[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM NOW

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, remember the handshake, the handshake 
between Speaker Gingrich and President Clinton, June 11, 1995? The 
agreement that would go forward with campaign finance reform in this 
country at least?
  Eight hundred and twenty-two days ago, $2.5 billion ago, untold 
scandals ago, they shook hands. Now what does the Speaker say? The 
Speaker says there is not enough money in the system; we should undo 
the few remaining reforms and protections we have.
  The Republicans want to focus only on the Democrats' problems. The 
Democrats have problems. I admit it. The system is corrupt and 
corrupting for both sides of the aisle. That is true. But remember 
Simon Fireman, the vice chairman of Mr. Dole's Committee on Finance, 
was convicted of money laundering. He received a $6 million fine, pled 
guilty to 74 counts of laundering illegal contributions for the 
Republican Presidential candidate, and was sentenced to 6 months in 
jail. This is a problem on both sides of the aisle. We need campaign 
finance reform action now.

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