[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21418]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT

  (Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, today we will be debating a piece of 
legislation that could more than any other single act put an end to the 
troubling cynicism of the American electorate, the Bipartisan Campaign 
Finance Reform Act. In our Nation, the birthplace of modern democracy, 
our citizens are less likely to vote than any other country in the rest 
of the industrialized world. While there are other factors that 
influence this disturbing trend, the perception that our elections are 
bought and sold rank at the top.

                              {time}  1015

  The numbers are staggering. In 1998, over $781 million was 
contributed to us, we, congressional candidates. In the last 
presidential election, the Clinton and Dole campaigns spent a combined 
$232 million. What has this got to do with free speech?
  The time has come to restore some sanity to our electoral process. 
The leadership of the House is again trying to submarine the Shays-
Meehan bill by making several poison pill amendments in order. That is 
why we must take the courageous decision today, Mr. Speaker, and pass 
the Shays-Meehan bill.

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