[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 37 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TIME TO KEEP THE PROMISES

  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, next week we have got time for some things to 
do on this floor. For months we have had floating around here a bill 
called H.R. 10 that deals with modernization of financial services and, 
lo and behold, next week, in that week when we do not have time to deal 
with campaign finance reform, we have this 400- or 500-page bill, and 
we have the time, thanks to the House leadership.
  A full-page ad in the paper today to deal with the problems of 
American insurance, the Council of Insurance Agents, the investment 
bankers, J.P. Morgan, we have time for that next week; but what about 
trying to reform the process around here in which we can get a people's 
bill on the agenda like campaign reform? That is what is important. But 
this bill has a priority over that, Mr. Speaker, and I think it ought 
not to have that priority. I think we ought to get our act together and 
do it right.
  This can wait. This does not have to be jammed down our throats next 
week. What we need to do is deal with the campaign reform problem. It 
is 15 months past due. It is time to face up to this and meet the 
promises and commitments that were made around here last week.

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