[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 1997

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, the 1996 elections highlighted a number of 
problems with our present system of camping finance--the power and 
influence of outside organizations, the tendency of wealth candidates 
to dramatically jack up the costs of a race, the ineffectiveness of the 
Federal Election Commission, and the wily resourcefulness of candidates 
and parties to raise the funds that they need.
  At this point, I think most Americans and Members in the Chamber 
would agree that there is a problem with our system of financing 
campaigns and that the present system should be changed. However, there 
is significant disagreement on the best method for actually reforming 
the system. Enacting campaign finance reform legislation will not be an 
easy task, in spite of its necessity.
  In the interest of moving campaign finance reform forward this year, 
I have agreed to cosponsor the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act sponsored 
by Congressmen Shays and Meehan. This bill has the momentum to move 
through the cumbersome legislative process, and by moving forward, the 
bill keeps the issue of campaign finance reform alive and on the 
agenda. In addition, while I have reservations about some provisions, 
the legislation makes many important reforms that will do much to 
address campaign finance abuses of recent years.
  For example, it equalizes PAC and individual contributions at $1,000 
per election; it improves disclosure, thereby bringing sunshine on the 
spending practices of outside groups to influence Federal elections; 
candidates may match outside group spending without having that 
spending count toward their spending limits; it bans mass mailings in 
election years; it strengthens the Federal Election Commission's 
enforcement mechanisms; it bans soft money and bundling; and it 
enhances the power of small contributors by prohibiting candidates from 
raising or spending more than 25 percent of the spending limit--
$150,000--in contributions greater than $250, among other provisions. 
It also includes provisions to address the matter of wealthy 
candidates--if a candidate spends more than $60,000 in personal funds 
toward an election, then the candidate's opponent's spending limit is 
increased and the amount PAC's and individuals can contribute to the 
opponent doubles to $2,000.
  However, there are some things I'd like to see modified in the bill. 
For example, I'd like to see a requirement that at least 40 or 50 
percent of a candidate's contributions come from within the State. I'd 
like to see stronger franking reforms, like changing the definition of 
a mass mailing to 250 pieces of mail or move rather than the present 
level of 500 pieces. I'd like to see a significantly lower contribution 
level for wealthy candidates--the bill allows candidates to spend up to 
$60,000 in personal funds toward the election.
  Furthermore, I have questions about the efficacy of spending limits, 
and whether they serve to hinder, or to assist, challengers.
  At this point, it is less important to draft the perfect campaign 
reform bill than to make sure that campaign finance is firmly 
established on the congressional agenda. There will be ample 
opportunity to discuss other campaign finance reform provisions once 
Congress is committed to cleaning up Federal election campaigns. This 
bill makes an outstanding contribution to the campaign finance reform 
debate and has the momentum to move through the legislative process. I 
urge my colleague to give it their careful consideration and 
cosponsorship.

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