I may support some of the amendments that are offered. I will offer an amendment that I think will improve and strengthen the disclosure requirements in federal campaigns. I think the public has a right to know who is spending money to affect the outcome of federal elections and how they are spending it. We all see the ads. We are overwhelmed by the total number of television ads and mailings that are sent out during a political campaign these days in House races and Senate races and even the Presidential election this past year.
Voters have to be confused about who is running the ads.
Or it says something else that sounds really good, like they are on the side of right and justice and right thinking. These groups run ads that suggest or insinuate that one or the other of the candidates in the race isn't on the right track, either on one subject or just generally speaking, isn't good for the state or the district or the country. The ads suggest that there may be something in the background of the candidate that is suspicious that needs to be looked at very carefully. The insinuations, the misleading tone, the negative aspect of political campaigns is fueled by the huge amounts, the juggernaut, and almost inconceivable amount of influence being brought to bare on these campaigns, by who knows what source. Who knows who is behind the spending.