Sam Farr: “I rise tonight on the eve of this august body going into a debate on campaign finance reform. I think it is important in…”

“I rise tonight on the eve of this august body going into a debate on campaign finance reform. I think it is important in this hour of special orders to really discuss what is reform. The choice before this Congress is going to very clear. One bill will come before us that says we need to spend more money in campaigns. The other bill will be coming before us that says we have to spend less. I believe that less money is reform. More power to small contributors is reform. Preventing rich people from buying public office is reform. Eliminating soft money is reform. Leveling the playing field is reform. Limiting special influence in campaigns is reform. The bill that I authored, called the Farr bill does all these things. The Farr bill is reform. The Farr bill imposes voluntary spending limits. It imposes aggregate PAC limits. It reduces the PAC's max out from $10,000 to $8,000. It imposes aggregate large donor limits. Large donor in my bill is defined as anyone who gives $200 or more. It provides public benefits to all candidates, challengers, and incumbents alike. It levels the playing field for those who abide by the spending limits. It curbs campaign persuasion mail that is sent out under the phony guise of educational information. The American people want reform, not more of the same.”