[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15416]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   UNDERMINING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, the last thing Congress needs is more 
special interest candidates who don't answer to the American people; 
and yet this morning, the Senate minority leader and his big money 
allies in the Republican Party once again asked the Supreme Court to 
give billionaires more influence on public policy through our 
elections. If this effort succeeds, individuals would be permitted to 
give as much as $3.5 million each to candidates and parties next year 
in addition to the already unlimited amounts they can spend 
independently.
  It should go without saying that the number of people who are able to 
contribute on this scale is minuscule, but the ranks of those who would 
be affected by this deluge of money cannot be overstated. It is simply 
not possible to turn up the volume on the already amplified voices of a 
few wealthy donors without drowning out the millions of Americans 
already struggling to be heard.
  The fact is we will never have a fair and balanced budget or a more 
equitable tax system while the well off and well connected are allowed 
to control Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not the Republic the Framers intended. When they 
created Congress and when the people approved the 17th Amendment, 
appointing themselves the electors of the Senate, they wanted to ensure 
government was accountable to the people it serves. The more we 
undermine campaign finance laws, the further we get from that 
fundamental principle.

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