[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 70 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I simply cannot understand why my 
Republican colleagues are so dead set against allowing a debate on 
campaign finance reform. One hundred and ninety-three Members have 
signed a discharge petition asking that we simply debate, only 
Democrats. Not one single Republican was willing to sign that discharge 
motion.
  Americans know that special interest money unduly influences 
elections and policy. If my colleagues care about gun control, then 
campaign finance reform is their issue so that the NRA does not call 
all the shots. If health care is my colleagues' issue, campaign finance 
reform is for them so they can be heard over the HMOs and insurance 
companies.
  Ordinary people are wondering what the heck we are doing here. I urge 
the Speaker and my colleagues to do something to debate campaign 
finance reform now. Let us do it next week and get this bill on the 
floor to debate it.

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