Christopher Shays

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, will the gentleman explain the purpose of this proposed modification?

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, when the gentleman says shut the door, I wish the gentleman would clarify what he is saying. If it is, in fact, a campaign ad, it is true it comes under the campaign law. It means that people can raise money and advertise. They still have a right to advertise, they just come under disclosure rules and contributions limits. But they can spend as much as they raise. Certainly the gentleman would not suggest that the Christian Coalition National Right to Life Committee, the National Rifle Association or any other group would have any trouble raising money and spending. They simply would, for the first time, have to disclose campaign ads.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, subject to the agreement I think of all sides, this debate will continue, and we will have further information provided from both sides, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, we just need to know exactly what is in the bill, and then we can argue it. We say a voting record and voting guide exception. The term ``express advocacy'' does not include a printed communication that prevents information in an educational manner solely about the voting record or position on a candidate issued on two or more candidates that is not made in coordination with the candidate, political party, or agent of the candidate or party or a candidate's agent or a person who is coordinating with a candidate's agents. Third, it does not contain a phrase such as vote for, reelect, support, cast your ballot for, name of candidate for Congress, name of candidate in 1997, vote against, defeat, reject, and so on. This 1994 Christian Coalition guide is legal. And what the gentleman wants to do is he wants to strike out the very language we put in the bill. I would just point out to the gentleman this is allowed under our bill, and the gentleman is taking it out.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. On behalf of those who are supporting this reform legislation, we gladly accept this substantive amendment by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). It improves the bill. It will enable us to deal with issues that are not dealt with in the Shays-Meehan reform legislation. I urge the amendment's passage. I do not think we to have too much debate about it.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I know that the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) wants to speak. I just want to speak on behalf of the Meehan-Shays supporters, that we do support this amendment. It is a right of American citizens today. I know we will have other amendments to consider, but we do support it and would urge others to support it as well.

Mr. SHAYS. We accept the commission bill without any restraints. It is the gentleman's bill, as it is the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). It could recommend whatever it wants. We would make an assumption that they might not deal, and probably would not deal with items that had already been dealt with, but they are free to do it, and we know that and accept it. And we know the House ultimately has a chance to vote on it. It is truly the gentleman's amendment without any restraints.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield? I can answer.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for the tone of her message and the strength of her message, and I agree with her comments, and one of the challenges that we have is, as these amendments come in, make sure we are touching base with all sides and making sure that we are able to meld this process so we can accommodate the various sincere and real concerns that Members have such as the gentlewoman, and I appreciate her present vote, and I appreciate her comments.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, the Meehan-Shays bill provides for a soft money ban. It recognizes that sham issue ads. It are truly campaign ads and treats them as campaign ads. It codifies Beck and improves FEC disclosure and enforcement. The legislation provides that we put a ban on unsolicited franked mass mailings 6 months to the election, that is May on, and makes it clear that foreign money and fund-raising on government property are illegal. It presently is not illegal to raise soft money from foreigners or on federal property. Believe it or not, it is not illegal. We make sure that people know it is. I would just reiterate that we are prepared to vote right now on the commission bill. We have debated it long and hard, and pointed out when we debated the White proposal as a standing substitute, that we agreed with many of the merits, as long as we took a stand now to deal with soft money, deal with the sham issue ads, codify Beck and so on. So we are prepared to support the Dingell-Maloney amendment to the reform bill, the Meehan-Shays bill, and I hope we can move forward on this because I know we have lots more amendments to deal with that Members would like to introduce. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.

Mr. SHAYS

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Barrett).

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach). He has been the leader on campaign finance reform over his term in Congress. (Mr. LEACH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, it is a distinct honor to present before this Chamber the Meehan-Shays amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2183. This substitute provides a soft money ban on both the Federal and State levels for Federal elections; it recognizes that sham issue ads are truly campaign ads and treats them as campaign ads; it codifies the Beck decision; it improves FEC disclosure and enforcement; it provides that unsolicited franked mass mailings be banned 6 months to an election; and it requires that foreign money and money raised on government property is illegal. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) be allowed to control half of the time. To my understanding that would be 15 minutes; is that correct?

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, could the Chair inform me as to the time on each side?

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 20 seconds to point out that in our legislation, the term ``express advocacy'' does not include a printed communication that prevents information in an educational manner solely about the voting record or position on a campaign issue of two or more candidates. So we specifically provide and allow for voting records to be a part of the system. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentle and very strong woman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).

Mr. SHAYS. Yes. Let me be clear, Mr. Chairman. Do I have 5 minutes now, or can I reserve that 5 minutes?

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton). (Mr. HOUGHTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the dynamic gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp). (Mr. WAMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHAYS. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, I just would like to have some definition. Is the gentleman asking to strike the requisite number of words and use 5 minutes, or he is just asking unanimous consent to take 5 minutes and not strike the requisite number of words? I am just curious to know what he asked for.