[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1616-E1617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROHIBITING USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR PARTY 
                              CONVENTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5912. This is 
a misguided bill that repeals public financing of our national 
political conventions and allows moneyed special-interests to complete 
their corporate buyout of America's electoral process.
  Public financing of both Democratic and Republican conventions, 
created in 1976 following the Watergate scandal, was designed to 
establish a safeguard against corruption in the political system by 
reducing the emphasis on fundraising in presidential campaigns and 
diminishing the influence of wealthy special interests. In recent 
years, the need to modernize the system for today's campaign 
environment has become evident, but the system remains as critical as 
ever to the integrity of our democracy--especially in the wake of the 
Supreme Court's Citizens United vs. FEC ruling.
  The disastrous Citizens United decision that unleashed nearly a 
billion dollars of corporate funding into the Presidential race has 
demonstrated how essential it is to restore and uphold the integrity of 
our elections. Passage of H.R. 5912 would only serve to further 
undermine this integrity by enabling secretive Super PACs and 
billionaires to take full control of our political conventions, a 
critical component of America's electoral process. Furthermore, public 
financing plays a vital role in helping state and local governments 
offset the costs associated with hosting national political 
conventions. These costs may include property taxes, parking 
accommodations, and local law enforcement funding. H.R. 5912 is unfair 
to the municipalities that have the honor of hosting these important 
national events.
  The financing system for political conventions must be repaired, not 
repealed, to better serve the interests of the American people and 
protect against corruption.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

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