[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, On August 6, 1998, I was not present to vote 
on rollcall vote 403 because of a pressing family matter in my home 
State of Delaware. Had I been here, I would have voted ``no'' on the 
Doolittle substitute.
  When we started this debate, there were many sound proposals on how 
to improve our current framework of campaign finance. However, only one 
of these proposals has emerged as a realistic approach to significantly 
improve our election system.
  My opposition to this substitute does not reflect a negative opinion 
of the author's hard work or ideas, but rather my opinion that the 
Shays-Meehan bill is the best method for reform.
  Reformers who want to see significant changes to our election system 
signed into law must rally around the one bill that has the best chance 
of passing--that bill is the Shays-Meehan substitute.

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