Arlen Specter: “I stated earlier that in my travels through Pennsylvania during part of the month of August, I heard considerable…”

“I stated earlier that in my travels through Pennsylvania during part of the month of August, I heard considerable concern about the necessity for campaign finance reform, and I had commented about the overtone throughout my open house town meetings about people of my State being very suspicious of Government, very distrustful of Government. One of those items was Ruby Ridge, and I spoke at some length about that. Another item was the subject of campaign finance reform, where I have found very considerable interest, disagreeing with some of the pundits and some of the public comments. It is my hope, Madam President, that the hearings before the Governmental Affairs Committee, on which you and I sit, will stimulate an interest in campaign finance reform. I have said with some frequency in the past that I do not believe we will have campaign finance reform until the American people demand it. It is contrary to the interests of incumbents to have campaign finance reform. This is a matter of considerable disagreement within this body, and I respect the views of our colleagues who have disagreed. But I do believe that we are awash in money.”