Lee Metcalf: “I have strongly supported campaign finance reform legislation for years and I have worked very hard for Washington…”

“I have strongly supported campaign finance reform legislation for years and I have worked very hard for Washington State's excellent campaign finance reform bill, but our basic task today is to pass the Shays-Meehan bill. Many of the amendments offered are good amendments, concepts I have supported for years. In fact, I would have voted for most of the amendments if they had not been added to this particular bill, but there is a larger goal here today to pass the Shays-Meehan bill. We must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We cannot afford, in striving for a perfect bill, to add amendments that split off key voting blocks and thus sink the only chance for real reform this year. Some of these amendments have that purpose. I have the faith that we will enact real and honest campaign finance reform. This bill is just the first step, not a complete fix. I have faith that my colleagues will not vote for the amendments that will kill this first step toward the reform that the American people are asking for. I ask my colleagues to vote against this amendment and subsequent amendments that put the Shays-Meehan reform bill in jeopardy.”