• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

UNITED STATES OF Al\fERICA (LongrrssionallItfcord th PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 94 CONGRESS SECOND SESSION VOLU~IE 122-PART 6 11,\RGH IS, 1976 TO ~L\RC:f[ 2~;, 1'176 (PAGES 6397 TO 77G6' UNITED STATES GOVE~NM.ENT PRINTING OHICf, \VASHINGTO:.:'-l, 1976 6702 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ~ SENATE lJtJarck 16,>19,'6 ping the FEC of its power and its in­ called to order by the Presiding Officer discloses any information about any pending dependence. I want no part in giving one (Mr. STAFFORD). case without the consent of the candidate involved. MeanwhUe the candidate would be interest group an unfair advantage over free to say anything he likes about the case another interest group. I want no part in or the FEC. Surely some less heavy-handed an effort to make this measure an in­ FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT and more even-handed way can be found to cumbent's bill. S. 3065 would accomplish AMENDMENTS OF 1976 enforce discipline and inspire some sense of these things. I urge my colleagues to vote The Senate continued with the con­ responsibility on the part of FEC officials. against it and vote in favor of the simple sideration of the bill (S.3065) to amend From there, the bills go rapidly downhlll. reconstitution of the Commission. How­ Congressional InfiuenCe over the commis­ the Federal Election Campaign Act of sion would be intensified. Public dlsclosure ever, if the Senate shoUld adopt S. 3065 1971 to provide for its administration by of campaign finances In candidates' home as reported out of the Committee on a Federal Election Commission appointed states would be curtalled. Under the Senate RUles, I would hope that the President in accordance with the requirements of blll, contributors would no longer have to of the United states will see fit to veto the Constitution, and for other purposes. identify thelrbuslness affillations, thus mak­ the measure. To do otherwise, to subject The PRESIDING OFFICER. It is the ing It harder to find out who has gIven how the Federal Election Commission to such understanding of the Chair that the much to whom. The House mellSure. mean­ restraints, would be a disservice to the whlle, would raise the celling on cash con­ pending amendment is the Griflln tributions from $100 to $250; that is a blatant American people. amendment to S. 3065. Who yields time? invitation to abuse. Finally, the House com­ Mr. President, I suggest the absence Mr. GRIFFIN. Mr. President, I yield mittee, which is quite shameless where the of a quorum, and I ask unanimous con­ myself 10 minutes. Interests of incumbents are concerned, even sent that it be charged equally to both The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen­ adopted an amendment that would block the sides. ator is recognized for 10 minutes. FEC from .looking into the activities of any The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. GRIFFIN. Mr. President, for all congressman's Btaff-as long lIS the legis­ objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will the reasons set forth in the Washington lator says that his aides are doing official please call the 1'011. business. Post editorial of this morning entitled Such provisions are so cynical that it is The second assistant legislative clerk "Changing the Campaign Law," the sub­ hard to believe they may surVive. Yet most proceeded to call the 1'011. stitute which I have offered should be members of Congress seem preoccupied with Mr. CLARK. Mr. President, I ask adopted by the Senate. There are other other aspects of the bllls. The most intricate unanimous consent that the order for reasons in addition to those set forth in dickering has been over What polltical com­ the quorum call be rescinded. the Washington Post editorial. I ask mittees, especially business groups, may and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without may not do. SoIUe}lepubllca~saresuggest­ objection, it is so ordered. unanimous consent that this editorial ing, for Instance. that President Ford may Mr. CLARK. Mr. President, I ask and another one that appeared in to­ veto the bill if it bars corporate polltical unanimous consent that Andrew Loewi day's Washington Star be printed in the a.ction groups trom sollcltingfl.11lds from RECORD. middle-level. nonunion employees as well as from my.staff be allowed the privileges There being no objection, the editorials stockholders and executives. Such intense In­ of the fioor during the consideration of were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, terest In the fiow of money may be Inevitable this measure. as follows: in an election year. In the current political The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without climate, however, maneuvers thatobvlousiy objection. it is so ordered. [From the Washington Post, Mar. 16, 1976) favor any special-interest group could cost a Mr. CLARK. Mr. Pl'esident, I suggest CHANGING THE CAMPAIGN LAW candidate a large amount of general public the absence of a quorum. When we last looked in on. the question regard. c ., . ' The PRESIDING OFFICER. The l'e­ of amencUng the campaign laws. Rep.. Wayne It is also untimely. In our view, for the quest for the quorum call will be cbal'ged L. Hays (D-Ohlo) and some allies were busy self-styled champions of "campaign reform" cementing a deal. Under this plan. the. Fed­ to make a major pUSh for public financing equally against both sides. eral Elections Commission would be recon­ of cQngresslonal campaigns. Regardless of the Mr. CLARK. That is correct. stituted as mandated by the Supreme Court, appeal Ofs1\ch a plan. consideration of It The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without but the commission's independence would ought to be deferred until the Impact ofcon­ objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will be limited-and Congress would also take tribution limits and pUblic funding of preSi­ please call the roll. the opportunity to write new rules for polit­ dential campaigns can be eval1.\ated p'~operlY The assistant legislative clerk pro­ ical action committees, giving business next year. P'or now, those legislators who do ceeded to call the 1'011. groups less money-raising range and labor want serious, effective regulation·. of cam­ groups a little more. paigns have qUite enough to do in terms Qf Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, cleaning up the measures that the two com­ I Well, a famUlarthlng happened on the way ask unanimous consent that the order to the fioor. Members of both the House mittees have devised. for the quorum call be rescinded. Administration Committee and the Senate The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Rules Committee had some further thoughts, [From the Washington Star. Mar. 16, 1976) objection, it is so ordered. primarily on ways to make compliance witll WHAT Is MR. HAYS UP To? Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President. the law less of a bother and investigations less of a tlll·eat. As a result, the bills now It's hard to tell whetIler Rep. Wayne Hays on behalf of Mr. Cannun, I yield myself is working for or against legislation to keep 1 minute. Mr. President, I ask unanimous before the Senate and awaiting House debate the Flldllral Election CQmmlssion in business. consent that during the consideration of are bulky, odd-Shaped packages that contain some useful provisions, some undesirable You will re.call that Mr.}fays had wl\nte,d S. 3065, the Federal Election Campaign to klll the commission but WIlS turned around ones .and some that are downright HQu~e Act Amendments of 1976, Mr. Roy mischievous. ' by George Meany of the AFL--{jIOand GreenwaY,and Jan Mueller of Senator leaders who wanted the· 'commisSion kept To start with, many legislators are worried alive. ' CRANSTON'S staff be given the privileges that the FEC and its staff could become,too of the fioor. free-wheeling or too strict, so that candi­ Mr. Hays's House Administration Commit­ The· PRESIDING OFFICER. Without dates might face criminal prosecution for tee has completed work on legislation osten­ objection, it is so ordered. minor mistakes, or be hurt by endless in­ slbly aimed at saving the Electloll Commis­ vestigation of a frivolous or malicious com­ sion frolll legal Infirmities found by the Su­ plaint. Thus the pending bills would remO\'e preme Court. But while fiXing the flaws, the RECESS UNTIL 2 P.M. criminal sanctions formlnor violations, em­ AdministratlonCommittee.has added .several phasize concl1latlon o,nd civil penalties, and appendages. at least one of which is highly Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, reqUire complaints to be signed and sworn. controversial and might result in 'a presiden­ I ask unanimous consent that, with the Moreover, any official action-an Investiga­ tial veto. understanding that at 2 o'clock when the tion, rule-making or even the design of a The Administration Committee has de­ Senate would come back in following a form-WOUld have to be approved by 40f creed that corpol'ations.thathave organized the 6 commissioners. These changes are gen­ political /lctlon committees. to collect funds recess, the time between the hour of 2 for candidates cannot solicit dOIiations from o'clock and 3 o'clock today be equally erally constructive. However, it Is too restric­ tive to require, as the Senate bm does, that employees; they could solicit only &tockhold­ divided between Mr. HATFIELD and Mr. two commissioners from each party must ers and management officials. No similar re· CANNON, a.nd that the Senate stand in agree to anything. strictionwas put on politlqal.action commit­ recess until the hour of 2 p.m. today. The bills also Invite trOUble by cloaking tees of labor organizations. There beh1g no objection, the Senate crucial parts of the regUlatory process in It is a blatant attempt by Mr.

Load more

  34

Copy Link