Mike Levin: “tonight's process is such a sham. It brings shame on its perpetrators. They use the argument about free speech when it…”

“tonight's process is such a sham. It brings shame on its perpetrators. They use the argument about free speech when it comes to campaign reform, but they thwart free speech right on this floor. Public cynicism is already too high. They are only going to increase it. There is already too much money in politics. They are going to bring in more. They talk about coercion, even though they know every union member who wants out in terms of use of his or her money has the right to exercise that. I want to say one thing to each and every one of them, those of us who live with the present system should be the ones who take the lead in reforming it. Instead, the Republicans have finally brought a set of proposals here precisely because they know they will fail. They will fail. And you, Mr. Speaker, and company, will have failed the American people.”