[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM NEEDED NOW

  (Mr. GUTIERREZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I can report today that one part of the 
Contract With America is working very well: Term limits.
  You might say, ``Luis, the Republicans have not even let you vote on 
term limits yet.'' You are right. Actually, what is working is a 
different, very American version of term limits. It is called the 
ballot box.
  American voters have limited plenty of terms. In fact, since 1990, 
half the Members of this House have been sent home. That is effective 
term limits.
  But we could do even better, by passing a bill that says American 
elections are not only for millionaires and insiders, that says 
campaigns are for people--not for the powerful and privileged.
  A tough campaign finance reform bill would mean real term limits for 
all of the career politicians who talk a good game about citizen 
legislators by supporting the phony Republican term limits bill that 
are not retroactive. Funny, though, I do not see one word about 
campaign finance reform in their contract.
  I guess that issue will have to wait until the last lobbyists have 
turned out the lights at a few more thousand-dollar-a-plate Republican 
fundraisers.


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