February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H541 The less than 1 percent area where Republican leader Ken Maddy became the Nation. One is a very important the oil is can be explored without cut- known as the ‘‘go-to guy’’ for both Supreme Court decision that was just ting one tree or bush or harming a sin- Governors Deukmejian and Pete Wil- handed down on January 24 of this year gle animal. Offshore oil can now also be son. whereby the court basically upheld the produced in a very environmentally Senator Maddy combined grace with constitutional authority of State legis- safe way. good looks. He loved people, and he latures and this body to be able to I voted several years ago to require loved life. Few men will ever match the place campaign contribution limita- double hulls on oil tankers and have positive impact he had on California tions in the political process. voted for many other environmental politics. He believed in governing and This is an important holding that the bills. But you cannot just shut down the role of compromise in legislative Supreme Court again resolved after the development of natural resources with- politics. Smart, dedicated, trust- seminal case of Buckley v. Valeo dur- out destroying jobs, driving up prices, worthy, Ken Maddy simply reflected ing the 1970s in which the court upheld and hurting poor and working people the very best that California has to the ability of legislators to impose con- most of all. offer public affairs. tribution limitations because often- Often what is behind much of what His special passion for horses and times in this body during the course of happens here is big money. Some of racing went back to his teenage years campaign finance reform debates, one these environmental extremists are as a groom at Hollywood Park. Among of the chief arguments against doing some of the best friends extremely big many highlights of his legislative ca- anything in an attempt to get the big business has. reer, which ranged from efforts to money out, is that we have a free I wonder if some companies which strengthen our criminal justice sys- speech concern and a first amendment want us to import a lot of oil, or pos- tem, to impacting ethics standards for that we would be infringing upon if we sibly the OPEC countries themselves, State legislators, to preserving private start taking the big money out of the or possibly oil companies with big in- property rights, are the real highlights, political process. vestments elsewhere simply do not the California Center for Equine Health And lo and behold, now the Supreme want us drilling in Alaska because they and Performance and the Equine Ana- Court this year basically said no to would lose big money. lytical Chemistry Laboratory at the that argument. I think it gives new life Are they supporting and funding University of California at Davis. Sen- and a breath of fresh air to the whole some of these environmental groups be- ator Maddy’s private pride and joy was campaign finance reform debate. Hope- cause it is to their monetary advantage a horse named Work the Crowd. The fully it will provide more impetus to to do so? California-bred champion filly now the cause across the country and more I mean, if you are talking about drill- grazes in green pastures in the valley. political courage quite frankly here in ing on only a couple of thousand or a Raising a brood of California cham- Washington to do the right thing. few thousand acres out of an area pions, Work the Crowd probably won- The other event in regards to finance many millions of acres in size and you ders where her Ken has gone. reform occurred today, actually on the can do so in a completely safe way en- Senator Ken Maddy was a proud steps of this Capitol where Granny D vironmentally, why do these people graduate of Fresno State and served as finished her long trek across the coun- keep fighting it? a member of the President’s Club and try in support of campaign finance re- Almost all of these radical environ- the Bulldog Club. In 1999, the Kenneth form. It is a marvelous story for my mentalists come from wealthy fami- L. Maddy Institute of Public Policy colleagues who have not heard about it lies. But they will be hurting the poor was dedicated at CSU-Fresno as a vital yet. It is receiving a lot of attention and working people the most if they training ground for the next generation nationally today since she concluded keep these oil prices from coming of Valley political leaders. He grad- her long walk. down. uated from UCLA Law School in 1963, I brought with me today a picture Mr. Speaker, we should open up this and in 1998 he was recognized as one of that I was able to download off her Web less than 1 percent area of ANWR and UCLA’s outstanding graduates. site. It shows a picture of Granny D, a certain other offshore areas, get many Ken Maddy, one of the most re- 90-year-old grandmother of eight, I be- millions barrels of oil and become less spected legislators to ever grace Cali- lieve, and a great grandmother of 12, dependent on foreign oil in the process. fornia’s capital. On February 18, 2000, someone who has arthritis and emphy- If we do not, gas prices in the future this prince of a leader, who dreamed of sema but felt strongly enough about could go even higher or not come down the sport of kings, passed on to be re- the cause of campaign finance reform and millions of poor and working peo- membered forever by those who care that she decided to make it a national ple will be the ones who are hurt the about politics, the profession he loved. issue by dedicating herself to walking most. f across the country, starting out in f Pasadena during the Rose Bowl of Jan- CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM uary 1 of 1999 last year and then tra- IN MEMORIAM KENNETH L. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under versing over 3,100 miles, traveling MADDY the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- through 12 different States, receiving a The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a uary 6, 1999, the gentleman from Wis- lot of local media attention along her previous order of the House, the gen- consin (Mr. KIND) is recognized for 60 way, encouraging individuals to con- tleman from California (Mr. LEWIS) is minutes. tact their representatives at the State recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight and national level to impress upon Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speak- to take a few moments along with a them the urgency of campaign finance er, this is a humble attempt on my couple of my colleagues to talk about a reform. part to remember the life and contribu- very important issue that comes and And now today she finally walked tions of a great leader in California, goes in this institution of ours and we into Washington, D.C. and walked right one Ken L. Maddy. are hoping to be able to resurrect it up to the steps of this Capitol and de- Mr. Speaker, all of California can be again yes, even during this presidential livered a marvelous, marvelous speech. proud of the favorite son Fresno sent election year, one that we hope will I think a real inspiration for the cause to Sacramento three decades ago. A never go away until Congress gets it of citizen advocacy and participation legislator’s legislator, Ken Maddy right, and that is the issue of campaign in our democratic process, especially never was far from the Central Valley finance reform and the necessity to given her own story. I will go into a lit- district and the agricultural industry enact common sense reform to get the tle bit more detail but recognizing one he represented. He was elected to the big money and the influence of money of my colleagues’ time constraints who assembly in 1970 in a district with a lit- out of our political process. would like to join in this discussion to- tle over 30 percent Republican registra- There have been two very important night, I yield to my good friend, the tion. As the Democrats of Fresno loved events so far this year, Mr. Speaker, in gentleman from Maine (Mr. ALLEN), him, the Republicans of Sacramento regards to the campaign finance reform who I came to Congress with. And we looked to him for leadership. Senate debate that we are having throughout helped form a freshman bipartisan

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.063 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H542 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 task force on campaign finance reform limited, that go directly to campaigns, We still have the opportunity, we that he took a real leadership role in. directly to individual candidates. But have most of a year, to enact real cam- And he has been a strong advocate for that system of limits is completely un- paign finance reform this year and to enacting finance reform with Shays- dermined if wealthy individuals, cor- stop the flow of big money, of soft Meehan that did pass this body last porations, and labor unions can give money, to the national parties. We year already and then languished in unlimited amounts of money to the na- need bipartisan support in order to do the United States Senate. I am glad he tional parties, which can then be used that; we need support on both the is here to join us this evening. to run TV ads in the districts of indi- House and the Senate side in order to Mr. ALLEN. I thank the gentleman vidual Members. So this system does do that. I think this is the year. from Wisconsin for putting together not work; these rules do not work any- This is an important day. Granny D this special order. This has been an more. has made it an important day. I want issue that you and I and others have Last year I warned that a failure to to thank the gentleman from Wis- been working on since we first came to pass campaign finance reform would consin for his leadership on this issue, Congress. We started, as you men- unleash a deluge of soft money con- for helping to push this issue, and for tioned, with that freshman bipartisan tributions in this 2000 cycle, and, un- holding this special order tonight. task force, six Republicans and six fortunately, it has come true. The na- Mr. KIND. I wanted to reciprocate Democrats; and over a period of several tional political party committees that and thank my good friend from months, we negotiated out a bill that raised a record $107 million in soft Maine for the work and leadership he would ban soft money and make other money contributions during the 1999 has brought to this Congress for the changes in this system. But it would calendar year. That is 81 percent more cause of campaign finance reform. In get the biggest of the big money out of than the $59 million they raised during fact, the great State of Maine has real- politics, those soft money contribu- the last comparable presidential elec- ly led the revolution sweeping across tions to the national parties from tion period in 1995. the country right now by passing their wealthy individuals, corporations and Now, the opponents, the opponents, own public referendum, going to public labor unions. the big money coalition which tries to financing of State campaigns. It is al- As my colleagues will recall, in 1998, call itself the Free Speech Coalition, ready being used as a model in the the freshmen on both sides of the aisle are always trying to argue that cam- many other State referenda today. helped to drive that issue hard enough paign finance reform’s reasonable limi- Mr. ALLEN. If the gentleman would so the Republican leadership had to tations on what individuals can give is yield for a moment, what we are doing bring it up. And when it finally came a violation of the First Amendment, in Maine is interesting and exciting. up, we had a debate over several weeks and, as the gentleman from Wisconsin The 2002 elections will be the first and finally at last, the freshman bill (Mr. KIND) just pointed out, not true. where we have what we call the Clean did not pass but the Shays-Meehan bill The Supreme Court, in Nixon versus Elections. The bill has been upheld by did pass in 1998 and then, of course, we Shrink Missouri Government PAC, re- the court. Candidates for the State leg- passed it again last year. But in 1998, if affirmed the constitutionality of con- islature and candidates for Governor you add together those Members who tribution limits. It reaffirmed its view can opt, can choose, to be a Clean Elec- voted for the freshman soft money ban that the Government has a compelling tions candidate. If they get the req- with those Members who voted for the interest in enacting contribution lim- uisite number of signatures and a cer- Shays-Meehan bill, some 352 Members, its in order to protect the integrity of tain number of $5 contributions, that is or 81 percent of the House, voted to ban our democratic system. The Court re- all, $5 contributions, they will qualify soft money. affirmed that large donations can cor- for public financing. Unfortunately, that bill did not make rupt this process or create the appear- I hope and pray that this system will it through the Senate in the 105th Con- ance of corruption. be one way to reduce the influence of gress; and so last year, in September, It is time to change this system. We money in politics. I think it is a very we did it again. In the House, we passed have gone too far, allowing unlimited interesting experiment, and I hope in the Shays-Meehan bill in strong bipar- contributions to the national parties. time other States will follow Maine’s tisan fashion by a margin of 252–177. This has been a position almost univer- lead. But to date, the other body, Members sally supported on the Democratic side Mr. KIND. It is an exciting develop- in the other body have blocked cam- of the aisle. Fortunately, we have had ment. It is going to be that type of paign finance reform from being enough Republicans in the House who snowball effect, sweeping across the passed. will come over and support campaign country, with State legislatures each Now, today, Granny D, Doris Had- finance reform to achieve victory here. taking their own approach to financial dock, who walked from California to But victory here is not enough, because reform, which will hopefully put more the steps of the Capitol in Washington, victory in the House alone does not pressure to bear on the United States arrived in her 14-month campaign to make a law. We need to have enough Congress to act. publicize this issue and urge this Con- public support, enough public pressure, It seems every session of Congress we gress to act. I went down to Pennsyl- to get this through the Senate. have a discussion and debate about vania Avenue and walked with her and I believe that when you look at what campaign finance reform, trying to get hundreds of others up the last stretch Granny D has accomplished, when you the big money out of the political proc- to get to the Capitol. look at the Supreme Court opinion in ess; but for one reason or another it You have to admire her. When she Nixon versus Shrink Missouri Govern- has always come up short, most re- made this commitment, made this de- ment PAC, that we are seeing a cre- cently in the United States Senate cision, she was 88 years old. She scendo of support for campaign finance where we ended up eight votes short of trained for this activity to make sure reform. It is incumbent upon all of us being able to break the filibuster over that she was going to be able to walk here to keep working on this issue, to there. It is almost inconceivable that 10 miles a day carrying a 25-pound pack keep talking about this issue, to keep we have a majority of Members in the on her back, and she did it. She got reminding the voters that until we get House and even in the Senate and a publicity all across this country. That campaign finance reform, we cannot, President down Pennsylvania Avenue kind of public determination, that kind we cannot trust this system to produce who is more than willing to sign the of perseverance is what we need to help the kind of results that we expect a legislation if it can pass the Congress, create the public energy to pass cam- democratic system to produce. but it is being held up by a small vocal paign finance reform in the other body. There is too much money in politics; minority in the Senate filibustering it. We need a law. We need a bill that will there is too much big money in this Of course, we need 60 votes in order to get rid of soft money once and for all. system, and we have to get the biggest break the filibuster and bring the legis- Let me just say a word about that. of the big money out of this system so lation to the floor. that the people can have some con- But I am sure my friend from Maine b 1900 fidence again that we are doing the and also my good friend from New Jer- The so-called hard money contribu- public’s business, and not the business sey who has joined us for tonight’s dis- tions are the contributions that are of our largest contributors. cussion would concur with me if we

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.065 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H543 dedicated tonight’s special order in that solutions are determined by spe- Meehan campaign finance bill, seek out honor of Doris Haddock, Granny D, cial interests? People understand that the gentleman from Massachusetts given her marvelous triumph and their voices are being drowned out. (Mr. MEEHAN), and sit down with them achievement, what she has accom- The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. and let them know that I take that to plished and brought to our doorstep KIND) spoke earlier about the recent be the most important step we can here today. Supreme Court decisions, and I think take to restoring trust in government. I would like to recognize the fresh- there is cause for hope here. So I joined with a large majority, a bi- man Member from New Jersey (Mr. The opponents of campaign finance partisan majority of people here, in HOLT), who is also serving with me on reform always trot out the First supporting the Shays-Meehan Cam- the Committee on Education and the Amendment guarantee of free speech. paign Finance Reform Act. Workforce, bringing an important per- Well, the Supreme Court back in 1976 It now appears that this legislation is spective on education issues based on under Buckley v. Valeo gave them going to have trouble getting out of his scientific background, but also some support for that line of reasoning, Congress this year, but we who care someone who has taken up the cause that speech as spending could not be about government, and that is millions and has turned into a real leader in his restricted. But last month in Nixon v. of people, and care that we have a gov- own right on the need for finance re- Shrink the court did hold up a statu- ernment that is responsive to the peo- form. tory cap on gifts and donations to cam- ple, rather than special interests, Mr. HOLT. I thank the gentleman paigns. That makes sense. But al- should not let up. from Wisconsin, my friend, for orga- though it did not formally reexamine Granny D did not let up; and she nizing this special order. the issue of spending, the comments of made it clear she was not walking for As a freshman Member of Congress, the Justices give us cause for hope that Republicans; she was not walking for it is fairly recent since I campaigned they will allow some changes in the Democrats. She was walking for her for election to this august body, and I way campaign spending is regulated. children and her grandchildren and all still vividly remember running for Con- Recently in an article in the Wash- of the other millions of people that gress, a challenging experience, but a ington Post, former Chairman of the they symbolize who want a government wonderful experience. It reminds one of Federal Communications Commission, of the people. what a magnificent place America is, Newton Minow, and Craig LaMay, b 1915 full of hard-working and talented peo- Northwestern University journalism ple. It reminds you that the citizens professor, wrote a very interesting I am delighted that the gentleman is here truly care about the important piece, pointing out, they say, that a doing this. I am pleased to join with issues facing each other and that we as lawyer arguing a case in the Supreme the gentleman to talk about this great a society can work to solve them. Court is limited to 30 minutes of oral need to take some concrete steps to re- But running for Congress also re- argument. Members of the House of store trust in our government. We look minds you, reminds me, of something Representatives, as we well know, are to the other body to finish the work else, that our campaign finance system limited in the time we have available that we have begun, but we cannot stop is broken and needs to be fixed des- to speak. In Illinois, voters are given 5 there. There are some other steps we perately. We know it; the people know minutes to complete their ballots. In need to take so that we have cam- it. The only 38 percent of the voters none of these cases can the individual, paigns financed in a way that give ev- who turn out to vote are sending a no matter how well heeled, buy addi- eryone a voice in how they find solu- message in that way. tional time. The process of governing tions to the tough problems facing our It is a campaign system where ourselves is something that requires society. wealthy corporations can donate mil- every citizen and is due to every cit- Mr. KIND. If the gentleman will yield lions of dollars to political parties and izen; and it should not be reappor- back. drown out the voice of ordinary citi- tioned according to the resources of Mr. HOLT. I would be pleased to zens. It is a campaign system where those citizens. yield to the gentleman. special interests can spend an unlim- So elections, say LaMay and Minow, Mr. KIND. I commend the gentleman, ited amount of money on attack ads, I are just as susceptible to distortion again, for the gentleman’s work, for know, I have seen it, to smear and dis- and destruction as any other institu- the gentleman’s contribution to this tort a candidate’s record; and that is tion would be if its rules allotted free important issue. I think what we need, wrong. It is a campaign system where speech according to one’s ability to and was demonstrated a little bit on we as elected representatives have to pay. the steps of the Capitol, is a Granny D spend an inordinate amount of time Well, it is a special pleasure to talk revolution in the country. She started raising money, instead of addressing about this subject today, because we that in no small part by committing the issues. take some hope not only from the Su- herself to a cause that she feels very Campaign expenditures have just got- preme Court’s words of a month ago, strongly in. ten out of hand. In primary and general but a great deal of hope from the ac- The gentleman is absolutely right, it elections combined in the year 1976, all tions of Doris Haddock, Granny D. I, was not a partisan issue, the Granny D; candidates for U.S. Congress spent a too, walked with Granny D today on it was an American issue. It was an total of $115 million. Twenty-two years her last mile, and stood with her as she issue about the future of her grand- later, at the most recent congressional gave a rousing and moving and very children and her great-grandchildren election in 1998, candidates spent $740 thoughtful speech on the steps of this and the stake of her democratic gov- million, more than six times what was Capitol. We applaud her; and I think it ernment that she loves so well, that spent 22 years earlier. I am sure the is appropriate, as you say, that we she was willing to, even though she has amount of money in this year, 2000, dedicate tonight’s discussion to her. emphysema and is arthritic, walk over will be even higher. She reminds us that we need to over- 3,100 miles for this cause. It is such a When you look at the low voter turn- haul the current system and that it marvelous story. out and widespread cynicism, you real- may be difficult; but step by step, we I do not know if the gentleman had ize that we have to deal with this key can do it. One of the best ways to do it an opportunity yet to tap into her Web issue that has to do with trust in the is to start right now with what is in site, but she put together a very good Government. How can we hope to deal front of us, which is the ban on soft Web site, a lot of neat pictures. I would with the big problems that we face, money. It is one of the essential steps like to share the Web site address with whether it is Social Security, health and one of the first steps to begin re- any colleagues who are listening here care, transportation issues, defense storing people’s faith in government. tonight. It is www.GrannyD.com. Could issues, international affairs, where I would like to point out that on the not get any easier than that. these are solutions that we seek as a day I was sworn in, the first thing I did I would encourage those who are lis- society, together? How can we hope to was seek out my colleague, the gen- tening to take a little bit of time, a few have solutions to these problems that tleman from Connecticut (Mr. SHAYS), minutes, and page through that Web the people will have faith in if they feel Republican cosponsor of the Shays- site. It displays the beginning and the

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.068 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H544 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 end of her journey. What a great story tification, a constitutional underpin- money from large contributors. Just to it has been. ning for why Congress feels the need to quote a couple of statements that she Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, if the gen- limit the amount flowing into cam- made during a New Hampshire town tleman will yield. paigns. But there is also another very hall meeting last October, 1999, she Mr. KIND. I am happy to yield to the important reason, and that is the ap- said, gentleman. pearance of corruption, that all this First, we do need to get soft money out of Mr. HOLT. On that subject, this was money flowing into the campaigns our elections with the Federal law. A minor- not a stunt. She was out there with the have on the American people, on people ity of Senators did not want to take their American people. She brought with her like Granny D, who cited it. medicine last week when they killed the what she learned along the way. In a It is really giving cause, I feel, to the McCain-Feingold bill in Washington, so we particularly moving part of her speech growing cynicism that is permeating will have to make them take their pill when today on the steps, she talked about they come home for reelection. If they won’t our society and why we are seeing get soft money out of the system, and they finishing her walk yesterday and start- voter participation declining election have turned down opportunities to do so 4 ing her walk today at Arlington Ceme- year after election year. It is because years in a row, then it is simply time for us tery. they feel a disempowerment. to get them out of the system. As the gentleman knows, she walked A couple of other reasons that she That I think is a very important in 10-mile segments approximately all cited, she feels that the politicians point, because in all issues such as this across the country. She said those spir- today do not give enough concern to it ultimately becomes an election its were with her today as she walked people who do not contribute the big issue, and what campaigns and elec- through Washington and as she stood money, no matter how important the tions are all about: who you support for on the steps of the Capitol. issue might be. She also saw an oppor- the issues that you want to see pursued These are people who had fought for tunity to do something about it, and and enacted in the United States American ideals. She wondered, in fact, she did. She felt politically powerless, Congress. she was quite sure that they did not this is in her words, something that no Until there are enough Americans, I fight and die for a government that American should ever feel. feel, that feel strongly enough about goes to the highest bidder, for a gov- She sees the three most important the appearance of corruption or even ernment where special wealthy inter- things that our government must do in the corruption itself in the political ests have more voice than the common regards to financial reform is, A, ban- process and start holding their rep- people, where we have, as some say, ning the soft money; B, enacting the resentatives’ feet to the fire and make auctions, rather than elections. public financing of an election, start- this an election year issue, I am afraid It was moving when she put it in that ing at local levels and working up, just it is going to continue to languish, and context and when she put it in the con- as the State of Maine has done, and we it will continue to meet excuse after text of all that she had heard from peo- will see it play out this year for the excuse for failing to enact it. ple in Arizona and in New Mexico and first time during an election cycle; That is why I think good policy is in Texas and in Tennessee and West and, finally, the right to free political making good politics, even in the presi- Virginia. It was not a stunt. This is an advertising on a controlled scale. dential campaigns today. We have seen effort to recapture what is great about Finally, these are ideas that we have Senator MCCAIN talking about this the American government. been working with in the context of fi- issue. He is the chief cosponsor, along Mr. HOLT. And I had a chance to lis- nance reform, ideas that she again with my Senator, RUSS FEINGOLD, from ten to her speech and also jot down cited in support of her cause for fi- Wisconsin driving this issue in the Sen- some of the factors that motivated her nance reform. ate for many years already. I think for embarking upon this cause. Just to But during the course of her travels, that has been resonating with the recite a few of those tonight: she was she was interviewed by the national American people, and why he has been concerned that government is being media numerous times. Some of the receiving the support that he has dur- corrupted through campaign contribu- early morning talk shows had her on, ing the course of the campaign season. tions made by the big contributors, the Eyewitness. She said she met a lot of Vice President AL GORE has also been big money going into campaigns that wonderful people who would feed and a champion of McCain-Feingold and results, in her words, in a quid pro quo house her at different times in dif- Shays-Meehan, and is fully supportive response from elected officials. ferent States. She went through four of the reform bill. Senator Bill Brad- That has been a common theme dur- pairs of sneakers during her 3,100-mile ley, another presidential candidate, is ing her talks or speech today as the hike. in strong support of campaign finance growing cynicism and the perception of The people around the country would reform. corruption in the political process. And come up to her and say things such as, I think in this instance, in this elec- it is a theme that is reiterated in the you are walking for me, Granny. You tion year, good policy is going to make recent Supreme Court decision, Nixon are my voice. You are my face. God for good politics. v. Shrink Missouri Government, in bless you. And get this, she even Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, will the gen- which the Justices in a six to three de- caught pneumonia in Arizona, of all tleman yield? cision basically said legislators have places. She needs to come and visit my Mr. KIND. I yield to the gentleman the constitutional authority to limit great State of Wisconsin before she from New Jersey. the amount of money coming into cam- gets some real pneumonia. But she re- Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, the gen- paigns, not only to combat corruption covered. After she recovered, she kept tleman commented a few moments ago in the political process, but also to deal going with her walk. that Granny D spoke about a feeling of with the appearance of corruption in Her intent was actually to conclude powerlessness. I hope she does not feel the political process. her walk on the steps of the Capitol on powerless now as she sees the thou- That is an important point. Again, February 24, which was her 90th birth- sands of people who joined her on the the opponents of reform are always day. Unfortunately, she was a few days steps of the Capitol, who are joining quick to come down to the House floor late in arriving, but her message was her on her web site, who are joining her arguing against a piece of legislation as strong arriving today as it would at every stage here. by trying to turn the issue around, by have been even on the 24th. It is interesting, many of them car- pointing to us and saying listen, RUSH Her message focuses on getting peo- ried signs and chanted, ‘‘Granny D HOLT, you have accepted campaign ple to contact their Federal representa- speaks for me.’’ It is perhaps ironic contributions. Do you feel corrupted? tives to get them to support Shays- that a rather diminutive 90-year-old Do you feel like you are influenced now Meehan on the House side and the has such a powerful voice. In fact, because of those contributions? Asking McCain-FEINGOLD bill on the Senate when she stood up to the microphone us to specifically cite instances of cor- side. During her walk she gained in- she did have a powerful voice, but an ruption that might be going on in the creasing support from both public and even more powerful voice in her halls of this great body. national leaders. actions. The Supreme Court says that is real- Granny D’s concern is that the gov- She spoke about this cynicism that ly beside the point. It could be one jus- ernment is being corrupted through people have. I hasten to say that our

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.070 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H545 colleagues here are honorable people, Comm. v. Federal Election Commission . . . tribution limits do not get so ridicu- almost all driven by real altruism. But demonstrates the need for a fresh examina- lously low that it inhibits or prevents there is a perception out there in the tion of the constitutional issues raised by an individual being able to commu- country, and this is what the gen- Congress’ enactment of the Federal Election nicate or get their message out, it will Campaign Acts of 1971 and 1974 and this tleman spoke about when he talked Court’s resolution of those issues in Buckley then withstand constitutional scrutiny about the Supreme Court, a perception v. Valeo. by our third branch, the highest Court that is crippling, crippling our democ- in the land. racy, a perception that anything that b 1930 So, Mr. Speaker, I thought that was comes out of Congress is determined by ‘‘In response to his call for a new be- a very important Supreme Court deci- the wealthy special interests. We need ginning, therefore, I make one simple sion that hopefully will have reverbera- to take action on that. I really com- point.’’ And it is a point I felt was not tions throughout the context of cam- mend the gentleman for doing this. just simple but really gets to the heart paign finance reform. And why is this Some States are doing some things. of it, and I decided to blow it up here important? Because the lid has just In New Jersey, we have public financ- tonight to emphasize the importance of blown off any type of semblance of con- ing of the gubernatorial campaigns. It it in the underlying decision. ‘‘I make trol or limitations in the amount of works well. It is not a perfect solution. one simple point. Money is property; it money coming into campaigns. The soft money ban that we have been is not speech.’’ I brought with me a chart to illus- talking about this evening is not a Mr. Speaker, that, I think, has been trate what I am talking about. This complete solution, but it certainly is a the main crux of the opposition, or at chart demonstrates the amount of soft good first step. least the opponents’ argument to cam- money contributions that have been Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, with the re- paign finance reform, is that we cannot flowing into the parties’ campaigns maining moments that we have in this do this. We cannot limit the amount of over the last few presidential election special order, I would like to get into a money coming into campaigns. We can- years. Notice in 1987–1988 presidential little bit of the teeth, the meat of what not ban the soft money contributions, campaign there was roughly $45 million the Supreme Court ruled last month in the unlimited unregulated millions of in soft money contributions. That is upholding the ability of legislators to dollars that are flooding the parties’ when the political parties first started impose limitations on the amount of campaign coffers every election season, realizing there is a huge gaping loop- money flowing into the campaigns. It because it would be an infringement on hole that exists in campaign finance was a 6 to 3 decision, which is a very the First Amendment freedom of reforms, and they started taking ad- good, decisive decision. speech clause. Here we have a Court ba- vantage of it back in the 1988 presi- The opinion was written by Justice sically saying, no, that argument does dential campaign. Souter. I would just like to pull out a not hold water. That soon escalated to $86 million in few of the quotes that Justice Souter Justice Stevens got more direct to the 1992 campaign. It jumped to $262 used within his majority opinion. the point where he says: Money is prop- million in the 1996 presidential cam- One is getting at the appearance of erty. Let us not fool ourselves. It is not paign. And according to current esti- corruption, in which he wrote, ‘‘The speech. mates of the amount of soft money prevention of corruption and the ap- Justice Stevens went on to write in that is being raised in the current pres- pearance of corruption was found to be his concurring opinion: ‘‘Speech has idential campaign, we are on pace of a constitutionally sufficient justifica- the power to inspire volunteers to per- more than doubling the 1996 soft money tion’’. In that he was referring to form a multitude of tasks on a cam- contributions; anywhere from $500 mil- Buckley v. Valeo, the 1970 Supreme paign trail, on a battleground, or even lion up to $750 million in soft money Court decision. on a football field.’’ I think he was re- contributions. He also went on to write, ferring to Vince Lombardi on that last Mr. Speaker, that is what I mean by In speaking of improper influence and op- one. the lid has just been blown off. They are driving truckloads of money portunities for abuse in addition to quid pro Money, meanwhile, has the power to pay quo arrangements, we recognize the concern, hired laborers to perform the same tasks. It through the loophole that exists right not confined to bribery of public officials, does not follow, however, that the First now with campaign financing. And if it but extending to the broader threat from Amendment provides the same measure of is not creating the potential for cor- politicians too compliant with the wishes of protection to the use of money to accomplish ruption in the political process, it cer- large contributors. These were the obvious such goals as it provides to the use of ideas tainly has created already the appear- points behind a recognition that the Con- to achieve the same results. gress could constitutionally address the ance of corruption in the political power of money to influence governmental Finally, he wrote, process. action in ways less blatant and specific than Reliance on the First Amendment to jus- That, I think, is a compelling reason bribery. tify the invalidation of campaign finance enough by itself to fight for campaign regulations is the functional equivalent of Justice Souter also went on to write, finance reform so we can restore a lit- the Court’s candid reliance on the doctrine tle bit of dignity and integrity to our Democracy works only if the people have of substantive due process as articulated in faith in those who govern, and that faith is the two first prevailing opinions in Moore government and hopefully instill a lit- bound to be shattered when high officials versus East Cleveland. The right to use one’s tle bit of faith with the American peo- and their appointees engage in activities own money to hire gladiators or to fund ple that there is not this big ‘‘for sale’’ which arouse suspicions of malfeasance and speech by proxy certainly merits significant sign hanging over the United States corruption. constitutional protection. These property Congress and we are going to the larg- What was also interesting in the de- rights, however, are not entitled to the same est contributor. cision, Chief Justice Rehnquist joined protection as the right to say what one That is not what our founders in- the majority in the 6–3 decision, but pleases. tended this government to mean. It also Justice Stevens’ concurring opin- I think it was such a strong concur- was envisioned to be a process that all ion that he wrote. It is relatively ring opinion that Justice Stevens Americans could feel they could par- short, and I would like to quote lib- wrote that I wanted to share that. But ticipate in. But so long as there is the erally from that concurring opinion, Justice Breyer also in a concurring appearance that it is the big money because I think what he had to write opinion brought up another valid point. contributors that are gaining access, makes a lot of sense and is the direc- He acknowledges that speech is not that are controlling the agenda, and tion that we would like to see the con- money, or money is not speech, but he also controlling the outcome of the stitutional analysis, at least in finance said, ‘‘On the one hand, a decision to agenda, I think we are going to only reform, go in this country. contribute money to a campaign is a see more and more cynicism growing Justice Stevens wrote, ‘‘Justice Ken- matter of First Amendment concern. throughout this country. nedy,’’ who wrote a dissenting opinion, Not because money is speech, it is not, I yield to the gentleman, again. Suggests that the misuse of soft money but because it enables speech.’’ And Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my tolerated by this Court’s misguided decision that is why the Court in their holding friend. Talking politically for a mo- in Colorado Republican Federal Campaign opinion said that so long as the con- ment, the cynics say we will not do

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.072 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H546 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 anything, it does not poll. The opinion So that, I think, is really the chal- nization rules by prohibiting the im- polls, when we ask people what do they lenge that we face today. I cannot em- portation of bananas from certain care about, the pollsters come back phasize this enough, that until the areas in Central and South America. and say campaign finance reform is American people really start holding But the authors of this article point as way down the list. It does not poll. Let their representatives’ feet to the fire one of the underlying causes of why the me tell my colleagues that certainly in on this issue and start making it an United States was quick to react and my district, and certainly in all the election issue, until they are going to to condemn the European Union and districts that Granny D walked go out and support people who are in even apply trade sanctions, which we through, it is very much on people’s favor of reform who are no longer going are allowed to do when we have a viola- minds. to try to defend the status quo, the sta- tion of WTO, is because of the family It is not clear in people’s minds how tus quo that I feel is not working the ownership of the Chiquita company and to deal with it, but they know we must way it should for the average person their role in the political process. deal with it. It is not just a political back home in my district in western In fact, they tracked the amount of issue on a list of items. It is not just Wisconsin, I do not think we are going contributions that the owner of another item for a plank in a political to see a strong political push then to Chiquita has made in the course of platform. This is fundamental to our overcome the resistance that we still campaigns starting back in 1991 and democracy. It is fundamental to our encounter in the United States Senate continuing through 1999, and the system of government and people un- on this issue. I am happy to yield. amount of sums that have been given, derstand that. Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I think that which really are extraordinary from That is why this is of utmost impor- the gentleman’s class came to Congress one family in this country. Just to cite tance. So that we can be able, so that a couple of terms ago, including the a couple of years, in 1996, the owners of we can deal with these other tough LLEN) and problems that we as a country face. We gentleman from Maine (Mr. A Chiquita contributed $736,000 to the Re- have got to get on with it. the gentleman deserves a lot of credit publican Party, $114,000 to the Demo- Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank my for this. He has gotten some reinforce- crats. 1997, they contributed $460,000 to friend, again. Again, coming back to ment from our class, this freshman the Republican Party, $116,000 to what Justice Souter wrote in his ma- class, and this one representative from Democrats. 1998, they contributed $1.1 jority opinion Nixon v. Shrink last New Jersey is going to be with them all million to the Republican Party, month, writing for the majority per- the way until we can get good sensible $217,000 to the Democratic Party. 1999, haps he said it best, that countering campaign finance reform. The people $555,000 to the Republican Party and the perception that politicians are want it. We need it for the sake of our $260,000 to the Democratic Party. being bought is a proper justification democracy. Again, I think the point the authors for regulating donations. Directly And I thank the gentleman from Wis- are making in this Time Magazine arti- quoting from his opinion, he said, consin very much for all that he is cle is that if this is not buying influ- ‘‘Leave the perception of impropriety doing. I thank the gentleman from ence and access to government deci- unanswered and the cynical assump- Maine (Mr. ALLEN) for his efforts. And, sion-making, the appearance sure tion that large donors call the tune of course, I want to thank the gen- stinks and it is giving this appearance would jeopardize the willingness of vot- tleman from Massachusetts (Mr. MEE- of corruption and that the United ers to take part in democratic govern- HAN) and the gentleman from Con- States is not moral holy ground when ment.’’ necticut (Mr. SHAYS) who have carried it comes to our dispute with the Euro- That, I think, basically summarizes the banner for this here in the House of pean Union over this banana fight. And the crux of what the Supreme Court Representatives. then they cite specific examples of in- was getting at saying: Congress, hey, Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the dividual entrepreneurs, small business you have the ability under the Con- gentleman again for his participation owners in the country who have been stitution to limit contributions. And tonight and also for the work that he is adversely affected because of the sanc- after this recent Supreme Court deci- doing for the sake of getting finance tions that are now applied against the sion, the chief obstacle to achieving a reform finally passed and signed and European Union because of their viola- less corrupt campaign finance system enacted into law in this country. tion of import quotas on bananas. is not the U.S. Constitution but the What I would like to do is with the One individual in particular, Tim- people hiding behind it and using that remaining minutes that we have left is othy Dove, has a small business in Constitution as an excuse for inaction. to cite a Time Magazine article that Somerset, Wisconsin, Action Battery, And that, I think, is our chief obstacle came out on February 7, 2000. It was a whereby he has to import batteries that we face today. special investigation Time Magazine from Germany in order to service his A willing Congress can now take ac- and it is titled ‘‘Big Money in Politics: business and to keep him in business. tion to solve the problem of big money Who Gets Hurt?’’ It just so happened that the Trade Rep- and the influence of money in our po- It is very insightful, I think, inves- resentative’s designation of certain litical process. The political will, not tigation and review of some of the items now that we are going to be hit- the constitutional authority, is really issues that we have been working on ting with sanctions because of this ba- the only missing ingredient that we here in Congress and what the authors, nana war applies to those batteries have here today. And I feel in my anal- at least, the investigators feel is the that he needs to import in order to ysis of the Supreme Court decision, and influence of money with these issues. keep his business vibrant and strong a lot of constitutional experts who The article is entitled ‘‘How the Lit- and to keep it coming. looked at it as well, basically view this tle Guy Gets Crunched’’ and they cite b recent decision as giving us the green specific chapter and verse and list spe- 1945 light for the ban on soft money con- cific instances that they feel has a di- Now, here is a little guy who is try- tributions. All the underlying justifica- rect correlation between the large ing to provide for his family with a tions for upholding spending limits in money contributors and the influence small business back in Wisconsin, and the State of Missouri I feel has the or outcome of legislation or access and all of a sudden he gets caught up in same constitutional application to action in Washington and the impact this gargantuan trade war between the what we were trying to accomplish in that it has on smaller people who do United States and the European Union this session of Congress, and that is not write the big checks throughout over bananas. If he would have woke up just an out-and-out ban on soft money the country. one morning and someone said that ba- contributions before it becomes un- The case that they cite, they re- nanas were going to have a devastating manageable and before, what I think, viewed, is the issue of the banana wars and adverse impact on his health and decent people do indecent things for that is going on between the United his life, he would have thought they the sake of the money race that has States and the European Union right were crazy. But because of these effects come to dominate and become all-im- now. I believe it is an important WTO of the sanctions now that are being ap- portant in these type of political cam- issue, however, where the EU has been plied and the designation of items that paigns. found in violation of World Trade Orga- are being hit with sanctions coming

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.075 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H547 from the European Union, his business like to have a night-side chat with my the death tax. Take a look at what now is in jeopardy of surviving. colleagues in regards to a number of happens to families from the personal And Mr. Dove is not a big contributor different issues. level when the Government comes into to either of the political parties. The The first issue that I would like to their life after having taxed their prop- authors, again, in this article insinuate start out with is the death tax or the erty throughout their life and says we that the reason why he is the one get- estate tax. Then I would like to move have got to take one more hit at the ting hurt in this big banana war more on and cover a few points on the mar- deceased. We need to go in and assess a than someone else is because he is not riage penalty tax, move from there to tax simply based on the reason that a big contributor to the political par- an issue that I think has become fun- they died. ties. damentally important to the defense of This tax has devastating impacts. I This is just a very interesting article this country, and that is the missile will give my colleagues an example. I that Time magazine reported on that defense. In fact, tonight I intend to have a good friend of mine who is now the authors had investigated. Again, it spend a good deal of time discussing deceased. But this friend, we will call gets back to what the Supreme Court the missile defense of the United him Mr. Joe, Mr. Joe years and years in their decision in Nixon was basically States of America. ago started out as a bookkeeper in a saying, that if there is not reason Then if we have an opportunity, I local construction company. He worked enough not to prevent corruption from would like to move on to the Social Se- very, very hard in that construction occurring in the political process to curity earnings limitation repeal. The company. After a while, he got an op- justify campaign finance reform, there gentleman from Florida (Mr. SHAW) has portunity through years of hard work is certainly enough reason because of stepped forward. And I think tomorrow to buy some stock in the construction the appearance of corruption that we will see a very close to a unanimous company. He was not a wealthy man. other people sitting back in Wisconsin, vote to lift the earnings cap for those But he and his family, his wife, they for instance, the Mr. Doves throughout people between 65 and 70 years old who scraped together a few pennies here, a the country have towards the political are being unfairly penalized by the tax few pennies there. They watched their process that adds to the cynicism and I law. expenses, and they invested in stock. Well, 5 or 6 years ago, in some of his think disenchantment and eventually So I do publicly want to congratulate investments, he sold some of those in- disenfranchisement of their participa- the gentleman from Florida (Mr. vestments, and he was hit with a tax tion in the political process. SHAW), and I would also like to con- gratulate the gentleman from Texas called capital gains. f Now, most of the citizens of this (Mr. JOHNSON). Both of those gentle- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER men have worked very hard. country will be assessed a capital gains PRO TEMPORE I also want to congratulate the taxation. If one’s mutual funds, if one bought property, if one owns stock out- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Democrats who have finally come on board with the Republican bill to help side of mutual funds, it is a gain upon SIMPSON). The Chair would remind all property that one has made, and they Members to refrain from character- us get rid of this unfair taxation. Then if we have a little time after that, I give a capital tax on it. izing the Senate action or inaction. So that is what they did when Mr. would like to talk about the Internet, Joe sold his property. He was hit with f a taxation on the Internet. So there a capital gains taxation at that time, REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- are a number of issues tonight on our which was around the rate of 28 per- VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF night-side chat that we can discuss. cent. MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE But let us first start with the death So take out a pencil, figure out that RULES ON MARCH 8, 2000 tax. What is the death tax, number Mr. Joe, who had worked throughout one? Number two, what property does Mr. SESSIONS (during special order his entire life, had accumulated prop- this tax tax that has not already been of Mr. KIND), from the Committee on erty, sold a portion of that property, taxed? In this country, there is a tax Rules, submitted a privileged report and on the profit on that property, 28 called the estate tax. If one’s accumu- (Rept. No. 106–505) on the resolution (H. percent taxation. lation of property during one’s life- Res. 425) providing for consideration of Unfortunately, my friend Mr. Joe be- time, property, by the way, of which motions to suspend the rules, which came terminally ill within a month or one already has paid taxes upon at was referred to the House Calendar and so after the sale of this property. Even least once, if that property accumu- ordered to be printed. more unfortunate was that he passed lates over a certain amount of money, away 2 or 3 months after that. The f the Government comes in after one’s Government then came in to that fam- REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- death and mandates upon one’s sur- ily and said we realize that your father VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF viving members, one’s family, that an in this case has paid on time as a re- H.R. 1827, GOVERNMENT WASTE additional tax be levied on this prop- sponsible citizen of this country taxes CORRECTIONS ACT, 1999 erty that has already been taxed. on the property that now belongs to It is probably in our Tax Code the the estate. But we are here for a second Mr. SESSIONS (during special order most unfair, punitive tax that we have dip in the pot. The Government has of Mr. KIND), from the Committee on got. There is no basis of justification to come back, and we think it is nec- Rules, submitted a privileged report go and tax somebody upon their death, essary to tax the estate of the deceased (Rept. No. 106–506) on the resolution (H. their estate upon their death, on prop- person. What did they do to that es- Res. 426) providing for consideration of erty that throughout their entire life- tate? Exactly what they did to that es- the bill (H.R. 1827) to improve the econ- time they have paid taxes after taxes tate, they hit it with taxes which, omy and efficiency of government op- after taxes. It is as if the Government when you add it to the capital gains erations by requiring the use of recov- just did not get enough. tax, gives it an effective tax rate of ery audits by Federal agencies, which Now, one would ask, why is some- about 72 percent. Seventy-two percent was referred to the House Calendar and thing like that in our Tax Code? Why is on that estate is what was paid in tax- ordered to be printed. it not easy just to take it out? Well, I ation. f can tell you. The Clinton administra- Now, let me tell you where the hard- tion, and, frankly, most of the Demo- ship comes in. Number one, 72 percent, NIGHT-SIDE CHAT crats in the House, have opposed tak- imagine, you kind of figure out in your The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under ing or getting rid of the estate tax. own mind what property you have in the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- They say it is a tax for the rich. your home, what property you and uary 6, 1999, the gentleman from Colo- Well, what I invite those people to do your family has in your home that you rado (Mr. MCINNIS) is recognized for 60 is come out, for example, to the State own. Then try to determine 72 percent minutes. of Colorado or go to any State in the of it that you would like to cut out of Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, this Union and take a look at small busi- it to give to the Government, even evening during the next hour I would nesses that are now being impacted by though you already paid taxes on it.

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