If they want real reform, reform that's constitutional and free-speech friendly, let them pass legislation requiring broadcasters to make free time available for political speech as a public service, or lose their license to broadcast. If time were free, candidates and parties would not need to raise vast sums of money, most of which now goes to pay for television ads. Congress has the authority to do that, and you should insist that they exercise it. Buckley allows a further avenue for reform. It ruled that public financing is legitimate provided it is voluntary and does not rule out private contributions.
Clean Money can be an asset in a campaign, just as refusing it can be a political liability.
Oregon and Missouri will have Clean Money on the ballot this year. Clean Money, we should note, has been challenged as unconstitutional, and a test case is winding its way toward the Supreme Court. But on its face it would appear to meet the Buckley standard of constitutionality. We will see. President, is that political reform does not require a ban on political speech.