[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRESS MUST PASS MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM OR BE EMBARRASSED 
                         TO FACE VOTERS IN 1998

  (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, the 1996 elections involved more money, more 
TV ads, and more players than ever before. Not just candidates, but 
political parties and outside groups saturated the airwaves with 
political ads. What was the result? The lowest turnout in over 70 
years.

                              {time}  1230

  We know that 90 percent of the public wants fundamental campaign 
finance reform. We need to get big money out of campaigns. We need more 
accurate reporting, more accountability and more restrictions on 
campaign expenditures.
  Loopholes have become highways for moving campaign funds. Outside 
groups participate in elections without adequate disclosure of their 
identities or their interests. The gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. 
Hutchinson] and I co-chair a bipartisan freshman task force trying to 
find common ground on this issue. I hope and believe we will come to a 
conclusion during this month. Then we must pass meaningful campaign 
finance reform or be embarrassed to face the voters in the 1998 
elections.

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