[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, there is a flood of money corroding the 
foundation of our democracy. Now, the Republicans would have us believe 
that it is only the foundations on this side of the aisle or downtown 
at the White House that are endangered by this flood of money, but that 
is not quite true, because we remember Simon Fireman. Simon Fireman was 
the vice-chair of Bob Dole's fund-raising. He pled guilty to 64 counts 
of money laundering, paid $6 million in fines and 6 months in jail.
  This is a bipartisan problem. Both sides suffer from this problem, 
and it does not serve either side to stonewall reform. There are many 
of us on this side of the aisle calling sincerely for just a debate, an 
open rule. Let us see what happens. Let us vote on campaign finance 
reform before we go home.
  Even on the Senate side now they have relented, and they say they are 
going to take up campaign finance reform. Let us take it up here in the 
House of Representatives, or do many Members think, as the Speaker 
does, that there is not enough money spent on campaigns yet corroding 
our democracy.

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