Charles W. Stenholm: “contrary to claims by some organizations opposing campaign finance reform legislation, the Shays-Meehan amendment would…”

“contrary to claims by some organizations opposing campaign finance reform legislation, the Shays-Meehan amendment would not prevent independent organizations from running advertisements or prohibit these groups from using the name of a Member of Congress or any other candidate in that advertisement prior to an election. I strongly support that. I do not mind any organization running anything, any individual running anything for my opponent in this year or in any other year. But I do believe my constituents that I represent have the right to know who it is that is spending the money in the 17th District of Texas, and then we will welcome that in the field of free speech and debate under all of the First Amendment rights and privileges that all of us find so dear. Under the Shays-Meehan amendment, any independent group can run advertisements expressing any opinion it wants at any time during a campaign so long as it complies with the standards of accountability and openness that apply to other political advertisements.”