[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           LAY THE OLD ASIDE

  (Mr. MICHEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, an item appeared today in the newspaper 
which sheds some needed light on the campaign finance reform debate. 
According to Common Cause, 44 of the 47 top recipients of PAC 
contributions were House Democrats. The House campaign finance reform 
bill has languished in conference of months over the issue of PAC 
contributions. House Republicans want them banned, Senate Republicans 
want them banned. Senate Democrats want them banned also. And House 
Democrats? Well, House Democrats would rather keep the status quo when 
it comes to PAC contributions.
  When PACs were first formed, they were meant to reform the campaign 
finance system, but that reform has failed to reduce the influence of 
special interests and failed to inspire confidence in our political 
system.
  I say enough is enough.
  We need to go forward with effective and comprehensive campaign 
finance reform now. Common Cause has shed some light on why House 
Democrats are reluctant to give the American people the reform they 
demand. Once again, for their own personal interests, they are the last 
to lay their old ways aside.

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