[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H6803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP TO PUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE 
                          REFORM ON OUR AGENDA

  (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, the cancer of soft money that 
is growing on our political system continues, and the cancer of soft 
money that is corrupting and ruining our ability to govern this Nation 
is continuing.
  Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times pointed out that there has been a 
250-percent increase in soft money contributions to the Congress in the 
first half of this year. They point out in the 1996 election that $260 
million was collected in soft money contributions, contributions that 
go around the limits that are placed on Federal elections, and that is 
three times the amount that was spent in 1992.
  Just recently, the American public witnessed large soft money donors 
to the parties in this Congress, being rewarded with tax breaks in the 
tax bill, tax loopholes, and tax preferences that no one else could 
achieve but those who gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in soft 
money.
  The time has come for the Congress to ban soft money. The time has 
come for the Republican leadership to put campaign finance reform on 
the agenda of this House so the people can go back to having their 
voices heard and not those of the special interests who are giving soft 
money contributions.

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