James Maloney: “I am a strong supporter of campaign finance reform. I firmly believe that we must work to end the money chase and put…”

“I am a strong supporter of campaign finance reform. I firmly believe that we must work to end the money chase and put power back in the hands of voters, not special interests. The political process should be a competition of ideas, not of checkbooks. To this end, I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 493, the Shays-Meehan legislation which is the companion bill to the McCain-Feingold legislation introduced in the Senate, and also a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Campaign Integrity Act of 1997, legislation introduced by both Democratic and Republican members of the current freshman class of Congress. In addition, I am one of 187 signatories to the discharge petition to force comprehensive campaign finance legislation to the floor for a vote. Along with many of my Democratic colleagues, I have also signed two letters to Speaker Gingrich and Chairman Solomon of the House Rules Committee to urge a fair and open bipartisan debate on campaign finance reform. Unfortunately, Republican Leadership has ignored our plea with its decision to bring bills today to the House floor under suspension of the rules, seriously jeopardizing their passage and tabling open discussion of campaign finance reform for the remainder of this Congress.”