Trent Lott: “I do feel a need to put some statement in the Record about the issue of public financing of campaigns that was raised by…”

“I do feel a need to put some statement in the Record about the issue of public financing of campaigns that was raised by my distinguished colleague from the Rules Committee, Senator Dodd, earlier today. He talked about how he believes this is something we need to do, and he wanted to have some hearings in the Rules Committee on the public financing of campaigns issue, and I agreed that we would find a time to do that. It is always good to have a hearing and see how laws that are on the books are actually working or not working, so I will be glad to do that. I thank Senator Dodd and other members of the Rules Committee for the fact that we held the line. There were two or three amendments that were considered or were offered dealing with campaign finance law, and Senator Dodd spoke against them. I ruled them out of order, and then we went on. So it was a cooperative effort, once again, that I am very proud of. The day may come when we want to revisit campaign finance reform laws or the issue of public financing of campaigns, but this is not that day. I wish to make it clear that public financing of Senate and House races is totally a nonstarter as far as this Senator is concerned. Every year, the American people cast their vote on public financing with a resounding no. Nine out of ten Americans--90 percent--refuse to check off contributing to the Presidential election campaign fund.…”