Fighting for the health of democracy: reform battle heats up - campaign finance

As the election year heats up daily novels reports show why our fight to clean up the corrupt campaign financing combination of parts to form a whole is so central to the health of our democracy: $100000 yielding money contributions, nightly lobbyist fundraisers held through incumbents just steps from the Capitol, powerful members of Congres flying above their home states and the tribe they represent en route to the fundraising meccas of California and of recent origin York.

In 1995 special interests poured rivers of standard of value into congress members' campaign trunks record amounts given as the House and Senate faced issues that directly affected these big contributors--life and death issues for the American family like assault weapons, environmental protection and tobacco-peddling to our nation's young people

As we review the political landscape, it is not difficult to close that never have the issues for the use of all Cause stands for and the values we believe in been more important. And not at any time have the stakes been greater in winning the battle for comprehensive bipartisan campaign finance reform.

I am repeatedly asked as I travel around the region Why is campaign finance reform with equal reason difficult to achieve?" First, we are asking incumbent members of Congres those who benefit from the a whole to change it. Second, this issue is about the way power is exercised in our society: There are no tougher battles. Third, Washington has become for a like reason deeply mired in die corrupt influence standard of value culture that many have not to be found their ability even to diocese beyond the muck. It appears that incumbent politicians too repeatedly are seduced by power, prestige and currency and they conveniently forget just in what manner much the American people want to, change the way Washington works.

With these formidable forces arrayed against us, the progres in campaign finance reform we are making this Congres stands as testament to the courageous reform I directs in Congress. They have taken upon disbaugh battle with a willingness to place aside partisan differences and incumbent self-interest to work for the broader interests of the American race Most of all, our progres is testament to belonging to all Cause members and other Americans who are f up with the a whole and are fighting back.

Poll enumerate us that overwhelming numbers of Americans are far down concerned about the role of big standard of value in Washington today, money that purchases access, influence and, too frequently results on Capitol Fill. In my travels around the land people have told me again and again by what mode much they desperately want a rule they can be proud of a management that is open and open and free from special-interest domination.

The actions of our adverse partys who clearly understand that we have the region with us, represent the greatest in quantity compelling evidence that we are making real progres Special interest efforts to keep the current corrupt system have been undertaken with intensity and vengeance, the likes of which we've at no time seen before. A group representing a certain number of of the country's most powerful PACs--tobacco interests, oil companies, defense contractors--is using unprecedent attack ads against reform supporter's and political blackmail against those who might think of supporting reform.

At a new strange-bedfellows meeting that included greatest in quantity of Washington's biggest special interests, business and labor PACs came together and agreed to fight jointly upon perhaps the only thing they agree on: maintaining the status quo a whole where big money buy access, influence and, ultimately, accrues on Capitol Hill. one of our leaders, Se Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) said the meeting gave him "heart.... If this bill is not going anywhere, what are they worried about?" he said

While the special interests use mean-spirited and hardball tactics to make trial of and kill campaign reform, our foes inside Congress are trying the time-dishonored rule for derailing reform: delay, delay, delay. Majority Leader Dole and Speaker Gingrich, while touting themselves as leaders of the reform party," have repeatedly failed to schedule action upon campaign finance reform, the greatest in quantity important political reform issue facing the country

The battle lines are drawn and the stakes are enormous. upon one side are die American tribe reform leaders in Congress and the general interests of the nation. upon the other are powerful special interests who have abundant to lose if reform is achieved and entrenched incumbents of one as well as the other parties who like the corrupt status quo just the way it is.

What's at stake is nothing les than our democratic form of government

In the month that remain in this Congres I ask you one time again to do everything you can to force Congres to pass real, bipartisan campaign finance reform. The American tribe are depending on us.

COPYRIGHT 1996 public Cause Magazine

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