[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON:
  S. 179. A bill to reform the financing of Federal elections, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


         the campaign finance reform and disclosure act of 1997

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, the bill that I introduce is the 
Campaign Finance Reform and Disclosure Act of 1997. This important 
legislation will correct several of the abuses that we have seen take 
place under the present system and will demonstrate to the American 
people that we in Congress intend to do everything possible to bring 
campaign-related activities into the light of day. Moreover, this bill 
will not force the American taxpayer to further subsidize Federal 
campaigns, nor will it impose an elaborate new system of costly and 
burdensome campaign regulations. First, the act will require that at 
least 60 percent of a Senate candidate's campaign funds come from 
individuals within that Senator's home State. It will terminate the 
mass mail franking privilege for Senators during the year in which he 
or she is seeking election, and thereby end one of the more substantial 
advantages of incumbents over challengers.
  The bill will also make the contribution limits for political action 
committees equal to those in place for individuals, and will index that 
uniform limit to the rate of inflation. I believe PAC's serve a 
beneficial and necessary purpose in our system by allowing groups of 
individuals, whether at their place of employment, through an issue 
advocacy group, or elsewhere, to participate in a more direct way in 
the grassroots political process that is at the heart of our electoral 
system. But I want those PACs to have the same allowances and the same 
limitations as individuals, so that one does not have a 
disproportionate advantage over the other. The bill accomplishes this 
in a simple and responsible way by leveling the playing field between 
people who contribute to candidates directly and those who choose to 
leverage their contribution through PAC's. Individuals who wish to 
contribute money should continue to have that choice.
  However, I do not believe that candidates should have the right to 
buy and then resell their office. Therefore, this bill will also place 
a limitation of $250,000 on the amount that a congressional candidate 
may repay himself from campaign funds for personal loans he or she 
makes to the campaign. Again, this will help level the playing field 
for all candidates.
  In addition, the Campaign Finance Reform and Disclosure Act will ban 
once and for all campaign contributions by noncitizens. The use of 
campaign funds for personal use will also be totally banned. And 
political parties will be prohibited from accepting contributions 
earmarked for specific candidates, thereby bypassing the limitations 
that are in our laws today.
  Mr. President, these are the main provisions of my legislation to 
reform our campaign finance laws. As the Senate continues to address 
this most important issue, I encourage my colleagues to review these 
simple and workable proposals and to answer the American people's call 
for reform in this area.
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