[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 1997

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day and still no campaign finance 
reform vote. We have now been back in session for a week, we will have 
at the most 8 weeks left. If we don't begin the process of 
consideration of these bills then we will run out of time and will have 
once again let the public down.
  This does not have to be a partisan issue. Yesterday Members of the 
Republican party joined Democrats in calling for a vote on campaign 
reform. There are a number of bipartisan reform bills pending before 
this House, including H.R. 2183, the Bipartisan Campaign Integrity Act, 
and the Shays-Meehan bipartisan reform bill, both of which I am a 
cosponsor. I am confident that we can work together as Republicans and 
Democrats to make meaningful changes to the system that do not unfairly 
benefit either political party.
  Unfortunately, we read today that the Government Reform and Oversight 
Committee is about to engage in an expensive series of hearings 
investigating campaign abuses in the 1996 election year. An exhaustive 
investigation is being conducted on the same issue in the Senate. 
Rather than hold hearings on campaign finance reform the Government 
Reform and Oversight Committee is using our taxpayer's time and money 
to duplicate the Senate hearing. This is unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for this House to get serious about campaign 
reform. We can no longer accept ``no'' as an answer.

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