[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3397-H3398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ASKING ALL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM DISCHARGE 
                                PETITION

  (Mr. LUTHER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H3398]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to ask all Democrats and 
Republicans to sign the campaign finance reform discharge petition. I 
say that, Mr. Speaker, because there is no issue more important to the 
future of this country than this particular issue.
  I ask Members to ask themselves why it seems that Congress can never 
get anything done. I ask Members to ask themselves why Congress cannot 
pass health care reform legislation, child safety legislation, or the 
many other pressing issues facing this country. Ask why that 
supplemental funding bill this week was filled with pork barrel 
spending, rather than dealing with national priorities like education.
  A good part of the answer is the way we fund campaigns in this 
country, the influence of special interests. We passed this bill, we 
debated it last year. We can pass it again now. We do not need to wait 
so that it gets tied up in budget negotiations or in politics of next 
year's elections. We can pass it for the American people today.

                          ____________________