Christopher Shays: “I just want to say that I disagree strongly with the gentleman from Mississippi talking about it being one party. It is…”

“I just want to say that I disagree strongly with the gentleman from Mississippi talking about it being one party. It is not about one party, and it is not about freedom of speech because we retain freedom of speech. It is about ending corrupt politics. That is what it is about. It has been against the law since 1907 for corporate treasury money to be used in campaigns, but it happens. It has been against laws since 1947 for union dues money to be used in campaigns, but it is happening. It has been against the laws since 1974 for foreign nationals to contribute to campaigns but they are, and they are because of two loopholes: Soft money, the unlimited sums of money from individuals, corporations, labor unions, and other interest groups; and the sham issue ads which are truly campaign ads. We do not prevent those ads for money. We just call them campaign ads. What that means is, out goes the corporate treasury money, the union dues money, and the foreign national money. That is what this debate is about.”