[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3396-H3397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NINE OUT OF TEN AMERICANS SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, referring to the Democratic campaign 
finance reform discharge petition, which has 196 Democratic signatures, 
a Republican recently remarked in Roll Call and I quote, ``People who 
sign the discharge petition are committing treason against the party. 
That is how strongly I feel about that. That is a dangerous position to 
take and we need to end that talk.''
  It is no surprise the Republican Party, which outspends Democrats 
two-to-one, has proclaimed that supporting campaign finance reform 
should be a felony offense.
  Mr. Speaker, our political system needs and our constituents demand 
campaign finance reform now. Nine out of 10 Americans support campaign 
finance reform. I repeat, 9 out of 10 Americans. Last year, 196 Members 
signed the discharge petition that led to bringing the Shays-Meehan 
bipartisan campaign finance reform bill to the House floor.

                              {time}  1015

  Without that petition process, the House Republican leadership would 
never have let that debate occur. Time is running out. In order to have 
enough time for the Senate to pass campaign finance reform, moderate 
Republicans must sign this discharge petition immediately.

[[Page H3397]]

  Mr. Speaker, the House must act now on campaign finance reform, and 
pass it before Memorial Day.

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