Steny Hoyer: “Mr. Chairman, too many Americans believe our campaign finance system is corrupt. We must treat this illness in the body…”

“Mr. Chairman, too many Americans believe our campaign finance system is corrupt. We must treat this illness in the body politic which, in my opinion, if ignored, will undermine our democracy. Like beauty, of course, genuine reform may be in the eye of the beholder. In my view, genuine reform must purge from Federal elections unregulated soft money which has become so pervasive. Meehan-Shays does that. Reform should be subject to disclosure. The issue ads which are so clearly intended to influence elections must be covered. Meehan-Shays does that. Reform, in my opinion, should level the playing field for challenges by further restricting franked mail in election years. Meehan-Shays does that. Reform, as well, should encourage wealthy candidates to limit personal spending and toughen disclaimers on ads, giving voters better information with which to judge content. Meehan-Shays does that. Reform also should enhance candidate disclosure by giving the public quick access via the Internet. Meehan-Shays does that. Meehan-Shays does all of these good things, Mr. Chairman, but, by any standard, is breathtakingly modest. Yet, in this Republican Congress, its enactment is in doubt. Though there are good provisions in other bills, I will support Meehan-Shays as our best hope of fixing some problems now.”