[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1886]
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

                       Monday, September 29, 1997

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, for those who are interested in passing 
legislation in Congress that will fix the broken campaign finance 
system, there appears to be good news on the horizon. Last week the 
U.S. Senate began debate on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform 
bill.
  In this House the future of campaign finance reform is not so clear. 
The leadership in the House has offered conflicting opinions on whether 
or not they will allow a debate on this issue.
  Many Members have been pressuring the House leaders to schedule 
consideration of any one of the reform bills currently pending in 
Congress. I have been making a daily statement on the floor of the 
House demanding a vote on finance reform. It is my hope that these 
combined efforts, and the pressure being put on Members of Congress by 
the public, will force the leadership to reconsider their opposition to 
debate on a bill.
  However, my greatest fear is not that we won't get a vote, but that 
we will get a campaign finance reform bill containing a poison pill 
that will doom the legislation.
  The Republican leadership would like nothing better than to pass a 
campaign finance bill containing a poison pill that would force a veto 
by the President. That way the Republicans get political credit for 
passing a campaign finance reform bill while knowing full well that the 
bill will never become law.
  This works if you are satisfied with the status quo, and many Members 
of Congress are satisfied with the current system. It got them elected, 
so why change it to give their opponents a chance to defeat them.
  That approach may serve the self-interests of the Members of this 
House, but it would be an injustice to the people we represent. If we 
are going to actually see real reform, the next few days are crucial. I 
hope the leadership in the House of Representatives will see the wisdom 
of cleaning up the political process by passing meaningful campaign 
finance reform legislation.

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