[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E794]
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

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I am dismayed to learn that the House of 
Representatives will once again delay a vote on campaign finance 
reform. We were promised a vote before May 15th, but now it appears 
that the leadership of the House has broken their promise again.
  Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of attention paid recently 
to the internal debate over the campaign finance investigations in the 
House. This debate has diverted attention away from the real issue, 
fixing the abuses in the system that are currently legal. I fear that 
perhaps that is the goal of the Republican leadership in Congress. By 
continuing to spend taxpayer dollars on Congressional hearings and 
keeping the attention on abuses that occurred in the past the 
leadership feels it will not need to fix the system for future 
elections. I will not let that happen.
  The people of this country have spoken loud and clear, they want 
campaign finance reform. If you doubt the will of the public just look 
at all the Republican members who returned from the Easter recess 
willing to challenge the leadership and sign the campaign finance 
discharge petition. At that time the leadership gave their word that 
they would allow an open and honest vote on campaign finance reform. I 
hope that the leadership keeps its word and allows a vote next week.

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