Anna Eshoo: “I want to commend all of the sponsors of the Meehan-Shays legislation for the work that they have done, the source of…”

“I want to commend all of the sponsors of the Meehan-Shays legislation for the work that they have done, the source of encouragement that each one, especially the original sponsors of the bill, has been to all of us that have yearned for and hoped to make the kinds of changes that we are seeking to make in the campaign financing system that we have today. We hopefully all remember the day that we came to this floor and we raised our hands and took our oath of office, and we had families sitting in the gallery. I do not think that there is a moment in my life that quite matches that one: my hopes and aspirations for the future, the good wishes of my constituents, whether they voted for me or not. We start out, really, I think, with 100 percent goodwill. I think the only thing that could match that day was the day that my two children came into this world. I have to tell my colleagues that if there is one thing that is constantly rubbing down or taking the polish or the gleam off of that magnificent day, that very first day when I became a Member of Congress, is the system by which we are elected, that is, the money in the system. We know it is broken, we know it cannot be defended, but right here on the floor tonight we are debating an amendment that is being offered to this very good piece of legislation.”