[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12019]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            CAMPAIGN FINANCE

  (Mr. KILMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a warning, a warning that 
the voices of the American people are at risk of not being heard.
  Outside groups funded by the deepest of pockets have taken center 
stage in this year's election. The Center for Responsive Politics 
reported this week that outside spending has already reached two-thirds 
of a billion dollars in 2016. That is more than twice what these groups 
spent at this point just 4 years ago. Wave after wave of these ads 
dominate our screens and turn political debate into a pro wrestling 
match.
  But there is more to the problem. This system gives a small group of 
the wealthiest Americans a disproportionately loud voice. It affirms 
the fear that so many Americans have that special interests and deep 
pockets have undue say. That is not good for the future of our country 
or of our democracy.
  It is time we stood up and said, ``Enough.'' It is time we stood up 
and said that corporations are not people. It is time we pass campaign 
finance reform, and it is time we revitalize our democracy and bring 
people power back.

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