[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I did not hear all the remarks of my 
colleague from Minnesota. I had no quarrel with him talking about 
special interest money, but I hope he does not forget organized labor 
and the millions of dollars they are spending in health care and the 
preferential treatment they are getting in the health care bill 
introduced by the majority leader, where they are barely affected.
  Anybody else with a plan, like somebody in organized labor, would 
have to pay 25 percent tax. I think we ought to take a look --in fact, 
I would say the Senate is on record for eliminating political action 
committees, at least on this side of the aisle. We are waiting for 
House Democrats to agree to that so we can have campaign finance reform 
this year.
  I certainly do not quarrel with the Senator from Minnesota trying to 
shed some light on where the money comes from, though I share the view 
of the Senator from Illinois, Senator Simon, that I am not certain in 
many cases that, in effect, directs or determines what any Member may 
do, Democrat or Republican.
  In fairness, if we are going to debate the special interest money--
and there is a lot of it out there, plus the U.S. Government is 
spending millions and millions of dollars--we are going to try to find 
out from the Government Accounting Office about all the Members of the 
Cabinet and President and Mrs. Clinton going all over the country for 
the last year and a half trying to sell their health plan, which is not 
going anywhere, how much it cost the American taxpayers.
  All the Cabinet Members are spanned out over America today trying to 
sell Government-run health care. My view is it is not going to work, 
but we ought to have those figures, too, so when we start making 
judgments on where the money comes from, how it is being spent and 
whether or not it has any adverse influence contrary to what we are 
looking for, then I think we just ought to have the full record.
  Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I thank the minority leader for his 
comments, and I will say one more time, I think the more careful 
analysis we make of the numbers the better off we are.
  The Common Cause figures--$72 million from business PAC's, $16 
million from labor--that is a 4-to-1 margin from business, and we are 
wondering why we cannot have employers paying their fair share? I think 
these figures are quite compelling.
  I also agree that it is not just a question of political action 
committees. It is true, the Senate dealt with that. But it is also 
large individual contributions. Most Senators actually receive their 
money from large individual contributors as opposed to PAC money. I 
gave a speech on the floor of the Senate several months ago where I 
said I thought there ought to be a moratorium and we should not take 
PAC money, or any other contributions from other sources in the health 
care industry, over $100. We did not do that. But I do think that the 
key issue here is that as long as we do not do something about this 
campaign finance reform, it is extremely difficult for people to 
believe in this process.
  We certainly would not approve of a soccer or football game where the 
umpires and referees were receiving money from the players before the 
game started. I think an analysis of health care contributions brings 
into sharp relief who has the money, who has the power and who is, all 
too often, left out, in this debate.
  I do appreciate the comments of the minority leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is still in morning business. Who 
seeks recognition?
  Mr. SIMON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is recognized for 
not to exceed 10 minutes.

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