[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H6621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRESS SHOULD VOTE TO END SOFT MONEY FOR NEXT ELECTION

  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, over 2 years ago the gentleman 
from Georgia, Speaker Gingrich, and President Clinton shook hands 
saying they wanted to reform the campaign finance system in this 
country. A bipartisan group of Members of Congress wrote the President 
the beginning of this session and asked that we do campaign finance 
reform in the first 100 days. Just this last week, 25 Members of 
Congress asked the Speaker to schedule campaign finance reform in 
September.
  We have heard nothing from the Speaker since he shook hands with the 
President of the United States over 2 years ago. We have received no 
response from the Speaker, and campaign finance reform is not 
scheduled.
  This leaves us only one alternative. Those of us who believe that 
this is a critical matter on the agenda of Congress, and that we should 
have a right to vote on ending soft money for the next election, will 
use all of the authority given to us by our constituents to make sure 
that this is on the agenda in September. If the only alternative we 
have is a showdown in September to end soft money, we will take that 
offer, Mr. Speaker. Members should come early and plan to stay late.

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