Christopher Shays: “One of the problems when a bill has a name after you, it personalizes the debate and it disguises really what is at…”

“One of the problems when a bill has a name after you, it personalizes the debate and it disguises really what is at issue. I think that the one thing that unites opponents and proponents of campaign finance reform is disclosure. We all said we were for it. There is duplicative filing that needs to be addressed. But I really believe that the 527 provision that is put in this bill, substantially similar, defined by the States, is a loophole. It is not the camel's head under the tent, something that can be a bigger problem in the future. It will be a problem immediately. The one thing we know with our campaign finance reform bill is 527s are going to proliferate. We know that. Special interests will have a greater say. We know that. That is what people on both sides of the aisle argued for: Let the Americans have their say. But if you do not disclose it, you have got a gigantic problem. And if you allow the States to define 'substantially similar,' you have a loophole. What will happen is people will go to the State that has the biggest loophole to disguise their expenditures and their contributions. I really regret that this is in a good bill. But this provision is deadly, I think, to disclosure. Therefore, we have no choice but to oppose the bill and hopefully if it is defeated, it will be brought out without this provision and then we can get a provision that will work.”