The UTU News regularly contacts members at random to report their thoughts on a question of interest to the general membership. This month's question:

Do you support campaign finance reform?

"I'm a conductor working for the Kansas City Southern, with 30 years on the railroad in June. Looking at the last presidential election, I think there should be restrictions on what corporations can contribute, but other than that, I think they should leave the finance laws the way they are. If there's going to be any limitation, it should apply to everyone. I think making a campaign contribution is similar to enjoying freedom of speech. But I don't think Congress really intends for reform legislation to pass. I think it's a bunch of rhetoric. Basically, I only contribute to candidates through the TPEL."
-- Robert Wright, L-781, Shreveport, La.

"I'm a CSX conductor with almost 38 years of service. I believe campaign finance reform is necessary, but not the way it would be accomplished by the McCain-Feingold measure. In fact, I don't think we'll see the reforms McCain was originally pushing. There's too much money out there, and the politicians want that money. You have to have the common man's input in an election, and it's your right to support a candidate. I belong to TPEL and don't think that the government should be able to tell individuals and unions how much they can give to a particular candidate."
-- Mike Ruffner, L-1379, Pittsburgh, Pa.

"Yes, I support campaign finance reform. I've been employed by Norfolk Southern for 22 years, with 13 years as an engineer. I think we'll see passage of reform legislation because the general public is fed up with people with money buying elections. If you outspend the other guy, you can win, just like if you have money, you'll never go to jail. The best man doesn't always win, and it's because of finances. Personally, I think there should be a limit set, that you can spend just so much on a campaign, and that's it. Where the money comes from doesn't matter. Most laws today, there's a way to circumvent them."

-- Sidney Showalter, L-559, Roanoke, Va.

"I've been with CSX for 37 years, and I've been a yardmaster since 1971. I can understand making it equal for everybody, rich and poor, to contribute to a campaign, but it looks like the reform measure now in Congress doesn't come anywhere near that. I don't understand everything about it, but I don't see where this reform will help. It might hurt more than anything else. I think it should be left the way it is. I don't believe the reform measure will pass. If it does, it will look good on paper, but it will be real watered down. I think it's just one of those campaign promises they make."
-- Marvin Baxley, L-1971, Atlanta, Ga.

(Click here to see previous "Voices" columns)