Sean Patrick Maloney: “last night we had an opportunity to pass real campaign finance reform; and for the fourth time, the GOP leadership…”

“last night we had an opportunity to pass real campaign finance reform; and for the fourth time, the GOP leadership pulled it out from beneath us. I am beginning to feel a little bit like Charlie Brown running to kick the ball. Just as he is about to approach the ball, Lucy moves it. The truth of the matter is, the GOP House leadership knows that if a real campaign finance bill hits the floor, it just might pass, and that scares them, and that is the reason that we have this convoluted rule, 258 nongermane amendments put in order. In my entire congressional career, I have had maybe four amendments accepted by the Committee on Rules. Yet, this time, they have accepted 25 on this one issue alone, 25 of my own amendments. To put it in perspective, in the last Congress, in the second session of the last Congress, 150 amendments were ruled in order. Yet, on this one bill, there are 258 amendments ruled. Rules are meant to guide the Congress toward a decision, not to delay. Vote against the rule.”