George Miller: “I can understand the protest from the other side. If I was stonewalling this as hard as they are, I would raise the…”

“I can understand the protest from the other side. If I was stonewalling this as hard as they are, I would raise the objections, too. The fact of the matter is the record is clear that when the Democrats were in control of Congress in the 102d Congress, 1991-92, we passed campaign finance reform and it was vetoed by George Bush. In 1993 and 1994 the Democratic controlled House and Senate again passed comprehensive campaign finance reform, but Mitch McConnell filibustered the final bill on a motion to appoint the conferees. With the Republican control now in 1995 and 1996, nothing from the Republican Congress; and now in the 105th Congress, nothing from the Republican Congress except a stonewall of the efforts. Our record is clear. When we controlled the House, this debate was brought to the floor of the House and the House worked its will, the Senate worked its will and, unfortunately, President Bush vetoed that legislation. So I can understand why my Republican colleagues are flailing their arms over there, but the fact of the matter is they are what stands between the American people and the cleaning up of this unacceptable campaign finance system that we currently have.”