Christopher Shays: “I weep that my own party does not want to lead reform. I think this is an example. This amendment here is a logical…”

“I weep that my own party does not want to lead reform. I think this is an example. This amendment here is a logical thing that should be part of the bill. I do not know why my own party did not come forward with campaign finance reform and take the lead, but it chose not to, I think because my own party decided that if it said you had to reform the system, in a way it meant that the things that happened in the Clinton White House were not wrong because it was just that we needed to amend the law. I happen to think it is both sides. I happen to think, with all due respect to some on the Democratic side of the aisle, that they are ready to reform but do not want to investigate, and I think too many on my side of the aisle want to investigate but do not want to reform. But the best example is soft money. Soft money by law is not deemed a campaign contribution. Members may not want to accept it, but it is true.”