(WASHINGTON, DC) – A long-time supporter of reforming our nation’s elections, Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District – Kansas) today hailed action on a petition that would force a vote on the long-delayed Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill.

"The American people have waited years for Congress to get its act together and pass real campaign finance reform. It now looks as if that wait is about to end and not a moment too soon," said Moore.

On the House floor today, the discharge petition that would force the House leadership to allow a vote on reform gained the needed 218th signature. Moore signed the petition on the first day it was circulated, July 30, 2001.

No date has been set for debate and vote on the bill, however Moore urged the leadership to not delay reform any further.

"The Senate has passed campaign finance reform. The President has said he will not veto it. It’s time for the House to end the corruptive influence of soft money by passing campaign finance reform now," said Moore.

Moore has been a strong supporter of campaign finance reform since taking office in 1999. He is a co-sponsor of the original Shays-Meehan reform bill, H.R. 380. In 2000, he worked with Sen. John McCain, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, and others to pass a law requiring so-called "Stealth PACs" to disclose names of their contributors.

"Last year, Sen. McCain, Sen. Lieberman, and I worked together to pass a campaign finance reform bill. This shows that it can be done. We can pass comprehensive campaign finance reform and get big money out of our elections. And we can pass it this month," said Moore.

Among other things, the Shays-Meehan bill would largely ban the use of so-called "soft money" – unlimited contributions by corporations, unions, and individuals to political parties. It also bans so-called "issue ads" during the days leading up to an election. These ads mention candidates by name but are often funded by front groups, which unlike candidates and political parties, are not required to disclose their contributors.