Mike Levin: “I think this debate has been illuminating. The basic issue is really quite clear: Are we basically satisfied with the…”

“I think this debate has been illuminating. The basic issue is really quite clear: Are we basically satisfied with the status quo, or are we not? Yesterday the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) said, in opening the discussion on the rule, I do not believe that major changes are necessary to the existing campaign finance laws. Instead, he urged some kind of assurance that the current laws we have on the books are going to be honored. All I can say to him and the gentleman from Colorado, who tried to minimize the present problems, is money is swamping democratic politics in America. I have been involved in the political process for a long time. I am proud of the two-party system. It is the two-party system that is being eroded by money. The issue advocacy issue is not a Trojan horse for soft money. The point is, if we do not address not only soft money but so-called issue advocacy ads that are really campaign ads, we have not closed the circle and ended the loopholes.”