[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 171 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16554-S16555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I would like to strongly associate 
myself with the remarks of the Senator from Arizona with regard to the 
recent news on our efforts on campaign finance reform.
  Last week, we were extremely pleased to see a bipartisan group in the 
House essentially agree to introduce the kind of legislation that the 
Senator from Arizona and I have proposed.
  Today, we are also pleased by the announcement of the support by the 
chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the chairman of the 
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
  We are not so excited about the fact that these people happen to be 
leaders in the Democratic Party--that is good--but the more important 
thing is that it is another sign of the importance and the value of the 
bipartisan nature of this proposal.
  The House proposal last week was bipartisan. Adding these two 
Senators to this group makes it another significant step in bringing 
both parties together with regard to this issue. I have been very 
pleased with the quick response from various Senators on signing on to 
this bill. Week by week, we have added new people.
  I also want to note the editorial endorsements that the Senator from 
Arizona alluded to. The Feingold-McCain-Thompson bill has been endorsed 
by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Dallas 
Morning News, Milwaukee Journal, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City 
Star, Houston Chronicle, Nashville Tennessean, the Boston Globe, and 
many others. Of course, this was added to last week in addition by the 
endorsement of Ross Perot, who has indicated a lot of support on this 
issue.
  Today, the addition of the support of Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska 
and Senator Dodd of Connecticut helps us move in that direction.
  It takes about 100 steps to pass this bill. It is a complicated, very 
controversial bill that has been a knotty problem for the Congress for 
many years, but I think we have taken about 25 or 35 of those steps 
already. These endorsements are very important today.
  Senator Dodd's response at the news conference to the question of, 
``Why do you think this bill has a chance of actually passing?'' was 
right on target. The fact that this bill has Republican and Democrat 
cosponsors and represents the first truly bipartisan bill, the first 
truly bipartisan bill in nearly 10 years, automatically makes this 
effort different, dramatically different than past efforts.
  Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska also made an excellent point about 
nobody understanding the need for reform better than those of us who 
are charged with the responsibility of raising these awful amounts of 
money. So this is progress.
  I want to emphasize what the Senator from Arizona did. It is only 
progress in the context of a continued bipartisan effort. If either 
party thinks they can gain political advantage by turning this into a 
partisan issue, all they will succeed in doing is killing this effort.
  This effort can win. There is every sign that it will win and that 
the President would be willing to sign it. With that caveat, with that 
effort to make sure that this is a continuation of the effort of 
bipartisanship, I welcome their support, and I look forward to further 
support from Members on both sides of the aisle.
  I thank the Senator from Arizona and the Chair, and I yield the 
floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who seeks recognition?
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  
[[Page S 16555]]

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum 
call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. LUGAR. I would like to proceed in morning business, Mr. 
President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Lugar pertaining to the introduction of S. 1377 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Grams). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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