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REP. SCHAKOWSKY: GET SPECIAL INTERESTS OUT OF THE ELECTION BUSINESS

April 14, 1999
April 14, 1999

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: GET SPECIAL INTERESTS OUT OF THE ELECTION BUSINESS

JOINS DEMOCRATS IN PRESSURING REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIPFOR VOTE ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined with other House members to force a vote on the Shays-Meehan bill, the leading campaign finance reform legislation in Congress.

Representative Schakowsky and House members signed a "Discharge Petition" to allow campaign finance reform legislation to be debated and voted on by the House of Representatives. A discharge petition is a parliamentary tool that allows a majority of members to force a bill that is being bottled-up in committee onto the house floor.

Representative Schakowsky is a cosponsor of the Shays-Meehan bill. The bill will limit "soft money" and regulate issue advertisement paid for by special interests. Last Congress a discharge petition was used to bring this legislation to the floor. A bipartisan majority in the House approved it, but a Senate filibuster killed the legislation.

"Voters are demanding that we get big money and special interests out of campaigns by passing a comprehensive campaign reform bill this Congress. The Shays-Meehan bill is an important first step. But it is only the first step," Schakowsky said.

Representative Schakowsky said that is why she is also cosponsoring the Clean Money, Clean Election Act, introduced by Representative John Tierney (D-MA). This bill goes further to reform campaign laws than the Shays-Meehan legislation by getting special interests and big money out of elections all together.

"The influence of special interests and big-money players in the political arena is costing voters millions of dollars in higher health care costs and utility rates. It is time for Congress to lead the way and put special interests out of the election business and big money out of our government," Schakowsky said.