Russ Feingold: “I am happy to join with the Senator from Arizona in offering this amendment. Actually, that is not true. I am not really…”

“I am happy to join with the Senator from Arizona in offering this amendment. Actually, that is not true. I am not really happy we are offering the amendment; I am disappointed and puzzled. Because this amendment should be totally unnecessary. It is unnecessary because by instructing the enrolling clerk not to transmit S. 27 to the House, the majority leader is frustrating the will of the Senate and of the American people for no apparent reason. I was pleased with the debate we had on campaign finance reform back in late March. Not only because we finally were able to have a real debate, vote on amendments, and ultimately pass a good bill, but also because I thought the Senate acquitted itself extremely well under difficult circumstances. Both sides played fair in that debate. The majority leader kept his word not to filibuster the bill. The opponents fought hard but did not drag out the proceedings unnecessarily. I think we kept our word as well, even though there were amendments added that we did not necessarily approve of or like a great deal. We did not offer a cleanup amendment before the end of the debate to wipe out all the work of other Members of the Senate; we let the chips fall as the Senate wished. The result was a bill of which the Senate and the public could be proud. As we know, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 59-41 on April 2, 2001.”