    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [April 7, 1997]
    [Pages 401-402]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Supplemental
    Funding for the Federal Election Commission
    April 7, 1997

    Dear Mr. Speaker:
        I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed requests for an FY 1997
    supplemental and an FY 1998 budget amendment for the Federal Election
    Commission (FEC).
        The FEC is charged with guarding the integrity of our election
    process. I have sought to strengthen this important agency; its budget
    has increased from $21 million per year in 1993 to $28 million per year
    today. But the agency plainly lacks the resources it needs to keep pace
    with the rapidly rising volume of campaign spending and electoral
    activities. In fact, over the past 2 years, the Congress has
    appropriated for the FEC substantially less than I requested.
        Today, commissioners of both parties have testified that the FEC is
    overworked, underfunded, and unable to address the many issues raised in
    recent elections. Campaign spending by candidates, soft money
    expenditures by parties, independent expenditures, and issue advocacy
    expenditures have exploded. As part of a bipartisan effort to restore
    the public trust in the way we finance elections to the Congress and the
    Presidency, I urge you to provide these additional funds for the FEC.
        In addition, I urge the Congress to enact legislation that would
    strengthen the FEC as part of comprehensive campaign finance reform. The
    bipartisan campaign finance reform legislation introduced by
    Representatives Chris Shays and Marty Meehan and Senators John McCain
    and Russell Feingold includes several critical steps to strengthen the
    FEC, strengthening the agency's ability to stop improper practices and
    allowing random audits of campaigns.
        The details of my budget requests are set forth in the enclosed
    letter from the Director

    [[Page 402]]

    of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur with his comments and
    observations.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this letter.