[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1641-E1642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN INTEGRITY ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2183) to 
     amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the 
     financing of campaigns for elections for Federal office, and 
     for other purposes:


  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my support 
for the Farr Substitute to H.R. 2183. This substitute advances the 
effort to reform campaign finance laws in the direction in which I 
believe we must ultimately go if we are going to restore credibility to 
the election process. The bipartisan support for Shays-Meehan is one 
reflection of the House's deep desire for campaign finance reform. Last 
night's victory illustrated the grassroots advocacy and public 
sentiment for limiting soft money contributions and transfers in 
federal campaigns before we adjourn. We owe these constituencies a debt 
of gratitude for not giving up on us. We owe it to ourselves to 
continue this fight by building on the reforms contained in Shays-
Meehan.
  Mr. Chairman, that's why I support the Farr Substitute.

[[Page E1642]]

  Mr. Chairman, the Farr Substitute sets a voluntary spending limit of 
$600,000 for each two-year election cycle. It also contains related 
limitations on large donors, political action committees and the use of 
personal funds. As important, the Farr Substitute provides candidates 
with direct, tangible public benefits. The 50% reduction in broadcast 
rates and reduced postal rates proposed in this measure give office 
seekers a real incentive to voluntarily limit campaign spending.
  Mr. Chairman, the Farr Substitute represents the next stage in 
campaign finance reform. I ask my colleagues, on both sides of the 
aisle, to join the gentleman from California and me in sending a 
resounding message of support for continuing and deepening the reform 
process by voting in favor of the Farr Substitute.

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