[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E581-E582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CAMPAIGN REFORM AND ELECTION INTEGRITY ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY II

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 30, 1998

  Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, for months, Members on 
both sides of the aisle have worked to craft meaningful campaign 
finance reform. But the Republican leadership's decision last Friday to 
bring campaign finance reform to the Floor under suspension of the 
rules has made it clear they are not interested in debating, and 
passing, true campaign finance reform. This biased procedure stifles 
debate, precludes the opportunity to offer amendments and prohibits the 
consideration of the Shays-Meehan proposal--a true reform bill, which 
bans soft money in federal election years.
  In addition, the Republican leadership's tactic of breaking up the 
Thomas bill into three more bills under suspension of the rules doesn't 
soften the blow in denying the House the opportunity to debate, and 
amend, campaign finance reform legislation.
  Instead, the Republican leadership is offering an umbrella measure, 
HR 3485, that is so loaded with poison provisions that it is doomed to 
failure. I am particularly appalled that the bill before the House 
contains the exact language of the Voter Eligibility Verification Act 
which this House rejected last month by a vote of 210-200.
  Back in the '60s, many of the Freedom Riders lost their lives for 
civil rights, including the right to vote. The voter eligibility 
provisions of this bill would take us back in time before the National 
Voting Rights Act was enacted. It clearly discriminates against the 
poor, senior citizens, African Americans and Hispanics.
  On Election Day around this nation, local voter registration offices 
recruit people to work

[[Page E582]]

at the polls. Under this bill, if a poll worker in California, Florida, 
Illinois, New York or Texas chooses to challenge the eligibility of a 
person coming to vote, that poll watcher can do so. Conveniently, these 
are the states where the majority of our nation's Hispanics live. This 
is the United States of America. When a person comes to vote, they 
should not be expected to jump through hoops, clear hurdles or be 
hindered in any other way. And the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service should not have to confirm for a poll watcher that a citizen 
wishing to vote is actually a citizen.
  There's always a good reason why anyone does something. And then 
there's the real reason. This is a Republican ploy to keep certain 
constituencies from the ballot box. This bill is a dressed up 90's 
version of the poll tax-designed to clearly intimidate Hispanics and 
other minorities into staying away from the polls--and it betrays the 
Privacy Act and the Voting Rights Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill for many 
reasons. First, it would shut the door to voting rights of any person a 
poll worker chooses to challenge. Second, raising the annual 
contribution limit for individuals from $25,000 to $75,000 looks to me 
like a sweetheart deal the Republicans are making with their wealthy 
donors. Third, it would require labor unions to get written consent 
from their members before the unions can spend union dues money on 
political activities. This is one more back door effort by the 
Republicans to bust the unions. I urge my colleagues to vote against HR 
3485, and against the upcoming bill entitled ``Paycheck Protection 
Act,'' which is a union-busting bill.
  These bills do nothing to truly reform our campaign finance system.

                          ____________________