[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TOBACCO INDUSTRY IS LEADING SOFT MONEY CONTRIBUTOR IN THE COUNTRY

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, if there is even a single violation of the 
existing laws, be it Democrat or Republican, prosecute it fully, but do 
not hide behind the latest tabloid news to thwart campaign finance 
reform.
  To any American who wonders why we need that reform, thumb through 
the bipartisan budget agreement and come across title XVI, entitled 
Technical Amendments Related to the Small Business Job Protection Act 
and Other Legislation. Under that title turn to page 322 and learn that 
one of those small businesses that just got protection was $50 billion 
for the tobacco industry.
  Anyone who thinks that is unrelated to campaign contributions is 
probably sitting at home waiting for the tooth fairy to arrive.
  Ladies and gentlemen, the fact that the tobacco industry is the 
leading soft money contributor in this country demonstrates the need 
along with this provision to reform our campaign finance laws in time 
for the 1998 elections. But Speaker Gingrich, one of the beneficiaries 
of the current system, refuses to schedule it for debate. That is why 
we will have yet another motion to adjourn because of the refusal to 
deal with this issue.

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