George Miller: “the cancer of soft money that is growing on our political system continues, and the cancer of soft money that is…”

“the cancer of soft money that is growing on our political system continues, and the cancer of soft money that is corrupting and ruining our ability to govern this Nation is continuing. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times pointed out that there has been a 250-percent increase in soft money contributions to the Congress in the first half of this year. They point out in the 1996 election that $260 million was collected in soft money contributions, contributions that go around the limits that are placed on Federal elections, and that is three times the amount that was spent in 1992. Just recently, the American public witnessed large soft money donors to the parties in this Congress, being rewarded with tax breaks in the tax bill, tax loopholes, and tax preferences that no one else could achieve but those who gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in soft money. The time has come for the Congress to ban soft money. The time has come for the Republican leadership to put campaign finance reform on the agenda of this House so the people can go back to having their voices heard and not those of the special interests who are giving soft money contributions.”