[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PASS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION NOW

  (Mr. ADAM SMITH of Washington asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ADAM SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly 
urge the House to pass the Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill as 
quickly as possible. I also urge the House to reject all amendments and 
all substitutes to that bill.
  Opposition to campaign finance reform has been the main reason that 
it has not passed thus far, but another reason has been the lack of 
consensus among the pro-campaign finance reform members. There have 
been too many reform proposals to settle on one, and the confusion has 
stopped reform. Well, thanks to the work of Mr. Shays and Mr. Meehan, 
we have a consensus bill. Let us unite behind that legislation and pass 
it as soon as possible.
  I also urge this House to stop the sham on the campaign finance 
reform debate. The underlying bill currently has 11 substitutes and 
over 600 amendments filed. It is obvious that this is just a stalling 
tactic to stop reform.
  Promises have been repeatedly made on the floor of this House to 
bring up campaign finance reform and have a vote on it as soon as 
possible. Once again, those promises are not being met. Campaign 
finance reform is being thwarted, and a stalling tactic is replacing 
real reform. Let us vote on Shays-Meehan as soon as possible.

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