[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. SNYDER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Republican leadership in the 
Senate successfully blocked meaningful campaign finance reform. So what 
do the rules now mean? It means that it is perfectly legal for us to 
donate, or a corporation or a union, this amount of money to the 
political party of our choice.
  That might create some confusion in our minds about what that means 
for us. Does that mean that if we are an individual making $24,000, 
$25,000 a year, is it legal to donate $1 billion to the political party 
of our choice? Yes, it is. If we are a small business that grosses 
$100,000 a year, is it legal to donate $1 billion to the political 
party of our choice? Yes, it is. If we are a retiree living on a fixed 
income, is it legal for us to donate $1 billion to the political party 
of our choice? Yes, it is.
  Those are the rules. Those are the rules the Republican leadership 
blocked from being changed yesterday.

                          ____________________