[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 41 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CAMPAIGN REFORM LEGISLATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I come tonight because I am 
concerned over this Republican Congress that is now speaking about 
having further campaign reform legislation put before us tomorrow, and 
I rise tonight to clarify the myths and to speak the truth about the 
reforms that we have done, the reforms that are not needed, and the 
reforms that this Republican House is about to undertake.
  You would think, Mr. Speaker, that the scandals that are permeating 
the Congress would be a wake-up call for the majority not to continue 
their business as usual in terms of running the people's House. Yet, 
they have introduced H.R. 4975 as a feeble answer to their ethics 
problems.
  Unfortunately, the bill that is going to come before us, called a 
reform campaign bill, will not only be a bogus bill, but it includes 
language that restricts the first amendment rights of Americans.
  Instead, the majority reveals their ongoing and reckless infatuation 
by thwarting the constitutional freedom of speech and association 
rights of concerned citizen groups. Now, we know these groups were 
under the BCRA law that are called 527s, and these groups, Mr. Speaker, 
were groups that had never really had a voice in the political process.
  In this last election, they came out and they were a very strong 
force in providing an increasing voter participation, giving voice to 
the voiceless and becoming more involved in this democracy of ours.
  When I hear the Republicans talk about gaping loopholes that they 
must close, how do you close gaping loopholes when we have a chart that 
speaks about total U.S. voter turnout? This is not gaping loopholes, 
for heaven's sake. This is democracy.
  In 1990, we had a 105.1 million voter turnout. In the 2000 election 
year, we had a 110.8 million turnout. In 2004, we had a record-breaking 
125.7 million people become involved in this political process. So why 
are we now trying to pass legislation that merely muffles the mouths 
and the voices of those who want to take part in this democracy?
  When the majority of Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted for 
this Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, we sought to sever the 
connections between Federal office holders and the raising of non-
Federal money, which is so-called soft money. BCRA, which is the 
campaign bill, was necessary, Mr. Speaker, to cut the perceived 
corrupting link between office holders, the formation and adoption of 
Federal policies, and soft money; and yet the majority is bringing us a 
bill that is so broad in its application that it stands to severely 
hamper voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities for civic-
minded, nonpartisan organizations. It casts such a wide net that it 
will ensnare groups whose activities Congress should be promoting, not 
impeding. This is America. We should be promoting democracy, not 
impeding it.
  By failing to distinguish between groups whose activities are 
designed to influence the election of clearly identified Federal 
candidates and those whose sole purpose it is to enhance participation, 
this legislation imposes too high of a price on election activities.
  Now we have heard that the 527s do not have to report. So wrong, Mr. 
Speaker.
  The Internal Revenue Service suggests that during an election year 
the political organizations have the option of filing on either a 
quarterly or a monthly schedule, and these organizations must continue 
on this same filing schedule for the entire calendar year. So it is 
absurd for them to say that these organizations do not have disclosure 
and do not file. In the last 6 years, Congress has increased the 
regulations of independent political committees organized under the 
section of 527s of the Internal Revenue Code.
  Mr. Speaker, we must not allow this legislation to pass this floor. 
We must continue to allow the American people to have a voice in this 
democracy. We must continue to have American voices heard.
  When the majority of Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted for 
the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, they sought to sever the 
connection between Federal officeholders and the raising of non-federal 
money, so called ``soft money.'' BCRA was necessary to cut the 
perceived corrupting link between officer holders, the formation and 
adoption of federal policies, and soft money.
  The majority's legislation is so broad in its application that it 
stands to severely hamper voter registration and get-out-the-vote 
activities of civic minded non-partisan organizations. It casts such a 
wide net that it will ensnare groups whose activities Congress should 
be promoting, not impeding. By failing to distinguish between groups 
whose activities are designed to influence the election of clearly 
identified Federal candidates and those whose sole purpose is to 
enhance participation, this legislation imposes too high a price on 
election activity.
  My particular concern is that the fundamental rights and needs of all 
Americans, including the voices of women, the elderly, and the poor, 
not be left out of the political dialog merely because of the perceived 
notion that a few millionaires are funding all 527's. Americans are 
playing an ever-increasing role in holding public officials accountable 
for their actions through 1st Amendment protections, public policy 
debate, and the shaping of American democracy.
  The proponents of this bill like to argue that by passing this bill, 
it will be impossible for wealthy individuals to ``unfairly'' impact 
elections. Wrong again. Ending 527's will not end the ability of 
wealthy donors and wealthy corporations to impact elections. They still 
have a multitude of ways to do so by donating to trade associations 
like 501(c)(6)'s, many of which have less stringent, not more 
stringent, reporting requirements than 527's. The majority seems 
incredibly troubled by the independent voices of concerned citizens, 
but there is nothing in the law that could stop any individual from 
financing TV ads on her own. Nevertheless, the real truth is that many 
527's are predominantly financed by small donor contributions from 
individuals who are concerned about holding their elected leaders 
accountable for failing to address the very issues important to them.
  The majority's priorities are misplaced. Without our assistance, few 
victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be able to vote in the 
upcoming elections, wounded war veterans still struggle to obtain 
adequate health care, and gas prices continue to soar skyward.
  The majority should not be in the business of legislating for 
partisan gain at the expense of the American people.

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