[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                    CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM MEASURES

  (Mr. CLINGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, the American people are sick and tired of 
lopsided elections that allow politicians to return to office year 
after year regardless of their performance. The overwhelming reelection 
advantages of incumbents have left many American voters feeling that 
entrenched politicians are rarely held accountable to those they 
represent.
  Many frustrated Americans have identified term limits as a way of 
bringing Government closer to the people, but the term limits movement 
has been put on hold after its defeat in the House and the Supreme 
Court decision handed down this week.
  If the 104th Congress wants to address the heart of the public's 
concerns, we must adopt real campaign finance reform that improves the 
competitiveness of congressional races.
  Today, I am reintroducing a series of bills designed to level the 
playing field between incumbent and challenger. My four bills would 
reduce the influence of special interest PAC's, ban leadership PAC's, 
reinstate the tax credit for in-State contributors, and require that 
residents of a candidate's district account for a clear majority of the 
candidate's contributions.
  If my colleagues want to restore public confidence in the election 
process, improve membership turnover, and ensure elected 
representatives are held more accountable to their constituents. I 
invite them to join me in cosponsoring these campaign finance reform 
measures.


                          ____________________