Mike Thompson: “I am proud to be one of the original cosponsors of this particular legislation. Mr. President, after having listened to…”

“I am proud to be one of the original cosponsors of this particular legislation. Mr. President, after having listened to over a day of debate on this issue, I think the question now could be simply put. Are we satisfied with our current system of financing Federal campaigns in this country? Do we think it is a good system? If we are not satisfied, are we willing to at least take the first step--perhaps not a perfect step-- toward doing something about it? I approach this from the standpoint of one who was recently a challenger and who is now an incumbent running for reelection in 2 years, having gotten the unexpired term of the Vice President for a 2-year term. I am now running as an incumbent for a full term. So I have seen it from both sides. I also approach it from the standpoint of one who made a commitment to the people of Tennessee that I will try to change the system that we have now working in Washington and that I was dissatisfied with the process by which our legislation is enacted. But I think it is fundamentally the business of the U.S. Congress to address how we elect our public officials, how long they stay, and what their motivations are when they get here.”