S4098 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 11, 2015 WYDEN, also wishes to provide separate port his interpretation of this provi- people gave a comparable amount of and related comments. sion. In accordance with longstanding $356 million through small-dollar dona- In setting out what is to be taken as historical practice, and because of im- tions of $200 or less. Astonishing as ‘‘major legislation,’’ the budget resolu- portant practical considerations, the these figures are, they don’t include tion specifies that legislation may be chair and vice chair of the Joint Com- the $173 million spent in the 2014 elec- designated to be ‘‘major’’ if the Sen- mittee on Taxation should exercise tion cycle by tax-exempt ‘‘dark ator or House Member who is chairman principal control over the revenue esti- money’’ groups that are not required to or vice chairman of the Joint Com- mating process, and section 3112 should publicly disclose their donors. mittee on Taxation, or JCT, designates not be interpreted to authorize the Deep-pocketed special interests are the legislation as such ‘‘for revenue chairs of the Budget Committees to aiming to control the agenda in Con- legislation.’’ Of course, such language interfere with JCT’s responsibility for gress. It is time to fight back and fun- is entirely consistent with existing and control over revenue estimates in damentally reform the way we finance laws and practice, under which the re- any part of the congressional budget congressional elections. We need a sys- sponsibility and control over revenue process. tem that allows candidates to focus on estimates in the congressional budget However, I must note that on the constituents instead of fundraising—a process lies squarely with the chair and broader point of dynamic estimates, I system that encourages ordinary vice chair of the JCT. am opposed, and I was therefore op- Americans to make their voice heard The budget resolution also specifies posed to section 3112 being included in with small, affordable donations to the that legislation may be designated to the budget resolution and conference candidate of their choice. be ‘‘major’’ if the chair of the Com- agreement to start with. Dynamic esti- That is why I am once again intro- mittee on the Budget in the Senate or mates rely on shaky math and conven- ducing the Fair Elections Now Act. the House designates the legislation as ient assumptions that reward advo- While this bill cannot solve all of the such ‘‘for all direct spending and rev- cates of tax cuts while punishing advo- problems facing our Nation’s campaign enue legislation.’’ Of course, existing cates of long-term investments in peo- finance system, the Fair Elections Now laws and practice assigns responsibility ple and our Nation’s infrastructure. Act will dramatically change the way and control over spending estimates f campaigns are funded. This bill allows with the Budget Committees. However, FAIR ELECTIONS NOW ACT candidates to focus on the people they the budget resolution includes ‘‘rev- represent, regardless of whether those enue legislation’’ as part of what the Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it was 8 people have the wealth to attend a big Budget Committee chairs may use for years ago that I first introduced the money fundraiser or donate thousands designating legislation as being Fair Elections Now Act. Former Sen- of dollars. ‘‘major.’’ ator Arlen Specter, our late colleague I would like to thank Sens. BALDWIN, As I understand the intent of the lan- and former chairman of the Judiciary BOXER, BROWN, FRANKEN, GILLIBRAND, guage, when major legislation is to be Committee, was my lead cosponsor. We HEINRICH, KLOBUCHAR, LEAHY, MARKEY, considered, there can be cases in which introduced the bill because we believed MCCASKILL, MENENDEZ, MERKLEY, MUR- the legislation may require estimates that America needs a system that re- PHY, SANDERS, SHAHEEN, UDALL, and both from the JCT and from the Con- wards candidates with the best ideas WARREN for cosponsoring the Fair gressional Budget Office, or CBO. In and principles—not just the person who Elections Now Act and joining me in such cases, there is nothing to prohibit is the most talented in raising special this effort to reform our campaign fi- use of longstanding practice in which interest money. nance system. the Budget Committees consult with I noted that day that our democracy the chair and vice chair of the JCT to was in trouble because special interests The Fair Elections Now Act will help ensure that any necessary revenue esti- and big-donor money were choking the restore public confidence in congres- mates are arrived at by the JCT, for system and preventing us from facing sional elections by providing qualified use in scoring major legislation. To be up to the big challenges of our time. candidates for Congress with grants, clear, however, nothing in the budget Little did I know that almost a decade matching funds, and vouchers from the resolution should be taken to mean later, this problem would have grown Fair Elections Fund to replace cam- that the chairs of the Budget Commit- much worse. paign fundraising that largely relies on tees have authority to interfere with Through a series of recent cases—in- lobbyists, wealthy donors, corpora- the responsibility and control over rev- cluding the infamous Citizens United tions, and other special interests. In re- enue estimates in any part of the con- decision—the Supreme Court has al- turn, participating candidates would gressional budget process which, as I lowed wealthy, well-connected cam- agree to limit their campaign spending identified earlier, lies squarely with paign donors and special interests to to amounts raised from small-dollar the chair and vice chair of the JCT. unleash a deluge of cash in an effort to donors plus the amounts provided from It is my understanding that the budg- sway Federal, State, and local elec- the Fair Elections Fund. et resolution does not direct or allow tions across our Nation. When it comes The Fair Elections system would for any possibility of such interference, to understanding the influence of have three stages for Senate can- and my purpose in the remarks I am wealthy donors and special interests on didates. First, candidates would need making today is to make that under- Federal elections, the numbers speak to prove their viability by raising a standing clear. As I have mentioned, for themselves. minimum number and amount of longstanding practice has been that if In the 2012 election cycle, candidates small-dollar qualifying contributions a need arises for the CBO to obtain in- for both the House and Senate raised from in-state donors. Qualified can- formation on major legislation from the majority of their funds from large didates would then be required to limit the JCT in terms of revenue estimates donations of $1,000 or more. Forty per- the amount raised from each donor to or effects of legislative proposals on cent of all contributions to Senate can- $150 per election. marginal effective tax rates, Budget didates came from donors who maxed In the primary, participants would Committee members can ensure that out at the $2,500 contribution limit, receive a base grant that would vary in those estimates and effects are ob- representing just 0.02 percent of the amount based on the population of the tained by consulting with the chair and American population. State that the candidate seeks to rep- vice chair of the JCT. This long- We saw this trend continue during resent. Participants would also receive standing practice ensures smooth proc- the recent midterm elections. The 100 a 6 to 1 match for small-dollar dona- essing of the JCT’s workload, and pre- biggest donors gave a combined $323 tions up to a defined matching cap. vents any direct control or interven- million during the 2014 election cycle After reaching that cap, the candidate tion in JCT’s workload from other through official campaign contribu- could raise an unlimited amount of $150 committees with other jurisdictions. tions and donations to national party contributions, as well as contributions Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I share committees, PACs, Super PACs, and from small-donor People PACs. the concern of my colleague, the Fi- 527 organizations. In contrast to those In the general election, qualified can- nance Committee chairman, and I sup- 100 donors, an estimated 4.75 million didates would receive an additional

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Jun 12, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11JN6.071 S11JNPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with SENATE June 11, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4099 grant, further small-dollar matching, democracy, and we must address it. Ev- Opera of , Stroger Hospital, and and vouchers for purchasing television eryone is entitled to a seat at the in universities across the Nation. advertising. The candidate could con- table, but wealthy donors and big cor- Lester and his wife Renee have been tinue to raise an unlimited amount of porations shouldn’t be able to buy happily married for more than 60 years $150 contributions, as well as contribu- every seat. and have seven children. Renee serves tions from small-donor People PACs. The Fair Elections Now Act will re- as a founding member and former Under the Fair Elections Now Act, form our campaign finance system so president of the Women’s Board of candidates would have an incentive to that members of Congress can focus on and a life di- seek small donations. And citizens implementing policies in the best in- rector of the Multiple Sclerosis Soci- would have an incentive to donate to terest of the people who elected them— ety. She also serves on the board of the the candidate of their choice, knowing not just the wealthy donors and special Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, the that their small donation of $150 would interests that bankrolled their success. Field Museum, the Joffrey Ballet, and be converted to a $900 donation I urge my colleagues and the American as an honorary chair of the Shoah Vis- through the 6 to 1 Fair Elections people to support this important legis- ual History Foundation. match. lation. Lester and Renee are an inspiration Citizens would also be eligible for a f for many in their family who have be- modest, refundable tax credit. The Fair come successful investors and philan- Elections Now Act establishes the ‘‘My RECOGNIZING THE 90TH BIRTHDAY thropists. Their son Jim is continuing Voice Tax Credit’’ to encourage indi- OF the legacy started by Lester’s father viduals to make small donations to Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I nearly a century ago by now serving as campaigns. Citizens could also make recognize the 90th birthday of one of the lead director of . their voices heard by aggregating small the outstanding business leaders of our Together, the Crown family works with contributions of $150 or less into a type time—Chicago businessman, Lester roughly 600 groups a year and donates of small-donor political action com- Crown. millions of dollars annually to support mittee, known as a ‘‘People PAC.’’ Peo- Lester Crown was born on June 7, organizations that focus on education ple PACs would then be permitted to 1925, to , the son of Jewish and community development. make campaign contributions to quali- immigrants from Lithuania, and his In addition to the energy Lester has fied Fair Elections candidates. Coupled wife, Rebecca Kranz. Like many other poured into his family and business with the Fair Elections public financ- Illinoisans, Lester came from a family life, he has been a pillar in the Jewish- ing system, People PACs would elevate of Lithuanian immigrants with humble American community in his support of the views and interests of a diverse beginnings who moved to America to Israel. Few can match his dedicated spectrum of Americans, rather than pursue a better life for their children. commitment to the survival and suc- those of the traditional, wealthy donor Lester’s father worked hard with his cess of the nation of Israel. class. two brothers to build their family con- While few share Lester’s long list of Our country is facing major chal- struction supplies company, the Mate- business achievements, even fewer lenges. We need to continue to create rial Service Corporation. As a young share his level of leadership and gen- more jobs and restore economic secu- man, Lester worked with his father at erosity. It is with great pride that I ask rity for the middle class. We need to the Material Service’s quarry over the my colleagues to join me in celebrating build and sustain our transportation summers to lend a hand. Through the the 90th birthday of Lester Crown and infrastructure. We need to fix our bro- hard work and dedication of the entire to congratulate him on his legendary ken immigration system. We need to Crown family, the Material Service career and his many contributions to ensure that the right to vote is pro- Corporation became one of the most the city of Chicago, the Nation, and tected and preserved. successful companies in America. Sev- the world. I offer my best wishes as he But with high-powered, special inter- eral years later, that family business continues to provide visionary leader- est lobbyists fighting every proposal to merged with General Dynamics Cor- ship through his business endeavors make our country stronger, it is in- poration to become America’s largest and family philanthropy for years to credibly difficult for members of Con- defense contractor. come. gress to make progress on behalf of From the start, Lester saw his fa- f their constituents. This bill would dra- ther’s work and learned what it took to matically reduce the influence of these be a successful businessman. He used CONFIRMATION OF ERIC MILLER special interests and wealthy donors, his experience to excel and quickly be- TO BE VERMONT’S U.S. ATTORNEY because Fair Elections candidates came the president of Marblehead Lime Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, last would not need their money to run and Royal Crown (RC) Cola. After night, the Senate confirmed Eric Mil- campaigns. As a result, the bill would years of managing companies, Lester ler to be Vermont’s 37th U.S. attorney. enhance the voice of average Ameri- took over as chair of General Dynamics I am confident that he will do an out- cans. Let me be clear: the over- and as the head of the family invest- standing job as the top Federal law en- whelming majority of people serving in ment firm. forcement officer in the State. Before American politics are good, honest peo- One of Lester’s many talents has recommending Eric to the President, I ple, and I believe that most members of been his ability to recognize great po- consulted prosecutors, defense attor- Congress are guided by the best of in- tential. His eye for promising invest- neys, judges, law enforcement officials, tentions. But we are nonetheless stuck ments has led him to grace the Forbes and civic leaders throughout Vermont. in a terrible, corrupting system. 400 list every year since 1982. With a They were unanimous in their support A recent poll found bipartisan con- quick glance at his impressive list of for Eric. I was particularly impressed cerns about our current system. Ac- investments we can easily see why—he with his thoughtfulness, vision, and cording to the poll, more than four out is a major shareholder in Maytag, Hil- depth of experience. Eric Miller is one of five Americans say money plays too ton Hotels, Alltel, Aspen Skiing Com- of Vermont’s leading trial attorneys. great a role in political campaigns. pany, New York’s Rockefeller Center, He is well regarded by State and local Two-thirds say that the wealthy have the New York Yankees, and Illinois’ law enforcement and leaders in more of a chance to influence the elec- very own Chicago Bulls. Vermont’s legal community. toral process than other Americans. But Lester is not just a successful Eric Miller has worked since 1999 in The perception is that politicians are businessman, he is also a dedicated phi- the Burlington office of the law firm corrupted by big money interests . . . lanthropist, husband, and father. He Sheehey Furlong & Behm PC, serving and whether that is true or not, that has channeled his successes to provide as partner since 2002. He has litigated a perception and the loss of trust that generous contributions to a wide array range of complex issues in Federal civil goes with it make it very difficult for of local and national projects. His char- and criminal cases, including trials and Congress to solve tough issues. itable footprint can be seen in land- appeals. As an appointee to the Crimi- This problem—the perception of per- marks such as the famous Crown Foun- nal Justice Act panel of the U.S. Dis- vasive corruption—is undermining our tain in Millennium Park, the Lyric trict Court for the District of Vermont,

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