[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DEFEAT OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on yesterday's debacle. 
Some rose and said that this was legitimate campaign finance reform. 
The American public wants campaign finance reform. They do not want 
money to be the arbiter of the politics of America. They want money 
contributed honestly and reported effectively.
  The chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, who offered these 
bills to the Congress, had one principal large bill. That bill, he 
said, would pass. We said it was a sham. The New York Times said it was 
a sham. The Washington Post said it was a sham. We were criticized on 
our side of the aisle for being partisan and saying it was a sham.
  But, Mr. Speaker, when the vote was called, two-thirds of the 
majority party voted against their leadership's bill, including their 
leadership.
  It was, indeed, a sham.

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