Ron Kind

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, The headline of an article in today's The Hill says it all: ``Soft Money Soars as Campaign Reform Falters.'' As an unyielding supporter of campaign finance reform, I am sickened by what the article goes on to discuss, ``The soft money explosion is a result of campaign officials findings innovative ways to channel the supposedly non-federal money into congressional campaigns. Campaign officials are boasting of their fundraising prowess: But this has reformers fearing that the growing stream of soft money into Democratic and Republican congressional committees has turned into a mighty river that threatens to flood the political system's banks.'' Soft money contributions are unlimited and the congressional campaign committees in 1997 set a soft money raising record of more than $30 million. As campaign finance reform has once again died in the Senate, and gasps for life in the House of Representatives, the fundraising machine gets more and more out of control. Mr. Speaker, the problem is clear, there is too much money involved in the campaigns. The influence of money has created the appearance that special interests rule the democratic process. People no longer believe they have a voice in their government. I urge you to schedule a vote on campaign finance reform on the floor of the House of Representatives. We must act soon. The people of western Wisconsin have told me to continue the fight until you agree to allow a vote. The people refuse to take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, as we begin work this week, the week after the Senate failed to pass campaign finance reform legislation, many in the media are proclaiming campaign finance reform dead. I disagree, there is still a chance if the House of Representatives passes our own bill. I hope Mr. Speaker that you do not use the vote in the Senate as an excuse for failing to act in this House. A majority of the Senate supported the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill. A majority of the members of the House, as judged by those who have signed on to campaign reform legislation, support campaign finance reform. The will of the majority in the Senate was denied because of Senate rules which requires 60 votes to end debate and pass a bill. The only way the will of the majority in the House can be denied is by your failing to schedule a vote on this issue. We have been promised a vote on campaign finance reform before the end of March. The people of this nation have demanded that we act to clean up our broken election system. They will be watching to insure that the vote this month is a fair vote without poison pills. Mr. Speaker the people of my district refuse to take ``no'' for an answer. Do not let them down by denying the will of the majority.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Russ Feingold. Senator Feingold for 5 years has courageously championed campaign finance reform. The debate this week in the United States Senate is a tribute to Senator Feingold and Senator McCain's perseverance in the face of strong opposition. While passage of the McCain-Feingold bill is not guaranteed, the Senate at least has been given an opportunity to cast an up-or-down vote on it. We in the House have been denied the right to any debate and vote on campaign reform. Now, many of my friends in the Republican Party have argued that our first step must be to investigate any campaign violations that occurred during the 1996 elections. I agree. As a former prosecutor, I believe that anyone who violated the laws of this country must be held accountable. Simply investigating the abuses, however, ignores the largest problem, that most of the worst problems of the campaign system are legal: Soft money, unregulated issues ads, and independent expenditures from groups accountable to no one. Madam Speaker, these are the real problems of our campaign system and the citizens of Wisconsin have asked us not to accept ``no'' for an answer on this.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, the Olympics have a history of promoting national pride and memorable moments. Regardless of the sport or background, the Olympics bring out the best in athletes and brings our world together. A number of people from western Wisconsin made their mark in Nagano, each in their own unique way that epitomizes the nature of the games. Mike Martino from La Crosse, WI received a bronze medal for ice sculpting at the Olympic Festival of the Arts in the Olympic Village. His sculpture, ``Nature's Way,'' depicted a winter landscape of wind shaping the snow. Curling had been an Olympic demonstration sport numerous times before, but this was the first time it was included as a medal sport. Although the team came one spot short of a bronze medal, Mike Peplinski from Eau Claire, WI was able to compete even though he has a rare kidney disease and is scheduled to receive a transplant. By far the most memorable image of these past Olympics was when the women's hockey team won the first gold medal awarded for women's hockey. Karyn Bye, from River Falls, WI led the team in scoring through the games and was third overall in scoring out of all the teams participating. To see Karyn carry the flag after the gold medal victory inspired feelings of pride and captivation. On behalf of the people of western Wisconsin, I would like to salute our Winter Olympians, Mike, Mike and Karyn. Their hard work, dedication, and love of country is an inspiration to everyone. These Wisconsin natives embody the true Olympic spirit, which makes them all winners.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today and for the rest of this week, the U.S. Senate is considering bipartisan campaign finance reform legislation. This is an issue whose time is long overdue. I rise today to applaud the Senate leadership for their willingness to allow a vote to come to the floor of the Senate. This does not mean that passage of a reform bill is guaranteed. It is, however, a significant step forward. Mr. Speaker I have documented over the past six months the need to schedule a vote on the floor of the House. I have spoken daily about the importance of this issue to the people of my district. There is little more I can say to convince you to move this issue forward and give Members of Congress an opportunity to make their position known to the public. I simply ask that as we consider a light legislation schedule this week we find some time to bring to a vote a true bipartisan campaign finance reform bill. The Senate has demonstrated leadership on this issue, it is now our turn. The people of my district will not accept ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, the American people are looking to us to pass meaningful campaign finance reform in order to restore their faith in the political process. The President of the United States has called for bipartisan campaign finance reform to restore fairness and structure to a system plagued by abuses and unfair advantage. Now, leaders of corporate America have spoken out demanding campaign finance reform to ensure that businesses do not feel obliged to make large campaign contributions. The House still fails to set a date for debate and ultimately, a vote. What group needs to speak out to get the attention of House leadership? I will continue to deliver daily statements. Individuals and public and private interests will continue to speak out. The Senate will continue to do its job by voting on reform by March 6, 1998. Will the House continue to turn a deaf ear to a growing voice calling for reform? My constituents demand to be heard, they will not take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Oregon, (Ms. Hooley) for her tenacity on an issue that I think is one of the most important issues that this body, this Congress, in this session should be working on, and that is campaign finance reform. We have had numerous conversations with the Speaker, trying to get a promise from him to bring this measure up. Trent Lott in the Senate has agreed to allow the McCain-Feingold bill to come forward. We have the perfect vehicle on the House side. A freshman task force has been working for the better part of a year, six Republicans, six freshman Democrats, in trying to get the poison pills out of a good finance reform bill, and believe we have done that. We have numerous cosponsors from across the aisle, and I am asking today for the Speaker and the leaders in this House to at least allow us to bring this issue up for a full debate and for consideration and for a vote on this bill this spring. I hear from my constituents in western Wisconsin that they do not expect me to take no for an answer, and figure out a way to get big money and the influence of money out of politics. I think now is the day that we should act. The time has come, and I commend my freshman colleagues who have been working for the better part of a year to make that day a reality.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, we have been back in session for several days now and still no word on campaign finance reform. With almost daily editorials and articles in newspapers across this country, how can we sit back and ignore a call to action? There may be different ideas promulgated and different reservations expressed about the problem but until those ideas and reservations are debated on the House floor, we are getting nowhere fast. The American people deserve a response to their concern. This week the members of the House of Representatives were in town for a very light schedule. This would have been a perfect time to consider campaign finance reform. I hope that next week, with another light schedule, we may take up this important issue. The people of my district refuse to accept ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, will 1998 be the year the U.S. House of Representatives finally considers and passes meaningful campaign finance reform? Debate on this issue is long overdue. I urge you to take the first step and open this issue for discussion on the floor. Much of the controversy over campaign financing has to do with perception--how things might appear to the voting public. Are certain interests buying access to elected officials through campaign contributions? Are elected officials using the power of office to solicit campaign contributions, thereby perpetuating themselves in office? To some, it appears that way. I ask you, Mr. Speaker--What is the voting public's perception of your refusal to allow this issue up for debate? President Clinton has called for it. The Senate has agreed to debate it. Still, the House remains silent. The voting public--my constituents included--want to know why. Mr. Speaker the people refuse to accept ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, as we return for the beginning of the 1998 legislative session I want to renew my call for action this year on campaign finance reform. Last year, I submitted a daily statement for the official Record calling on you to allow a vote on campaign finance reform. Unfortunately, we were not allowed an opportunity to vote on this important issue. I hope that 1998 will be the year we finally respond to the demands of the public, who overwhelmingly want us to fix the current campaign funding system. In the U.S. Senate, Senator Lott has promised a vote on this issue before March 5. I applaud his commitment to allowing a vote. I hope that the leadership in the House will also commit to a date certain. Until then, I will continue my practice of submitting a daily statement to remind the congressional leadership and the public that we have not passed campaign finance reform. Mr. Speaker, the problem is clear, there is too much money involved in the election campaigns. The influence of money has created the appearance of special interest influence in the democratic process. The voters no longer believe they have a voice in the system. We will not be able to turn around public opinion, and therefore restore the public's confidence in our democracy, until we pass a meaningful campaign finance reform bill. I urge you to schedule a vote on campaign finance reform on the floor of the House of Representatives. We must act soon. The people of western Wisconsin have told me to continue the fight until you agree to allow a vote. The people will not take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, one more day and no campaign finance reform. At a press conference today, the members of the Republican leadership said that they will take up campaign finance reform early next year. The leadership also said that they will consider several small bills, rather than a comprehensive piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker that approach is inadequate. As I have explained before, next year is going to be too late to consider campaign finance reform in time for the 1998 election. In addition, allowing a variety of small incremental bills will only result in more confusion and more loopholes for special interests to buy our elections. It is obvious that the leadership has no desire to see real campaign finance reform pass this year. What we need is comprehensive campaign finance reform. We need reform that takes the big money out of campaigns. We don't need incremental bills that only add confusion to an already confusing system. The House of Representatives has to act soon. Mr. Speaker, it appears that we have failed the people of this Nation by not passing a campaign reform vote this year, lets not let them down again next year.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another week and still no campaign finance reform. We are now down to the final days before we adjourn for the year, if we don't take action now on campaign finance reform next year will be too late. On Monday of this week, I spent the day on several University campuses in my district. I had an opportunity to meet with students who are concerned about a variety of issues, including student financial aid, the environment and their future job prospects. I was struck, however, by the feeling among students that their voice doesn't matter. They believe that the influence of money on the political process means only the rich and powerful special interests have access to Members of Congress. I have tried to do my part, through meetings like the ones I held Monday, to change that perception. But, we will not be able to completely change that image until we adopt comprehensive campaign finance reform. These students represent the future. If we expect them to be the leaders in the next century, we must give them hope that they can make a difference. To achieve that goal we must pass campaign finance reform, and we must do it now. Mr. Speaker, the people of western Wisconsin refuse to accept ``no'' as an answer. Please do not let them down, schedule a vote on campaign finance reform.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today is the end of the line for those of us who support campaign finance reform. Today, it is expected that we will complete our legislative session, and will adjourn for the rest of the year. We will adjourn without having been given a vote on campaign finance reform. The leadership of this House has rejected the pleas of myself and many of my colleagues to bring a bill to the floor for a debate and vote. It is obvious that the current system is broken and needs dramatic change. Too much money is being spent on campaigns. This has prohibited many qualified individuals from running for office, it has created disgust with the democratic process, and it has resulted in some of the lowest voter turnout in years. It is our responsibility as elected officials to change the current system. There have been some promises that the House will consider a campaign finance reform bill in March of next year. It will be too late. Next year is an election year and even if we do pass legislation which will change the current system, which is still unlikely, it will be too late for the 1998 election cycle. That means a continued escalation of spending in campaigns, more soft money expenditures, more independent expenditures by special interest groups, and ultimately more public dissatisfaction with the process. I have risen each day and made a statement calling for a vote on campaign finance reform. The leadership has failed to respond to my call. More importantly, they have failed to respond to the demands of the public for an end to the big money race. I hope that when we return next year we will respond to the demands of the public and allow a vote on campaign finance reform. The people of my district demand that we take action.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day and still no campaign finance reform. We are here on a Saturday trying to finish our legislative business. We have made an extraordinary effort to finish our work so that Members may be able to go home before Veterans Day for the rest of the year. Yet we haven't considered campaign finance reform. With the possibility of only 1 day left in this session it is obvious that the leadership has no desire to allow a vote. This is too bad. A majority of the Members of this House have signed on to campaign finance reform legislation. A majority of the public wants to see an end to the abuses of the system. The leadership has said no. The public knows that there will be no reform passed next year, during an election year. The leadership of this House has failed the people it is sworn to represent.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today is November 7, over 4 months after the July 4th deadline that the President set for passage of campaign finance reform. I have delivered each day since that time a statement in the House of Representatives calling on the leadership to allow a vote on any one of the many campaign finance bills pending in this Congress. My pleas, and the request of many others, has gone unanswered. We are now entering into the final weekend of our legislative year. By Sunday we may be out of session, not to return until late January of next year. If we don't act this weekend we will never change the current system. The examples of abuse of the existing system are too numerous to mention. I have documented many of the abuses, on both sides of the aisle, in my earlier statements. The Republicans have invested an enormous amount of taxpayers' money investigating and exposing the alleged violations of law by the White House in the last election. Investigation is good. Those who broke the law should be brought to justice. The sad fact is, however, that many of the most well known abuses are technically legal. We must do more than investigate, we must legislate. With only a few days left, we must act now. Let's take some time this weekend to debate, consider, and pass campaign finance reform. The people of my district will not take no for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day and still no campaign finance reform. This week saw another reason why we need to change the current system. The Republican National Committee spent $800,000 in the race to replace former Representative, Susan Molinari. This money came from unregulated soft money contributions to the national parties. In a race like the one in New York, this amount of money made a significant difference in the outcome of the election. We need to fix the system that allows any party to come into a race at the last minute and buy an election with unregulated soft money. If the House adopted a ban on soft money, like the one in the Bipartisan Freshman Campaign Reform bill, we would allow races to be decided by local candidates and their supporters, not by the parties or the special interests in Washington. That is how we will restore the public's faith in our electoral system and actually see voter participation increase, rather than the decline we have seen over the past several years. Mr. Speaker, the time is now to move forward on a vote on campaign finance reform. The people of my district refuse to take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day has gone by and still no campaign finance reform. While most are looking at yesterday's election results in terms of who won and who lost, I read a more interesting, and troubling result from those elections. In the race for Virginia Governor we saw two very capable candidates, the highest level of spending in Virginia history, a fairly clean campaign and still voter turnout that was the lowest in many years. We have to ask ourselves, why are voters increasingly turned off by the election process? In races where you have an especially negative race it is easy to understand why voters are not going to the polls. But in this case it was a clean race, the race included a meaningful discussion of real issues and each party spent millions of dollars trying to get their message to the voters. There must be another answer. I believe it is clear that the voters have grown frustrated with the current big money political system. The public believes that Government is for sale to the highest bidder, and their vote doesn't matter. It is our responsibility to restore the faith of the public in our democratic system. One way to begin that process is to clean up our own house, and eliminate the influence of big money in politics. Campaign finance reform is needed now more than ever. Clearly no one can argue that the problem of low voter turnout in Virginia would be solved by spending more money. It is time to pass campaign finance reform and send a clear signal to the people of this country, that this Government is not for sale, that their vote does count, and that this Government belongs to the people not the special interests. The people are expressing this displeasure by staying home on election day. We must pass campaign finance reform before we adjourn this year. For all our sake, we cannot accept ``no'' as an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, we are starting another week of legislative session, possibly the last week this year, and still no campaign finance reform. The news over the weekend was encouraging for supporters of reform. Speaker Gingrich announced that the House will schedule debate on campaign finance reform no later than March 6 next year. This is another positive step on the road to reform, but it is not the answer. As I and many of my colleagues have warned, a vote next year, during an election year, is not satisfactory. By March of next year we will all be involved in our reelection campaigns, and any change will be too late to take effect in the 1998 elections. Mr. Speaker, rather than wait until March of next year to consider this issue, the House should take up campaign finance reform this week. There are a wide variety of bills currently introduced that could be considered. The House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight has been holding hearings on these bills. We have the time to consider campaign reform legislation this week and have a bill passed before we adjourn for the year. The voters of this Nation want us to clean up our house. The leadership in the Senate and the House have agreed to allow a vote on this issue. The time to act is now. I refuse to take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend the gentleman from California [Mr. Martinez] on the Committee on Education and the Workforce for yielding me the time. As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support tonight for this legislation. I, too, would like to commend my colleagues and friends on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Riggs], for the hard work that they put in in drafting this legislation that is a good bipartisan piece of legislation, legislation that is really geared to helping the public school system in this country to improve themselves and give parents greater choice, teachers greater flexibility in how they are going to teach our children. I urge my colleagues tonight to get behind and support this charter school legislation. I am a supporter of school choice, Mr. Chairman. I believe that the parents should be allowed to send their children, whether it is the public school or private schools of their choice. I oppose, however, the voucher plan that we earlier voted down in this Chamber. I think it is a drain on the public school resources, limited resources that are available. My State of Wisconsin earlier this year struck down a private voucher plan in that State as an unconstitutional infringement upon the separation of church and State. The public schools are America's commitment and promise, really, to provide a quality education to every child in this country. They are the great equalizers in our society. Charter schools are merely public schools that are created by teachers, parents, and other members of the community as innovative means to educate students and to stimulate creativity in the public school system. Wisconsin passed its charter school bill back in 1993. We have 15 currently in existence. There is a lot of demand for increasing that number in recent years. This legislation will provide the seed money to allow States such as Wisconsin, with the positive feedback and results that we are seeing in the charter school system, get that type of seed money in order to improve the public education system. I believe it is time to provide the support to parents and teachers, school districts and communities throughout the country to think creatively with bold innovative ideas and the flexibility necessary to meet the challenges we face in preparing all our children to the challenges of America. I urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day has gone by and still no campaign finance reform. While the House of Representatives refuses to take action on this important issue, the tales of abuses of the system continue to come to our attention. In yesterday's paper I read, with interest, more documented abuses of the campaign finance system. The abuses include ambassadorships for sale, hush money from foreign businessmen, shakedowns of people with issues before the President, all being coordinated from the Oval Office. These revelations are new to the public, but they are not new abuses. These activities occurred over 26 years ago, during the administration of President Richard Nixon, the poster child for campaign finance reform. Following the revelations of the illegal activities by the Nixon White House, Congress passed campaign finance reform. Those reforms haven't been changed or updated since that time. Today we see the result of our failure to update and strengthen the campaign finance rules. Parties, candidates, and special interest groups have discovered loopholes in the law and have devised schemes to operate outside of public view. Mr. Speaker, it is time we change the rules and strengthen the requirements under which campaigns are run. If we do not take action now the abuses will continue. Failure to act will continue the undermining of America's confidence in our democracy that began after the Nixon Watergate scandal. It is time to vote on campaign finance reform, I refuse to take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today hearings began in the Government Reform and Oversight Committee on campaign finance reform. In the Senate an agreement has been worked out to allow a vote on campaign finance reform before March 6 of next year. On the floor of the House 168 Members, Democrats and Republicans, have signed a discharge petition to bring a vote forward. It looks like campaign finance reform is gaining momentum here in Washington. I for one am not yet satisfied. There are only a few weeks left before the House adjourns for the year. Next year will be an election year. It will be too late to deal with this issue when we come back next year. The House leadership needs to commit itself to allowing a vote before we leave this year. Those Members who care about this issue should join me and sign the discharge petition. The recent action on campaign reform is not enough. We must be given a chance to vote on this issue on the floor of the House of Representatives and we must do that in the next few weeks. I refuse to take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day has gone by and still no campaign finance reform. My colleagues who oppose changing the current campaign finance system continue to argue that we must conduct exhaustive hearings on the abuses of the system during the 1996 election before we pass a reform bill. I agree that we must investigate violations of the law, and those who break the rules need to be prosecuted and brought to justice. That very thing is happening in Virginia right now. The State of Virginia is charging the Republican National Committee for failure to disclose campaign contributions in excess of $600,000 to GOP candidates during this fall election in that State. The contributions are legal, but the failure to disclose those contributions are a clear violation of Virginia campaign law. In the special congressional election in New York City the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee has announced it will be spending $800,000 in independent expenditures on behalf of the Republican congressional candidate. This ``soft money'' is being used to influence the outcome of the special election, even though campaign finance rules specifically prohibit direct expenditures on behalf of a candidate. Mr. Speaker, we must investigate violations of the law by both parties, in the 1996 and 1997 elections. However, we also need to change the current rules that allow millions of dollars to be legally spent to buy elections in this country. It is time to stop the excuses and allow a vote on campaign finance reform. I refuse to take ``no'' for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, we are gathered here today not to mourn the loss of our beloved friend, Walter Capps, though mourn him we will and we must, but really to celebrate his life and the effect that he had on all of us here. I am a proud member of the freshman class who entered this Congress this year with Walter Capps. He made us all better. Although I knew him and Lois for a little less than a year, I felt as if I had known him my whole life, because he was someone who I aspired to become, someone who loved and cared for his family very much, someone who was a deep thinker, philosophically and theologically, someone who had great respect for this institution, for the process of this great democracy of ours, but especially someone who had great respect and showed great interest in the individuals who make up this institution. I will never forget, shortly after the swearing in ceremony this year, I was sitting next to Walter and we were talking about the future, and how he exuded this idealism and his respect for this place, but also the responsibility that we all shared. But perhaps, most of all, and this was something you could see daily, was Walter's attempt to get to know all of us on both sides of the aisle. We would constantly see him seated next to someone, just talking to them, picking their brains, getting to know them a little bit better. In this era of modern politics where so many of us are dedicated to destroying one another, attacking each other's character, he tried to work from the other point of view, to get to know one another, realizing that ultimately only good things are accomplished when we can work in a bipartisan fashion together, and in the best interests of this country. Lois, Walter will be missed, but he will never be forgotten here. Rest in peace, my friend.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today I learned that the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee has scheduled a hearing on campaign finance reform for this Thursday, October 30. This is good news. I applaud Chairman Bill Thomas for allowing this important issue to be given a proper hearing. However, this is only the first step. Not only should campaign finance reform legislation be given a hearing, it also must come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a full debate and vote. The people of my district have told me repeatedly that they will not take no for an answer when it comes to changing the current campaign finance system. A hearing is not enough, the full House must be given a chance to vote on this issue. Last week I joined 168 of my colleagues in signing a discharge petition on campaign finance legislation. It appears the pressure of that petition has forced the leadership of the House to schedule the hearing. I will urge my colleagues not to abandon the discharge effort until we are sure that a fair vote will be allowed on campaign finance reform. With 2 weeks left before our expected adjournment for the year there is very little time left to consider this issue. I urge you to move quickly to bring a substantial reform bill before the House. I will not take no for an answer.

Mr. KIND

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, another day has gone by and still no campaign finance reform. As we approach the end of one more week we are inching closer and closer to the end of the 1997 legislative session. If we do not take action before we adjourn, now expected to be November 7, we will not have the chance to fix the campaign finance system before the 1998 election. Next year will be an election year and any chance to change the system during a campaign year is very unlikely. Today we spent over an hour debating a contested election for Congress. That debate is important, and must take place. However, if this House can find the time to consider the outcome of one election, why can't we take the time to consider legislation that will impact every Congressional election from this day forward. The answer is clear. The leadership of this House has no desire to consider campaign finance reform. The sad fact is, because of the reluctance of the House leadership to allow a vote, Members are going to be forced to take action on their own. That will happen tomorrow. Before that happens, I hope the Speaker will reconsider his opposition to allowing a vote on campaign finance reform. I hope the Speaker will give the majority of the public what they want. They want Congress to get serious about cleaning up our house by passing campaign finance reform.