Political Quotes

“it is really now or never. Either this Congress acts now to remedy at least some of the shortcomings of the 1996 campaigns and the way that they are financed, or we can kiss good-bye to any hope of reform in time to affect the 1998 elections. Many Americans have been concerned about practices and events that occurred in both of the political parties during the 1996 elections. But the time is today to decide, are we going to do anything about it, or just talk about it a little bit more? Fortunately, the determination of Democrats in the U.S. Senate is leading to action today. As I speak here, in the Senate a specific proposal to change the way campaigns operate is being debated fully, and I am sure it will be discussed over the next several days there. After considerable obstruction by Republicans and the leadership and probably more obstruction to come, there is at least a debate going on there, according to agreed terms. But here in the House of Representatives, where this proposal must also be approved, we read in this morning's paper, ``Gingrich asserts campaign bill, alive in Senate, is dead in house.'' Indeed, we find ourselves in a situation where, back in 1995, that same Speaker Gingrich shook hands with President Clinton and said he wanted to achieve bipartisan campaign finance reform. That is essentially the last we heard of it.”