[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ENSURE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM OCCURS

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the millions of Americans 
who want some real change in the way our campaign finance system works 
and want to reduce the corrupting influence of money on our political 
system can be encouraged by the sudden reversal yesterday of Speaker 
Gingrich and his announcement that we would, within the next 3 weeks, 
act on this floor in a fair, bipartisan way to address the problems 
that are so critical in this system.
  However, I think all of us have to wonder whether this represents 
only another New Hampshire handshake. Americans will remember that it 
was back in 1995 in New Hampshire that Speaker Gingrich promised 
President Clinton there would be action then on campaign finance 
reform.
  We have had one broken promise, one bit of double talk, 
doublecrossing after another on this issue since then. So we must 
remain vigilant and involved to ensure that real reform occurs here, 
and not more talk and doubletalk.

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