[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E468]
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

                       Wednesday, March 25, 1998

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, there is one more day left before this House 
debates campaign finance reform. This is our opportunity to reform the 
broken political process. Unfortunately, this opportunity is being 
wasted because the leadership of the House has chosen to submit a bill, 
H.R. 3485, that stands no chance of passing. There are a wide variety 
of good bills pending in this body that provide real options for fixing 
our broken system, the leadership should allow the members an 
opportunity to consider those bills.
  Regardless of where each member of Congress stands on the issue of 
campaign finance reform we all share one goal, promoting citizen 
involvement in the electoral process. The bill we will vote on tomorrow 
actually restricts citizen involvement by amending the Motor Voter Act 
and adding burdensome rules to verify citizenship among voters. These 
provisions will result in a chilling effect on voting. We need to do 
more to encourage voter participation, rather than discouraging it.
  Mr. Speaker, the solution to this dilemma is simple, allow an open 
rule that gives every campaign finance proposal, including the 
Bipartisan Freshman Integrity Act, a vote on the floor of the House of 
Representatives.

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