[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 26 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E364]
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

                        Thursday, March 12, 1998

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, last week Senator Fred Thompson's committee 
which is investigating campaign finance abuses in the 1966 elections 
issued its final report. The news from the report was not new, or 
startling. The committee concluded that our political system has been 
undermined by the influence of big money, specifically soft money.
  The current soft money loophole allows wealthy donors to donate 
unlimited amounts of money to influence federal elections. The threat 
of massive spending in a Congressional campaign forces special interest 
groups to weigh in with their own money, and candidates to raise 
increasingly large personal war chests. This cycle has to end. We need 
to bring the out-of-control spending in federal elections to an end.
  In two weeks we will finally have our chance to do something about 
campaign finance reform. I hope we don't miss this golden opportunity 
to restore the public's faith in our democratic system. The people of 
my district will not accept ``no'' for an answer.

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