[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 145 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9503-H9504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           DEMOCRATS WANT MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, today Democrats are lining up for reform. 
We have had enough. We have had enough delay. We have had enough 
Republican excuses. We have had enough hiding behind investigations. We 
want a real, meaningful cleanup of the campaign finance system.
  Therefore, we are here lined up to sign a discharge petition to 
discharge

[[Page H9504]]

all the proposals on campaign finance reform, some authored by 
Republicans, some authored by Democrats. Some I am for, some I am 
against, but we need a meaningful debate on this floor and only one 
thing has stopped that in this House, and that is the Speaker of the 
House, who refuses to bring it to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, we say to the American people that we believe the only 
way to discharge our responsibilities as representatives seeking a 
cleanup of the corrupting special interests' influence peddling that 
goes on here in Washington is to put our names right here on a 
discharge petition forcing a debate so that reform can be effected by 
the next election.
  Mr. Speaker, if the Republicans are ready to join in that effort, it 
will be a reality. Investigate and prosecute any existing violations, 
but reform the law.

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