing Demon-crat things so there are 'no issues' left. Duh, if we wanted a Democrat we could have voted for Gore.

[mombonn]

I'm betting some of you on here probably wish that you did also!

I voted Keyes in '96 and 2000. I'm glad I NEVER considered Pat.

I'm disappointed in Bush, I held him in higher esteem.