Jim Baird: “Members of the House know it, Senator McCain knows it, Granny Dee knows it, and most importantly, our constituents know…”

“Members of the House know it, Senator McCain knows it, Granny Dee knows it, and most importantly, our constituents know it. Money and campaign financing are having a corrosive influence on the political process today. I personally reject the charge that it is corrupting Members of this august body, but Members all know with absolute certainty that the process of raising money is taking precious, precious time away from the matters that are before us. We know with equal certainty that many Members of this body pause at least once to ask themselves how a vote will affect their contributions when they should be asking solely how it will affect this great Nation. In this debate we have heard the majority party assert that passage of Shays-Meehan and McCain-Feingold will harm their political fund-raising. That is symptomatic of the problem. We should not be asking is this good for one party or another. Members should be asking solely and simply: Is it good for the United States of America and the people we represent? Shays-Meehan is good. Pass this bill. Reject the poison pills and send it to the President.”