[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 54 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 1998

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, the partisan rhetoric coming out of the House 
of Representatives has reached new heights. An overwhelming amount of 
time, money and energy is being spent by both sides of the aisle on the 
investigation campaign finance abuses during the 1996 elections. Recent 
actions by members of the House Government Reform and Oversight 
Committee has created more cynicism among the public over our ability 
to do anything about this issue, other than score political points. It 
is time, Mr. Speaker, to direct attention to fixing the obvious 
problems in the current system.
  The Freshman members of the 105th Congress have made campaign finance 
reform a top priority for this Congress. Unlike previous classes of 
Congress, my colleague and I have committed ourselves to working 
cooperatively to make changes in the system. We have put aside our 
differences and drafted a bill, H.R. 2183, which enjoys bipartisan 
support and will address the most obvious abuses in our current 
campaign finance laws.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for the House of Representatives to follow 
the lead of the newest members of this body. It is time to put aside 
the partisan differences and support a campaign finance bill which will 
begin to take the influence of big money out of the political system, 
H.R. 2183. The people of my district will not accept ``no'' for an 
answer.




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