[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 513, 527 REFORM ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to 
the so-called 527 Reform Act of 2005 (H.R. 513). This legislation 
singles out 527 organizations in an effort to undermine their 
fundraising and is a direct assault on free speech.
  This legislation would change the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (FECA) to add 527 organizations in the definition of political 
committee. If enacted, this bill would suppress free speech and 
obstruct the efforts of grassroots organizations to encourage voter 
participation while doing nothing to address the culture of corruption 
in Congress.
  I support the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002, which 
established balanced and effective strategies to achieve fairer 
elections. H.R. 513 is an unbalanced measure that favors corporate 
trade associations over independent advocates. For example, the bill 
would provide an unfair advantage to corporate interests by allowing 
them to continue spending unlimited and undisclosed dollars for 
political purposes while subjecting independent organizations, like 
citizens joining together to promote voter registration, to 
contribution limits and source restrictions.
  H.R. 513 also removes all limits on national and state party spending 
for Congressional candidates in primary or general elections. This 
section of the bill is an unmasked attack on BCRA and clear evidence of 
the majority party's true intentions in advancing H.R. 513. The goal is 
not reform, but partisan advantage in political fundraising.
  If we are serious about reform, there are several Democratic 
proposals that have been put forward to address the real problems 
facing this Congress. We should be reforming the Rules of the House in 
order to provide Members adequate time to review legislation before a 
vote. We should also be addressing the practice of travel on corporate 
jets and disclosure of fundraising by lobbyists. Unfortunately, the 
Republicans will not allow a real, comprehensive debate on this 
critical issue.
  H.R. 513 is the majority party's cynical and underwhelming response 
and is clearly meant to distract attention from the real problems of 
corruption. I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and vote for a 
real package of reforms--changes that Congress needs and that Americans 
expect.

                          ____________________