American history Quote by Russ Feingold
“The most significant impact is what it does in terms of the integrity of the legislative process and the executive process, as opposed to what it does for campaigns. But to remove this unheard of process in the 1990s, where members of Congress are being pushed and shoved every Tuesday to ask for $100,000, $500,000, a million dollars from corporations, unions, and individuals, this was never allowed in American history.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate Testimony, United States Senate, 1995
The quote warns that influencing legislators through large donations threatens democratic integrity more than campaign effects.
In simple terms: Big money to lawmakers harms the lawmaking process.
Key Takeaway
Guard legislative integrity over campaign finance.
Themes
politics
ethics
campaign finance
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- lobbying
- legislative voting
- public policy
- election reform
Key Concepts
democracy
corruption
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can transparency be ensured?
- What safeguards protect the legislative process?
A Different Perspective
Even with limits, hidden influence can persist through other channels.
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