[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE SHAYS-MEEHAN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL IS AN IMPORTANT STEP 
                                FORWARD

  (Mr. SANDERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill, and urge the Speaker to 
allow this important piece of legislation to get onto the floor for 
debate and a vote.
  Shays-Meehan, which will stop large corporations and wealthy 
individuals from pouring hundreds of millions of dollars in soft money 
into both political parties, will not solve the crisis of campaign 
financing that we face today, but is an important step forward.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the great tragedies of our time is that the 
American people are in large numbers giving up on the political 
process. In the last election, only 36 percent of the people voted, and 
tens of millions no longer believe that this Congress represents their 
interests. Rather, they believe, not without justification, that big 
money interests, through campaign contributions and lobbying efforts, 
develop the agenda here and call the tunes.
  Mr. Speaker, let us tell the middle class and the working families of 
this country, the folks who do not contribute hundreds of millions, 
that we are listening to them. Let us pass campaign finance reform.

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