[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2135]
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

                      Wednesday, October 29, 1997

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day has gone by and still no campaign 
finance reform.
  My colleagues who oppose changing the current campaign finance system 
continue to argue that we must conduct exhaustive hearings on the 
abuses of the system during the 1996 election before we pass a reform 
bill. I agree that we must investigate violations of the law, and those 
who break the rules need to be prosecuted and brought to justice.
  That very thing is happening in Virginia right now. The State of 
Virginia is charging the Republican National Committee for failure to 
disclose campaign contributions in excess of $600,000 to GOP candidates 
during this fall election in that State. The contributions are legal, 
but the failure to disclose those contributions are a clear violation 
of Virginia campaign law.
  In the special congressional election in New York City the Republican 
Congressional Campaign Committee has announced it will be spending 
$800,000 in independent expenditures on behalf of the Republican 
congressional candidate. This ``soft money'' is being used to influence 
the outcome of the special election, even though campaign finance rules 
specifically prohibit direct expenditures on behalf of a candidate.
  Mr. Speaker, we must investigate violations of the law by both 
parties, in the 1996 and 1997 elections. However, we also need to 
change the current rules that allow millions of dollars to be legally 
spent to buy elections in this country. It is time to stop the excuses 
and allow a vote on campaign finance reform. I refuse to take ``no'' 
for an answer.

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