FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 1997
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
(Washington, D.C.) --U.S. Representative Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) joined with other members of the "Blue Dog" Democrats today to force a congressional debate on campaign finance reform.
Because the leadership of the U.S. House has refused to allow the House to debate campaign finance reform, Peterson and the Blue Dogs today filed a Discharge Petition to force a full and fair debate on campaign finance reform legislation.
"Many people in both political parties would just as soon avoid a debate on campaign reform," Peterson said. "Today, Blue Dog Democrats reject that view and say that it's high-time we in the Congress debate this matter."
Under this parliamentary procedure, when a majority of all House members sign a Discharge Petition, a bill is "discharged" from committee and must be considered and debated in the House of Representatives. This procedure has been used successfully in the past to force consideration of such important matters as a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment.
"The President has called for campaign finance reform and the Senate has debated reform legislation," Peterson continued. "The House needs to also have a full and fair debate and the Blue Dogs and other reform-minded Democrats and Republicans will work to see that this Discharge Petition is successful so the way we currently finance election campaigns in this country is cleaned up and reformed."
Representative Peterson is the Co-Chair for Policy of the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of 24 moderate to conservative House Democrats working for common sense solutions to problems facing the United States.