[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E334]
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

                        Tuesday, March 10, 1998

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today is the date for the special election in 
California's 22nd Congressional seat, the race to replace my friend 
Walter Capps. The winner of today's race will be decided by the voters 
of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. The loser in this race 
has already been decided, and it is the current campaign system.
  The race for this seat has seen an unprecedented level of outside 
spending by special interest groups trying to influence the election. 
While the citizens of California's 22nd district have repeatedly said 
that education and taxes are their top priorities, outside groups have 
overwhelmed the district with television commercials that only impact 
their own narrow agenda's.
  I am afraid that the spending in this race is only a sign of things 
to come. If we don't pass meaningful campaign finance reform the 
outside interest groups are going to spend unlimited amounts of money 
in each Congressional campaign, and each candidate will be forced to 
raise more money to combat that spending. We need campaign finance 
reform to stop this vicious cycle. Mr. Speaker the people of my 
district refuse to accept ``no'' for an answer.

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