Political Quotes

“Back in November, the Republican leadership promised a fair and bipartisan vote on campaign finance reform. This is not a fair, bipartisan vote. This is a cynical fraud being perpetuated on the Congress here tonight. But we have an opportunity to have a bipartisan vote on real campaign finance reform. I urge all my colleagues, if they really want reform but just do not want to talk about it, walk down and sign the discharge petition. It is the only way left to reverse this fraud that has been perpetuated on us tonight. The blue dog discharge petition would give us a fair and open debate on all the leading reform bills: McCain-Feingold, Shays-Meehan, the freshman bill, the Republican leadership bill, the Democrat bill. It would even give us a vote on the Doolittle bill, which abolishes all limits on contributions. We need only 31 more signatures. I urge my 25 Democratic colleagues who have not signed to do so and also see if we can get 7 or 8 more Republicans. The discharge petition means that campaign reform would not die today, it will not die this week, or over the recess. Mr. Speaker, the game is not over. After we get through with this cynical exercise tonight, sign the discharge petition.”