[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]




ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION TO USE EXTRAORDINARY TACTICS TO ASSURE DEBATE 
                 ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM THIS MONTH

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, this month provides us the last hope to 
accomplish any meaningful change in the way that the 1998 congressional 
elections are conducted.
  Now Speaker Gingrich has made clear that he opposes any meaningful 
change in the way Federal elections operate. Indeed, the only change 
that the Gingrich Republicans seem to favor is to have not less but 
more campaign spending, more campaign ads, and more campaign fund-
raising. Speaker Gingrich has set forth a narrow-minded agenda for this 
month that excludes even the opportunity to debate the many proposals 
that have been advanced by both Republicans and Democrats to change 
campaign financing.
  I believe we need a strong ban on soft money, but whatever the 
approach that is taken, we need a debate this month, and we are here 
today to say specifically to Speaker Gingrich and the Republican 
leadership, Whether you schedule a debate on campaign reform this month 
or not, we are going to have one. We will have vote after vote; we will 
engage in extraordinary tactics to assure debate on real reform because 
of your extraordinary refusal to permit that reform.

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