Political Quotes

“The last thing we need to do in this House as this legislative year draws to a close is to further the corrupting influence of special interest money in presidential campaigns. But this is what the Republican leadership is determined to do. Last January, the House Republicans stampeded one part of this bill through the House--provisions that terminate the system of public funding of presidential campaigns that was established in the wake of the infamous Watergate scandals, under Richard Nixon's presidency, nearly 40 years ago. It's not enough to pass this bill once--the Republicans insist we pass it again today. It is not enough that virtually unlimited amounts of private money can now slosh through our political system--over $280 million last year alone, thanks to the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court last year--we have to pass a bill that asphyxiates the supply of public money in our presidential campaigns. The Republicans are also practicing gross hypocrisy. While this bill ends public financing of presidential campaigns, the Republican Party is seeking $18 million in public funding to support their nominating convention next year. Everyone knows that this bill is dead on arrival in the Senate and would be vetoed by the President--because it is a corruption of good government. But that does not impede the Republican leadership in the House today.…”