Cliff Stearns: “if we like our legal system, after this debate on campaign finance reform, where we have 10 substitutes and over 300…”

“if we like our legal system, after this debate on campaign finance reform, where we have 10 substitutes and over 300 amendments, we are going to love our campaign finance. What we need to do is enforce the campaign finance laws that are on the books and work together to simplify so that the American people are being well-served. Now, a lot of people will say, well, this is a case of being able to have free speech. I think so. But simplicity is the path to strengthening our system and allowing Americans to finally trust their elected Federal officials. We can gain a lot of credibility with the American people by actually investigating and enforcing the current laws. No one on this side of the aisle is talking about enforcing the current law, especially as it concerns fund-raising in churches, in Buddhist temples, campaign or other financial solicitation from executive office buildings, foreign contributions and other illegalities that occurred during the 1996 campaign cycle. I believe we need to preserve the freedom of any individual or group to speak out on issues. Some of the proposals being offered clearly violate the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. Therefore, some of these proposals are clearly unconstitutional. Let us pass sensible campaign finance reform that enjoys the widespread support of all the American people.”