John Doolittle: “I would submit my bill addresses this, H.R. 965. Because I would submit it is the severe limits on hard-money…”

“I would submit my bill addresses this, H.R. 965. Because I would submit it is the severe limits on hard-money contributions, which are contributions by contributors directed to candidates, that are driving this problem. The Constitution allows, under the various court rulings, which I think are generally correct, people to contribute and express their point of view. It limits contributions right now to candidates. But they can still, under the Constitution, comment on issues. As my colleagues heard me quote from Buckley the line between issues and candidates, it is hard to distinguish. That is why the Court in order to preserve free speech, said that, in order to fall under the scope of regulation, they have to have words of express advocacy which are clearly related to the election or defeat of the candidate. What I think this bill is going to do is actually go against the result my colleague seeks to achieve and I frankly seek to achieve, which is that more of our money in campaigns should be centered from the candidate, not from groups out on the periphery that are getting as close to the line as they can without crossing it and influencing the election.”