[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H567-H568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE COMMON SENSE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ACT OF 1997

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Knollenberg] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, the fundraising scandals of the 1996 
Presidential election have moved campaign finance reform to the front 
burner of the agenda for the 105th Congress. Things like the ever-
expanding influence of special and large contributions from non-U.S. 
citizens have eroded the public's confidence in our democratic process 
and left far too many Americans demoralized and in fact 
disenfranchised.
  At the same time, while the level of attention has increased 
significantly in just the last few months, most observers agree that 
the chances of passing a comprehensive overhaul of our campaign finance 
system in this Congress remain very, very slim. I happen to agree with 
that assessment.
  Currently, we have a Democrat in the White House, we have the 
Republicans in control of both Houses. Asking us to pass a 
comprehensive bill now would be like asking two football teams to 
overhaul the rules of the game while it is being played.
  Instead, I believe that we should take a series of incremental steps 
toward reform and correcting the most glaring and immediate problems of 
the current system, while leaving the larger issues to a time when the 
chances of passing a comprehensive bill are more realistic.
  I rise today to introduce what I believe should be the first step: 
the Common Sense Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997. This bill is 
designed to remedy the most pressing problems, and I say again, the 
most pressing problems of our current system, namely, the influx of 
special interest and foreign money into the Nation's campaign coffers.
  First, and this chart I think says it all very well, my bill would 
require that House and Senate candidates limit their PAC contributions 
to 35 percent, as represented by this graph.
  Second, there is a limit on outside donors. Candidates can raise no 
more than 35 percent of their individual contributions, I am talking 
about individual contributions, from donors who live outside their 
districts for House Members or outside the State for Senators. Then 
finally, limit foreign money. Candidates may not accept contributions 
from people who are ineligible to vote. So one, two, three; it is very 
simple.
  This would address the concerns raised by the amount of money that 
came from non-U.S. citizens during the 1996 election, and it would 
also, I think, crack down on efforts to circumvent individual 
contribution limits

[[Page H568]]

by funneling money through the children of rich donors.
  Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe that if we try to swallow campaign 
finance reform whole instead of taking smaller bites, we ultimately 
choke. Instead, we should adopt what I believe this is, a more 
realistic and commonsense approach to focus on getting the job done. 
That is what I think the American people want, and that is what my bill 
offers. Again, three steps, if the camera can pick this up, one, two, 
and three, that is all there is to it, but it goes a long way, I 
believe, toward commonsense reform, reform we can do now. I urge my 
colleagues to become cosponsors.

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