[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7125-H7126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CAUGHT WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE COOKIE JAR

  (Mr. WHITFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton and Vice President Gore 
got their hands caught in the cookie jar. If they did not violate 
Federal campaign laws, they came as close to wholesale violations as 
any Presidential campaign in the history of America.
  Now that the President cannot seek reelection, he has made campaign 
finance reform a primary goal. Labeling efforts to change finance laws 
as reform does not mean it will be better.
  In fact, most campaign finance reform proposals would make our system 
worse. We spend more money advertising Coca-Cola, beer, pizza, and 
washing detergent than we do on political campaigns in Federal offices. 
Political action committees have brought people into the political 
system, individuals voluntarily contributing money. We

[[Page H7126]]

should encourage that participation, not discourage it.
  I, for one, do not want the Federal Government controlling who 
contributes money and who they contribute it to, a clear violation of 
first-amendment rights.
  Members of this body should not be stampeded into supporting campaign 
finance reform simply because a few people view it as politically 
correct.

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