Max Baucus: “I rise today to once again make the case for comprehensive campaign finance reform. Today, the Senate has a great…”

“I rise today to once again make the case for comprehensive campaign finance reform. Today, the Senate has a great opportunity. The McCain-Feingold legislation is a step in the direction of campaign finance reform. Make no mistake, despite what anyone here tells you today, the American campaign finance system is broken. And the American people know it. Spending in all levels of federal campaigns--from Congress to the Senate all the way to the White House--increased from 1992 to 1996 by over $700 million. With all that money, people should have known the issues better, and had a clear sense of the candidates. They should have received a comprehensive and well funded message why their involvement in the political process was crucial. All that money helped increase voter participation, right? Wrong. Spending increased by $700 million and fewer people voted. Down from 55 percent in 1992 to 48 percent in 1996. Less than half of the American populace voted and some in Congress want to say the system is fine, everything is okay. Mr. President, the American campaign finance system is not okay. Over and over Americans tell pollsters, elected officials, and their neighbors that the system needs major repair. People are becoming more and more cynical about government. People tell me they think that Congress cares more about 'fat cat special interests in Washington' than the concerns of middle class families like theirs.”