State of Rhode Island Archives: on Government Reform

Jack Reed: Nuclear option: Allow confirmation of Obama's appointees

The rule change came on a largely party line after partisan rancor between Democratic and Republican leaders had triggered gridlock in appointing federal judges and other top level federal officials.

Sheldon Whitehouse: Overturn Citizens United; it undid 100 years of regulations

Whitehouse said he would like to overturn the Citizens United decision, which held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions. "That ruling overturned 100 years of regulation in the elections world and unleashed billionaires and foreign corporations to have influence on our elections," Whitehouse said. "It's a prescription for scandal and disaster.

When asked who their favorite justices were, Hinckley said Clarence Thomas, Whitehouse said Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Mark Zaccaria: Keep contribution limits & campaign finance regulations

A: No.

Q: Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?

A: No.

Q: Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?

A: Yes.

Lincoln Chafee: Vindicated for opposing Alito, by Alito's bad votes

LAFFEY: Alito served for 15 years at the federal bench and did a great job. After looking at his record and watching him testify, I certainly would have approved him. The difference between Chafee and I on this issue is: 1) he has a litmus test for Supreme Court justices. I look at their character. I’ll look at their independence. I’ll look at their law school.. And 2) Chafee made himself completely irrelevant in the process. He was the 99th senator to make up his mind.

CHAFEE: I carefully followed the judiciary committee hearings to see how Alito answered some of these questions important to me and to the country, and then conferred with many experts of the interpretation of those answers in that committee. I think I’ve been vindicated. In the last vote on executive powers, Alito was in the expansion of those powers and on the commerce clause as it relates to the Clean Water Act and a Michigan case heard by the Supreme Court.

Lincoln Chafee: Has concerns about Bush's expansion of executive power

Stephen Laffey: Supported Sam Alito nomination to Supreme Court

LAFFEY: Alito served for 15 years at the federal bench and did a great job. After looking at his record and watching him testify, I certainly would have approved him. The difference between Chafee and I on this issue is: 1) he has a litmus test for Supreme Court justices. I look at their character. I’ll look at their independence. I’ll look at their law school.. And 2) Chafee made himself completely irrelevant in the process. He was the 99th senator to make up his mind.

CHAFEE: I carefully followed the judiciary committee hearings to see how Alito answered some of these questions important to me and to the country, and then conferred with many experts of the interpretation of those answers in that committee. I think I’ve been vindicated. In the last vote on executive powers, Alito was in the expansion of those powers and on the commerce clause as it relates to the Clean Water Act and a Michigan case heard by the Supreme Court.

Carl Sheeler: Term limits for governor but not for legislature

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support limiting the number of terms for Rhode Island state senators and representatives?

A: No.

Carl Sheeler: Limit PAC, corporate, and individual campaign contributions

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?
• Individual?
  A: Yes.
• PAC?
  A: Yes.
• Corporate?
  A: Yes.
• Political Parties?
  A: Yes.
• Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
  A: Yes.
• Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
  A: Yes.