[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM NOT ADDRESSED

  (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, we are going to recess today probably until 
the end of January, and unfortunately we did nothing in this session of 
Congress on campaign finance reform. So I can clarify the state of the 
law as we are leaving it when we go home today, this check from my 
friend, I am a big donor, for $1 billion to the political party of her 
choice is still good and perfectly legal. So what does that mean to 
Americans out there? It means if you are a family of four making 
$30,000 a year, it is still legal for you to give a check for $1 
billion to the political party of your choice. If you are a small 
business person or a farmer grossing $100,000 a year, it is still 
perfectly legal for you to give $1 billion in soft money donations to 
the political party of your choice. If you are a retiree on fixed 
income watching your pennies every month, it is still completely legal 
for you to give $1 billion to the political party of your choice.
  Why is it still legal? Because of inaction in this session of 
Congress by the Republican leadership in this House. It is wrong, Mr. 
Speaker. It needs to change. We need to do something about campaign 
finance reform next session.

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