Speech #1050122132

Congress has the opportunity to adopt rules that will require a corporation or labor union to obtain the written and voluntary consenl of Iheir umployees or union members before removing from their pay any portion of their wages for political purposes These reform measures also prohibit campaign contributions from individuals who are not United States cltizens. Also. "issue advocacy" Is a practice that has been prone to abuse. and the Campaign Reform and Election Integrity Act requires disclosure o1 all contributions and expenditures for communications that Identify a federal candidato or political party within 90 days of the election. We have the opportunity today to ban soft money. mandate full disclosure of campaign spending. require workers consent to use their dues for political purposes. and ban noncitizen contributions to political campaigns. While we will never be able to eliminate the possibility of campaign abuses occurring. todays legislation would put In place campaign finance reforms that will greatly reduce the chance of future abuses. and hat will make it extremely difficult to hide abuses of campaign law. Congress is faced with the task of reformIng our campaign funding system so that pubIlc confidence in our democratic system is strengthened. but that at the same time protects citizens basic constitutional free speech rights