[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 44 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. THOMAS of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMAS of California. Mr. Speaker, as we head toward the House 
and Senate conference on campaign finance reform, let us remember it is 
supposed to be for the American people. The American people do not want 
more of the same with PAC's, and they certainly do not want taxpayer 
support of campaigns.
  What do the American people want? In today's Washington Post, on the 
Federal Page with the headline, ``Americans Want A Direct Say In 
Political Decision-Making,'' ``The poll, the latest in a series of 
surveys done by the Americans Talk Issues Foundation, attempted to fuse 
campaign-style polling with academic research to draw a deeper portrait 
of public attitudes about government reform. The intent, the 
foundation's pollsters say, is to find true consensus on public-policy 
issues.
  ```You come of these surveys with a real sense of the wisdom of 
people,' said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. For instance, after 
hearing the pros and cons, 70 percent favor requiring congressional 
candidates to raise at least half of their campaign funds from 
individual voters in their district.''
  This position was offered by Republicans, but rejected by Democrats, 
who want no change in PAC's.
  Mr. Speaker, If you want to limit PAC's, dump Democrats. If you want 
a majority of the candidate's money to come from people in the 
district, if you want local control of campaign finance, vote for 
Republicans.

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