Herb Kohl: “I rise today to support S. 27, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001. I have been a consistent supporter and…”

“I rise today to support S. 27, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001. I have been a consistent supporter and cosponsor of campaign finance reform because I believe we must do everything we can to ensure that there is not even a perception of undue influence in Federal elections. The debate of the last 2 weeks has provided us with a unique opportunity to examine a wide range of issues related to the financing of political campaigns. The result is a bill with strong bipartisan support. This landmark legislation, if signed into law, will succeed in banning soft or unregulated money in Federal elections. The unlimited flow of money into party coffers creates the greatest opportunity for special interests to seek favor with politicians. The reality that businesses or organizations can be tapped for such vast sums has dramatically changed the atmosphere surrounding the work of our legislative and executive branches of Government. With this legislation, we are also finally getting at one of the most troublesome areas of unregulated and unreported spending in Federal elections, so-called sham issue ads.”