[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. DAVIS of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as the recent report of the 
Thompson Senate Committee demonstrates, there is widespread and serious 
abuse of our Nation's campaign finance system on both sides.
  One of the most rapidly growing excesses is that of soft money, 
unlimited amounts of money people can contribute to either political 
party. And the other is the incredible proliferation of advertising by 
outside third-party groups.
  That is why a substantial portion of the Democratic freshmen in this 
House, together with Members of the Republican freshmen class, have 
filed a bill calling for a ban on soft money and mandating disclosure 
with respect to these outside third-party ads.
  The Speaker said the House will soon take up campaign finance reform. 
Mr. Speaker, an increasing number of American citizens are watching 
closely to see whether we take this issue seriously and whether we are 
going to do something about it. When we take up campaign finance 
reform; let us take up a real bill, let us take up one that bans soft 
money; let us take up one that forces disclosure with respect to these 
ads by outside third-party groups.

                          ____________________