    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [February 12, 1997]
    [Page 149]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Campaign Finance Reform Legislation
    February 12, 1997

        In my State of the Union Address, I said that delay would mean the
    death of campaign finance reform, and I called on the Congress to act by
    July 4, 1997. Passage of effective finance reform must be a priority for
    this Congress, but we will succeed only if citizens all across the
    country make clear to elected officials that change is urgent and that
    public support is broad and deep. Project Independence can help break
    the logjam that has blocked reform for so long. By building support for
    the McCain-Feingold and Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bills,
    Project Independence will give citizens a voice as we work to reform our
    politics and renew our democracy.