[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PROPOSITION 226 BALLOT INITIATIVE

  (Mr. FAZIO of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute).
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer another 
view on the message from the gentleman who just appeared in the well.
  Several weeks ago, Congress overwhelmingly rejected a bid by right-
wing foundations and corporate interests that would have tilted the 
political balance in America. By an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the 
House defeated a bill that included language similar to the Proposition 
226 ballot initiative in California.
  Funded by extreme out-of-state interest groups and large corporate 
donors, this California initiative is part of a national campaign by 
ultraconservative groups. Their goal: to weaken the role of working men 
and women who oppose their right-wing views on issues such as the 
Patient Protection Act, or HMO reform, increasing the minimum wage, and 
reforming social security.
  This attempt to dilute the political power of union members, 
sometimes called ``paycheck protection'' but more aptly named 
``paycheck deception'', failed in Congress; and it should fail in 
California as well.
  Despite the rhetoric we heard on the floor last night, big business 
already outspends labor by an 11-1 margin. Prop 226 would likely give 
big business even greater political advantage. Fellow Californians, 
vote no on Prop 226 on June 2.

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