[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1517-S1518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the joint resolution.


                            Amendment No. 9

(Purpose: To add a provision proposing an amendment to the Constitution 
    of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures 
                     intended to affect elections)

  Mr. HOLLINGS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. I thank the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts 
yielding just momentarily. According to the unanimous-consent 
agreement, I would just call up the amendment at the desk on behalf of 
myself and Senator Bryan and ask that the clerk report and then have 
the amendment set aside.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no objection, the resolution is 
set aside. The clerk will report.

       The Senator from South Carolina [Mr. Hollings], for 
     himself, Mr. Specter, and Mr. Bryan, proposes an amendment 
     No. 9.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       On page 1, beginning on line 3, strike ``That the'' and all 
     that follows through page 2, line 5, and insert the 
     following: ``That the following articles are proposed as 
     amendments to the Constitution, either or both of which 
     articles shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part 
     of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of 
     three-fourths of the several States within 7 years after the 
     date of its submission for ratification:''.
       On page 3, after line 16, add the following:

                              ``Article--

       ``Section 1. Congress shall have power to set reasonable 
     limits on the amount of contributions that may be accepted 
     by, and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in 
     support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination 
     for election to, or for election to, Federal office.

[[Page S1518]]

       ``Section 2. A State shall have power to set reasonable 
     limits on the amount of contributions that may be accepted 
     by, and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in 
     support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination 
     for election to, or for election to, State or local office.
       ``Section 3. Congress shall have power to implement and 
     enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. This is the amendment on the Constitution with respect 
to campaign finance that was just listed by the majority leader. I 
thank the distinguished Chair, and I thank the distinguished Senator 
from Massachusetts.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no objection, the Hollings 
amendment is now set aside.

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