[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   STEALTH 527 GROUPS: DISCLOSURE NOW

  (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, when opponents of campaign finance reform 
opposed the Shays-Meehan reform bill last year, their alternative was 
disclose, disclose, disclose; but when asked to require disclosure on 
section 527 stealth political groups, Republicans cried conceal, 
conceal, conceal.
  During debate on the Shays-Meehan reform bill last fall, the majority 
whip, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), said on this House floor, 
``What reform can restore accountability more than an open book?''
  Last week, the Committee on Ways and Means had a chance to open the 
books on the shadowy political organizations being set up under section 
527 of the Tax Code, but every Republican on the committee voted to 
keep the books closed on these stealth groups that have reportedly 
become a favorite tool of the majority whip, according to press 
accounts. Every Democrat on the committee voted to open the books.
  When it comes to campaign finance disclosure, it is time for the 
Republican leadership to do what they say they believe.

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