[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ONE CITIZEN, ONE VOTE

  (Mr. CUMMINGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 
fundamental principle of one citizen, one vote. Sadly, high campaign 
costs and fund-raising abuses are eroding this essential feature of our 
democracy.
  In 1976, $540 million was spent on all elections and 20 years later, 
in 1996, that figure had risen to an alarming $4 billion.
  Our political process has become a marketplace where a higher value 
is placed on economic and fund-raising activities than on political 
ideology, accountability and service.
  The American people want political commitment, not a political 
market. They want a system where inequalities generated by the market 
economy do not undermine political equality. Let us give the American 
people what they want: Equal access and a commitment to service instead 
of campaigns. Let us pass bipartisan campaign finance reform and revive 
the guarantee of one citizen, one vote.

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