[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 40 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CAMPAIGN REFORM AND ELECTION INTEGRITY ACT OF 1998

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                               speech of

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 30, 1998

  Mr. VENTO. Madam Speaker, I opposed H.R. 3485 which was defeated by 
the House. This legislation would guarantee a new arms race in 
campaigns and campaign spending by setting in place incentives for more 
money to be raised from special interests and more money to be spent.
  While there is not agreement in Congress on the campaign finance 
reform, the American people have spoken. They are tired of slick, 
multi-million dollar campaigns that feature 30 second sound-bites and 
media spin masters. They want the unlimited campaign spending binges 
brought under control; they want the candidate, not the candidate's 
handlers, to speak; and they want campaigns to focus on the issues.
  However, as with so many other matters, the Republican Majority 
Congress has failed to listen to what the American people want, and 
instead relied on the voice and pocketbooks of the special interests. 
The result was H.R. 3485, more money, not less and a greater alienation 
of the voters.
  H.R. 3485 did nothing to bring the explosion of campaign spending 
under control. Instead, this legislation tripled the amount of money 
that individuals could contribute to state, local and federal political 
parties and doubled their contribution limits to federal candidates.
  H.R. 3485 would make politics the playground of the wealthy. This 
legislation increased individual contributions to federal candidates 
from $1,000 to $2,000 per cycle ($2,000 to $4,000 for both the primary 
and general elections; to state and local parties from $5,000 to 
$15,000; national parties from $20,000 to $60,000 and the aggregate 
limit from $25,000 to $75,000. These levels do not invite participation 
by more people; it encourages more participation by the few who have 
the big bucks to participate.
  While H.R. 3485 expanded the ability of wealthy to participate, this 
bill ironically contains a separate provision designed to intimidate 
low-income, minority citizens to keep them from voting.
  This program, a citizen verification system, conjured up poll taxes 
and inhibiting actions form another time in our history. This 
legislation was appropriately rejected by the House earlier this year.
  The House should not detour from the road of campaign finance reform 
by adopting H.R. 3485. Instead, we should move forward with the solid 
bipartisan reform package, that the Republican leadership is blocking 
from House action. This alternative, similar to the McCain Feingold 
proposal offered in the Senate, will ban soft money and make a 
meaningful contribution to campaign finance reform.
  There has been a lot of public consternation by Members of Congress 
about the declining participation levels and the feeling of 
disenfranchisement among American voters. After witnessing the lengths 
that the leadership will go to keep real campaign finance reform off of 
the House floor, I can understand why the American voter is giving up 
on Congress. The People's Body does not have time to do the people's 
work. Instead of bringing up meaningful campaign finance reform this 
week, the House is going to be dividing up the financial marketplace 
among the special interests who pour money into campaign coffers.
  Madam Speaker, the process used last night harkens back to the smoke-
filled rooms of long ago. A bill supported by a majority of the House 
was kept off the House floor through legislative legerdemain. Not only 
were we denied a full debate on campaign finance reform, but we were 
kept in the dark as to the final contents of H.R. 3581. This bill is 
like a lot of campaign ads--lots of rhetoric, not much substance.
  It was appropriate that H.R. 3485 be considered so close to the 
Academy Awards. Like the 1972 Best Actress, Lisa Minelli, in the movie, 
Cabaret, this bill and its supporters were singing loud and clear 
``Money makes the world go around.'' It is time to get off the money 
merry-go-round and restore our political process to the American people 
by moving forward with true campaign finance reform.

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