[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 15 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Pages 475-476]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 476]]

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 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.