Christopher Shays: “I rise today as a principal sponsor of the campaign finance legislation before the House. I want to explain what this…”

“I rise today as a principal sponsor of the campaign finance legislation before the House. I want to explain what this legislation seeks to accomplish and why banning soft money is critical for our democracy. Last year, the Senate courageously passed the McCain-Feingold bill. It is now time for this House to take a similar stand and finally put an end to the deluge of soft money contributions that weakens our democracy. Our system is awash in soft money, and everyone is degraded as a result. Not surprisingly, in poll after poll, voters express their cynicism about politics and their dismay with the current campaign finance system. Disgusted with the overriding influence of money in Washington, citizens, in ever-increasing numbers, are not exercising their precious right to vote in federal elections. Our flawed campaign finance system is also taking its toll on qualified and principled candidates for political office. Since soft money contributions are essentially limitless, we and other elected officials are under unrelenting pressure to raise more and more money, thus increasing the potential for actual and apparent corruption.”