[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 51 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of February 11, 1994, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
Torkildsen] is recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, campaign finance reform is a sensitive 
topic. While other reform issues deal with what we do as Members of 
Congress, campaign finance reform will affect how, and in some cases 
whether, we get here in the first place. That is no excuse not to 
tackle it. We know the American public is critical about how decisions 
are made in Washington.
  Where should the money not come from in campaigns? I think the answer 
to that question is direct. We should not look for money in political 
action committees. Is it realistic to expect Members to take huge sums 
of money from political action committees, only to claim those 
donations have no effect whatsoever?
  As one Member who does not accept PAC money, I can vouch for the fact 
that one can win an election without taking PAC contributions. As the 
very least, PAC contributions should be capped at $1,000, the same 
limit that applies to individuals.
  Where should the money come from? How about contributions from 
individual donors from a candidate's district? We should require that 
people who live in the district to be represented fund most of any 
congressional campaign.
  Mr. Speaker, we need genuine campaign finance reform that eliminates 
PAC contributions and requires candidates to raise the majority of 
funds from their home districts. Only with these changes can we start 
on the road to genuine campaign finance reform.

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