[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMPULSORY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WRONG

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Speaker, the House has been drug through knotholes 
over campaign finance reform lately, and after numerous attempts to 
shut down the House and prevent us from doing the people's business, 
those few who are responsible have failed to address true campaign 
reform; and that is simply to follow the laws that are on the books 
today.
  For campaign finance reform they have failed to address the injustice 
in the current system. Senator Lott was quoted in today's Washington 
Times as saying most Americans would be shocked to learn that some 
workers in our Nation are forced to contribute to candidates or 
campaigns they do not support or they do not know anything about. But 
it happens, Madam Speaker, in every national campaign, and it is wrong.
  Thomas Jefferson said, ``To compel a man to furnish contributions of 
money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful 
and tyrannical.''
  Madam Speaker, let us free the American workers from compulsory 
campaign contributions for candidates they cannot support. It is bad 
policy and it is wrong.

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