[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21419]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  REAL REFORM VERSUS SHOW ME THE MONEY

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, nine out of 10 Americans support campaign 
finance reform; nine out of 10.
  The simple fact is that the cost of running for federal office today 
is so great that candidates are forced to devote far too much time and 
effort to fund-raising, rather than dealing with the issues of 
importance to their constituents. We can eliminate soft money entirely, 
rid our society of the pollution caused by sham issue ads, and increase 
public disclosure of who is paying for what. It is real reform versus 
show me the money.
  This is the crux of the argument today as the House will undertake 
the serious debate of reforming our system of financing political 
campaigns. The Shays-Meehan bill is real reform, eliminates soft money, 
increases disclosure and bans phoney issue ads.
  The Republican leadership support the show-me-the-money approach. 
They argue for more money in the system and less reforms. Real reform 
versus show me the money. Support Shays-Meehan and show every American 
that the House supports real reform and not simply more money.

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