[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND OUT OF CONTROL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Eshoo] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 1 minute.
  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, 8 months ago the President asked the 
Congress to have a campaign finance reform bill ready for him to sign 
by the Fourth of July, Independence Day. I think perhaps the President 
should have then specified the year, 1997. What has happened? Nothing. 
No hearings, no markups, no bill, no reform, no action.
  Our campaign finance system is broken. It is out of control. Hearings 
and news reports continue to expose a corrosive and insidious system, a 
system that has cast a shadow of public disrespect, of doubt, of 
disillusionment, not only on our system, but on this institution. And 
we know that we can do much better.
  In fact, the American people insist on it; and they are right. They 
are ahead of this system, and they know that something can be done.
  Yet despite the hearings, the headlines and the public pressure, the 
majority continues to defer action, deny a vote and disregard the will 
of the American people.
  We insist that a campaign finance reform bill to ban soft money be 
brought to the floor of the House before the Congress adjourns this 
year.

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