John Kerry: “I thank the leader for that important connection to the real history and the reality of what we are talking about. In…”

“I thank the leader for that important connection to the real history and the reality of what we are talking about. In 1988, both parties--Democrats and Republicans--raised $45 million combined in so-called ``soft money''--$45 million only 10 years ago. In 1992, that number doubled to $90 million. And in the last race in 1996 when this Senator was running, that number rose to $262 million. Everyone knows that this time, in 1998, even more money will be spent, and everyone knows that money is being spent outside of the spirit of the law. It is being spent to directly impact candidacies to elect candidates even though it is so-called ``under the issue exception'' of the first amendment. We have a very, very fundamental challenge. I thank the distinguished leader for his persistence and for his commitment to the notion that this issue is going to find its footing, its honest footing; it is going to find a way to penetrate the cynicism and the skepticism; and we are somehow going to break through and let the American people know that a majority of the U.S. Senate wants campaign finance reform and is prepared to vote for the Shays-Meehan bill now. There is only one thing stopping us. It is called the Republican majority. They don't want this to happen. They don't want it to happen because they are in favor of incumbency protection.…”