[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TERMINATING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND AND ELECTION ASSISTANCE 
                               COMMISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                               SPEECH OF

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 
3463, legislation that terminates taxpayer financing of presidential 
election campaigns and party conventions and the Election Assistance 
Commission.
  Once again, the Republican Congress is bringing legislation to the 
floor that puts more control of our elections in the hands of big 
business. H.R. 3463 combines two bills that have previously been 
brought before this House that I opposed and that were roundly rejected 
by Democrats.
  In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Congress established the 
current system of public financing of our presidential elections, 
enabling taxpayers to voluntarily contribute a small donation to the 
fund. While there has been bipartisan agreement that this system should 
be fixed, not eliminated, one of the Republican House majority's top 
priorities is, not to focus on creating jobs and building our economy 
but, to give corporate secret donors more control of our presidential 
elections.
  The American people are rightly concerned that only big money and 
special interests get a hearing in Washington. The Supreme Court ruling 
in the Citizens United case opened the floodgates to greater influence 
by powerful special interests--effectively drowning out the voices of 
average Americans. Last year, House Democrats worked on bringing 
fairness and transparency to campaigns with passage of the bipartisan 
DISCLOSE Act, legislation that would ensure Americans' voices are not 
drowned out by corporate dollars.
  Unfortunately, before us today is legislation that did not receive an 
opportunity for debate or amendment, which would make presidential 
candidates more dependent on big corporate money that corrupts our 
political system.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

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