James Davis: “as the recent report of the Thompson Senate Committee demonstrates, there is widespread and serious abuse of our…”

“as the recent report of the Thompson Senate Committee demonstrates, there is widespread and serious abuse of our Nation's campaign finance system on both sides. One of the most rapidly growing excesses is that of soft money, unlimited amounts of money people can contribute to either political party. And the other is the incredible proliferation of advertising by outside third-party groups. That is why a substantial portion of the Democratic freshmen in this House, together with Members of the Republican freshmen class, have filed a bill calling for a ban on soft money and mandating disclosure with respect to these outside third-party ads. The Speaker said the House will soon take up campaign finance reform. Mr. Speaker, an increasing number of American citizens are watching closely to see whether we take this issue seriously and whether we are going to do something about it. When we take up campaign finance reform; let us take up a real bill, let us take up one that bans soft money; let us take up one that forces disclosure with respect to these ads by outside third-party groups.”