Bob Franks: “I sincerely hope that the process that we have begun this week will result in us delivering to the American people a…”

“I sincerely hope that the process that we have begun this week will result in us delivering to the American people a campaign finance system that they can trust. The public is tired of talk and is demanding action. Since the first day that I entered this House some 6 years ago, there is no other issue that has been the subject of more discussion off this floor than the need to change the rules under which congressional campaigns are financed. My colleagues have regularly told me they spend too much of their time raising money. They say they do not like relying so heavily on PAC contributions, and most importantly, they hate going back home and having constituents question whose agenda is at work in the Nation's capital, theirs or the special interests. Our failure over some 20 years to meaningfully address this issue hurts all of us. It undermines public confidence in this institution and casts a cloud over every action that we take. We now have an opportunity to put this issue behind us and begin restoring public confidence.”