[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, it is time to get serious about reforming 
our broken campaign finance system, and it truly is broken.
  Soft money from the wealthiest corporations and from the wealthiest 
individuals is flooding into Federal elections at an alarming rate. 
Last year's special election in my district saw an explosion of sham 
issue ads which are clearly designed to sway voters with no regard for 
our election laws.
  Our democratic system is being undermined by these abuses. We need to 
act now before the American people lose all faith in the political 
process.
  Today I joined my colleagues in signing the discharge petition to 
bring the Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill to the floor for a 
fair and open debate. The American people have spoken. The time for 
reform is now.

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