[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3395-H3396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             BIPARTISAN EFFORT FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, last year we forced a vote on reform to 
clean up the way congressional campaigns are conducted. In the words of 
the respected commentator, Mary McGrory: ``To get the bill to the floor 
reformers had to pry it out of the clenched jaws of Speaker Newt 
Gingrich by gathering signatures on a discharge petition.''
  When that vote for reform finally and belatedly occurred, we found 
out why.

[[Page H3396]]

 Every single Republican leader voted against the bipartisan reform, 
supported by good government groups, and every Democratic leader voted 
for it. Nevertheless, Republican delay wrote the obituary for this 
proposal in the Senate.
  This year we face the same problem. Here in this House, 196 Democrats 
have signed a petition to force debate on all proposals, Democratic and 
Republican, now. Speaker Hastert and Mr. DeLay say wait until some time 
in the fall. Every Republican member who refuses to sign this petition 
for timely action is complicit in killing reform. Join us in a 
bipartisan effort. Sign now and act now.

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