Political Quotes

“as a strong supporter of campaign finance reform, I am glad to see us debating this issue on the floor this evening. I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) for allowing me to offer this amendment, and I appreciate his willingness to allow me to stand in to offer the amendment. Mr. Chairman, this amendment was created in cooperation with the most ardent supporters of campaign finance reform in an attempt to devise a way to correct what I believe is one of the most glaring inequities in the current system, the problem of self-financed candidates giving unlimited personal resources to outspend and defeat their opponents. Unfortunately, the bill that we are currently considering tilts the playing field away from average Americans wishing to run for office. My amendment would help return a sense of balance to congressional elections by allowing candidates who are unfairly disadvantaged by their opponent's personal wealth to raise matching funds through higher contribution limits and additional assistance from the national party. Quite simply, once a candidate spends $350,000, and I think that is quite a bit, or more of their own money on their own campaign, their opponent is eligible to raise matching funds. These matching funds can come in the form of national party assistance and/or additional individual contribution raised at three times the current limits. Once parity is achieved, the regular contribution limits go back into effect.”