Russ Feingold: “Beyond the disclosure and enforcement, we also do something about the fact that we all know that incumbents have an…”

“Beyond the disclosure and enforcement, we also do something about the fact that we all know that incumbents have an advantage under the current system. Our system says that if people agreed to limit their personal spending to $50,000, they would be able to continue to receive help from their parties in the form of coordinated expenditures; otherwise, not. That could be a deterrent to an advantage for an incumbent or perhaps a very wealthy individual who is trying to obtain a Senate seat through spending a great deal of money. Our bill simply bans Members of Congress from sending out taxpayer-financed mass mailings under the franking privilege during the calendar year of their election. This is a major advantage that incumbents have over challengers. Again, if you wipe out the bill, you wipe out McCain-Feingold, you haven't just addressed the one or two matters the other side identified as a problem, you have wiped out these reforms as well.”