[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 150 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 31, 1997

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day has gone by and still no campaign 
finance reform. While the House of Representatives refuses to take 
action on this important issue, the tales of abuses of the system 
continue to come to our attention.
  In yesterday's paper I read, with interest, more documented abuses of 
the campaign finance system. The abuses include ambassadorships for 
sale, hush money from foreign businessmen, shakedowns of people with 
issues before the President, all being coordinated from the Oval 
Office. These revelations are new to the public, but they are not new 
abuses. These activities occurred over 26 years ago, during the 
administration of President Richard Nixon, the poster child for 
campaign finance reform.
  Following the revelations of the illegal activities by the Nixon 
White House, Congress passed campaign finance reform. Those reforms 
haven't been changed or updated since that time. Today we see the 
result of our failure to update and strengthen the campaign finance 
rules. Parties, candidates, and special interest groups have discovered 
loopholes in the law and have devised schemes to operate outside of 
public view.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time we change the rules and strengthen the 
requirements under which campaigns are run. If we do not take action 
now the abuses will continue. Failure to act will continue the 
undermining of America's confidence in our democracy that began after 
the Nixon Watergate scandal.
  It is time to vote on campaign finance reform, I refuse to take 
``no'' for an answer.

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