James M. Jeffords: “I rise today with a sense of pride that the Congress will soon pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. It has been a…”

“I rise today with a sense of pride that the Congress will soon pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. It has been a long time in coming, and the perseverance of Senators McCain and Feingold should be recognized as the reason we are here today. I would especially like to thank my colleague, Senator Snowe, for all her hard work and leadership in developing the language in this bill, the so-called Snowe-Jeffords provisions, which is a full and fair solution to the proliferation of electioneering communications. The last time Congress passed comprehensive campaign finance reform I was running for the House of Representatives for the first time. That campaign was waged between me and my opponent door-to-door, meeting the voters, standing on the street corner talking to the voters, or debating the issues at public forums. Our constituents knew who we were, what we stood for, and who was saying what about whom. Fast forward 28 years and today a campaign is waged on television and radio, many times by people and groups who the voters do not know. The Americana people deserve better from their candidates and campaigns. This bill, soon to be law, will make many needed changes to our campaign finance system and reconnect the electorate with their candidates for federal office.”