Victor Fazio: “the clock is ticking. Last week in this very Chamber, the President called for Congress to pass campaign finance reform…”

“the clock is ticking. Last week in this very Chamber, the President called for Congress to pass campaign finance reform by July 4. The President and, most importantly, the American people are committed to meeting that deadline. That is only 143 days away. History shows us we have the support to meet that deadline if the people in charge of the schedule do not drop the ball. In the 103d, the 102d, and the 101st Congresses, the Democrats were able to corral enough votes in both Chambers to pass legislation to fix the system. A Presidential veto stopped us once, a veto threat stopped us another time and a Republican filibuster in the Senate stopped it a third time. The burden now rests with the current Republican leadership to keep campaign finance reform on track. All of us, Democrats and Republicans alike, have a golden opportunity to at long last correct problems that have plagued this system for far too long. Let us not lose it because of stalling tactics or partisan political games. The American people are looking for results. Their confidence in our election system depends on it. Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking.”