John Tierney: “I rise today to talk about campaign finance reform. As we witness the current spectacle of the Senate leadership…”

“I rise today to talk about campaign finance reform. As we witness the current spectacle of the Senate leadership preventing a clean vote on even modest campaign reform, I urge my Republican colleagues in the House to stand up and resist any attempts by the House leadership to follow in the footsteps of the Senate leadership. Let us have a full and open debate in this House on campaign finance reform. Let us have a straight up-or-down vote on any one of the many measures that have been introduced here in the House. Let us not have a poison pill amendment. Let us have a clean vote so that our constituents can know where we stand on this very important issue. Madam Speaker, I note that 187 of my colleagues have signed a discharge petition that would bring the issue of campaign finance reform to the House floor for a vote. I urge my Republican friends and colleagues who say that they, too, want reform to join us in this effort. We may not agree on the actual context of any reforms, but the people in the House and all the Members therein are entitled to a debate that is open and honest and fair.”