Olympia Snowe: “That is correct--our amendment is not intended to convey any criticism of the FEC. The Buckley magic words test is a…”

“That is correct--our amendment is not intended to convey any criticism of the FEC. The Buckley magic words test is a very narrow one, and has proven completely ineffective in stopping phony issue ads that attack candidates. My amendment offers a new approach to this problem, by creating a new category of ``electronic ads'' that name candidates in broadcasts close in time to an election. But my amendment does not foreclose or criticize other approaches to the problem. The FEC and the courts must continue to wrestle with clarifying when ads advocate the election or defeat of a candidate, and I fully support that effort. In fact, it is because the courts are still wrestling with the constitutional issues that makes me comfortable with waiting awhile longer before we legislate.”