[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5986-H5987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN INTEGRITY ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to rise in 
support of the Bipartisan Campaign Integrity Act. I like that name, 
because that is what we need to have in our campaign system these days 
is simple integrity.
  About 6 months ago, as my friend, the gentleman from Maine [Mr. 
Allen] indicated, a group of Members, we called it the Bipartisan 
Freshman Task Force, met together, six freshman Republicans, six 
freshman Democrats, and we called it, I called it an experiment in 
bipartisanship to see if we could really work together to accomplish 
something, to accomplish the job people sent us here to do.
  We worked together. We held hearings. We listened to each other. We 
decided what we could agree upon. As the gentleman from Maine [Mr. 
Allen] suggested, we set aside the extremes and said what could we do 
for the American people that would improve our system. We focused 
ourselves on one primary concern, and that was the huge problem of soft 
money that runs in our system today.
  I think the issue that faces the U.S. Congress this year, in 1997, is 
can we, do we have the courage, to do something about the problem with 
soft money. That is the overriding issue. I hope that the answer is a 
resounding yes. I have been encouraged recently by what I have heard 
from leaders from both sides of the aisle, from the public, and I 
dearly hope we can do that this session of Congress.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

[[Page H5987]]

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that has come up is why 
are freshmen seeming to have such an early impact on this race. I am a 
Democrat from Arkansas, a freshman, and the gentleman is a Republican 
from Arkansas, and it seemed to me that the ugly races were ones for 
open seats. Both the gentleman and I from Arkansas had different 
political perspectives, but it was ugly because of the presence of soft 
money.
  I loved the line the gentleman from Maine [Mr. Allen] used, getting 
rid of the biggest of the big money. These are not the $1,000 donations 
we are talking about, but the $50,000 or $100,000 to the party that 
have so distorted the system. I commend the gentleman and the gentleman 
from Maine [Mr. Allen] for his work. It truly is a bipartisan effort. I 
thank the gentleman for his effort.
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I certainly 
concur that this has been a good effort we put forth. The gentleman and 
I had an opportunity in Arkansas when he was in the General Assembly, 
we worked in separate parties on election reform in Arkansas, and I am 
delighted we can set the example here in our Nation's Capital, and I 
hope we can have the same success as well.
  If Members look at this bill, and my friend, the gentleman from 
Maine, described the elements of this bill, it focuses on soft money. 
It bans soft money, and any serious reform has to start with that. But 
it also increases disclosure.
  I believe we need to provide information to the American public so 
they will know who is spending what in a campaign, and that they can 
find out that information in a timely fashion. That is what our bill 
does this year. It does those two things.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, our bill, besides providing a ban on soft 
money and increasing disclosure, I think it is unique because it is a 
product of bipartisanship, and because it has come through in that 
fashion I believe it has the best chance for success this year.
  I believe that the timing is right, and that momentum is gathering 
for campaign finance reform for a couple of reasons. First of all, the 
Senate hearings have focused the American public's attention on the 
problem of soft money. I hope that the American public who is listening 
today, that they will write in, that they will encourage their 
Congressmen to address this serious issue.
  Second, I have been encouraged by the response of leaders from both 
sides of the aisle, with a growing sense that we need to do something 
about this. The gentleman from California, Mr. Bill Thomas, chairman of 
the Committee on House Oversight that will have the hearings on 
campaign finance has indicated a willingness to hold hearings. I 
commend him for that. He is a critical part of this effort, and I hope 
we can have those hearings this fall so we can move this legislation 
forward.
  Finally, we have had encouragement even from leaders like the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Dick Armey, who has indicated that the 
freshmen are going in the right direction, that he is anxious to hear 
more details about this plan, and I was delighted to hear this.
  Most importantly, the encouragement comes from the voters, from 
letters from constituents who say their voice is being diminished by 
the vastness, the millions of dollars in corporate and labor money that 
flows to the parties. They say, where is our voice? Where is the voice 
of the average voter, the voter out there who works day in and day out, 
the contributor, the small contributor to a campaign?
  I was delighted also that this last week we had encouragement from 
very significant leaders from both parties. Former President George 
Bush, former President Jimmy Carter, and former President Gerald Ford 
all indicated support for campaign finance reform.
  I like what former President George Bush said in his letter of June 
19, 1997. He said, ``We must encourage the broadest possible 
participation by individuals in financing elections. Whatever reform is 
enacted should go the extra mile in demanding fullest possible 
disclosure for all campaign contributions.
  ``I would favor getting rid of so-called `soft money' contributions 
but this principle should be applied to all groups including Labor.''
  Speaking from this side of the aisle, I certainly believe that the 
soft money ban should include not only corporations but also labor. It 
does that. It does that, because that is the ban that is needed. It is 
equal and fair to all sides.
  Mr. Speaker, I will enter the three letters from the former 
Presidents into the Record.
  The letters referred to are as follows.
                                                    July 10, 1997.
     Hon. Nancy Kassebaum Baker,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kassebaum: Our system in financing federal 
     election campaigns is in serious trouble. To remedy these 
     failings requires prompt action by the President and the 
     House and Senate. I strongly hope the Congress in cooperation 
     with the White House will enact Campaign Reform legislation 
     by the forthcoming elections in 1998.
       Public officials and concerned citizens. Republicans and 
     Democrats alike, have already identified important areas of 
     agreement. These include (1) the need to end huge 
     uncontrolled ``soft money'' contributions to the national 
     parties and their campaign committees, and to bar 
     solicitation of ``soft money'' from all persons, parties and 
     organized labor by federal officeholders and candidates for 
     any political organizations; (2) the need to provide rapid 
     and comprehensive disclosure of contributions and 
     expenditures in support of, or opposition to, candidates for 
     federal office, and (3) the need to repair the system of 
     campaign finance law enforcement by assuring that it is 
     effective and independent of politics.
       A significant bi-partisan effort across party lines can 
     achieve a legislative consensus in campaign reforms that will 
     help to restore the confidence of our citizens in their 
     federal government.
       I commend you and former Vice President Mondale for your 
     leadership on behalf of campaign reform.
           Sincerely,
     Gerald R. Ford.
                                  ____

                                                     July 17, 1997
     Hon. Walter Mondale,
     Minneapolis, MN.
       To Vice President Walter Mondale: I am pleased to join 
     former Presidents Bush and Ford in expressing hope that this 
     Congress will enact meaningful campaign finance reform 
     legislation. For the future of our democracy, and as our 
     experience may be emulated by other nations, prompt and 
     fundamental repair of our system for financing federal 
     elections is required.
       The most basic and immediate step should include an end to 
     ``soft money,'' whether in the form of corporate or union 
     treasury contributions to federal campaign, or large and 
     unregulated contributions from individuals. The initial step 
     should also include measures that provide for complete and 
     immediate disclosures of political contributions and 
     expenses.
       To accomplish these and other needed reforms and to lay the 
     basis for future ones, we also need to develop a strong 
     national consensus about the objectives of reform. It will 
     take more than just the action of this Congress, but 
     fundamental reform is essential to the task of repairing 
     public trust in government and in our leaders. We must take 
     significant steps to assure voters that public policy is 
     determined by the exercise of their franchise rather than a 
     broken and suspect campaign finance system.
       Please extend to Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker my 
     appreciation for the work that she has undertaken with you to 
     advance the essential cause of bipartisan campaign finance 
     reform.
           Sincerely,
     Jimmy Carter.
                                  ____

                                                    June 19, 1997.
     Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kassenbaum, First let me commend you and the 
     former Vice President, Ambassador Mondale, for taking a 
     leadership role in trying to bring about campaign reform.
       I hope the current Congress will enact Campaign Reform 
     legislation.
       We must encourage the broadest possible participation by 
     individuals in financing elections. Whatever reform is 
     enacted should go the extra mile in demanding fullest 
     possible disclosure of all campaign contributions.
       I would favor getting rid of so called ``soft money'' 
     contributions but this principle should be applied to all 
     groups including Labor.
       I congratulate you for working for better campaign finance 
     law enforcement.
       With my respects to you and Vice President Mondale I am, 
     sincerely,
     George Bush.

                          ____________________