Stephen Horn: “last year was supposed to be the ``Year of Reform.'' Again and again, we heard promises that ``Reform Week is coming.''…”

“last year was supposed to be the ``Year of Reform.'' Again and again, we heard promises that ``Reform Week is coming.'' November was even called ``Reform Month.'' But campaign reform did not pass. The leadership forced an empty shell of reform through the House. After the President had promised in the 1992 campaign to fight the undue influence of Political Action Committees [PAC's], he gave up the fight and the result is that not one dime less is to be spent by the political action committees to elect Members. Now is the time to see what the leadership really meant by reform. Where is the conference committee? Where is the campaign reform bill? Those of us who are serious about reform want to see what the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate honestly support. Where is the ban on the corrupt influence of PAC money? Where is the ban on soft money? Where is the limit on donations by the big spenders from outside the district? Mr. Speaker, schedule the conference committee now. Then we can move beyond the charade of reform of H.R. 3 onto a bipartisan agreement with real limits on the out-of-control campaign finance system. Million-dollar House campaigns should end now. The American people demand it. Most of the freshmen demand it. Hold conference committee meetings now.”