[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 21420-21421]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TIME TO PASS THE SHAYS-MEEHAN BILL

  (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of Shays-Meehan. 
This is one of the most important bills that this House will consider 
and I hope pass. The Nation is watching today. Individuals as well as 
the faith community, the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and a 
host of others in my district and nationwide are committed to good, 
honest government, government where ordinary citizens could have a 
chance, through their participation in the political process, to have a 
voice and not be drowned out by the millions of dollars now available 
for only the rich.
  We have had laws since 1907 and 1947 that forbid soft money from 
flowing

[[Page 21421]]

into campaigns. However, the loopholes have been great and we need to 
close them. The Shays-Meehan bill closes the loopholes by blocking the 
present flow of unlimited soft money and unregulated contributions to 
the political parties. Shays-Meehan, our bipartisan bill, also blocks 
last-minute campaign ads that masquerade as issue ads.
  The Nation is watching. Our constituents are watching. It is time to 
pass the Shays-Meehan bill.

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