I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1444
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing
of campaigns for election for Federal office.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 4, 2001
Mr. DOOLITTLE (for himself, Mr. DELAY, Mr. ARMEY, Mr. BLUNT, Mrs.
CUBIN, Mr. COX, Mr. DREIER, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. BARR of Georgia,
Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mrs. BONO, Mr. BRYANT, Mr. BURTON of Indi-
ana, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. CAMP, Mr. CANNON, Mr. CANTOR, Mr.
CULBERSON, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. Hansen,
Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HOSTETTLER, Mr.
HUNTER, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES of North Carolina,
Mr. LARGENT, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. GARY MILLER
of California, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. PENCE, Mr. PICKERING,
Mr. POMBO, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. RYUN of Kan-
sas, Mr. SCHROCK, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr.
SKEEN, Mr. SPENCE, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. TAUZIN, Mr. TAYLOR of
North Carolina, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. TOOMEY, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr.
WHITFIELD, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr.
EVERETT, Mr. COLLINS, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. LEWIS of California,
Mr. WATKINS, Ms. DUNN, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. CRANE, Mr. PETERSON
of Pennsylvania, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. HASTINGS
of Washington, Mr. ISSA, Mr. CHAMBLISS, and Mr. BURR of North Caro-
lina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to
reform the financing of campaigns for election for Fed-
eral office.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Citizen Legislature and
Political Freedom Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds as follows:
(1) The proliferation of campaign finance laws
(beginning with the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971) and the proliferation of government regula-
tions promulgated pursuant to such laws have placed
strict limits on contributions by citizens to the can-
didates of their choice, limits which have served to
severely hinder the ability of challengers to compete
on equal terms with incumbent politicians.
(2) The contribution limits imposed by the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 force candidates
to raise funds in small amounts subject to fixed limi-
tations, inevitably fostering a system under which
wealthy candidates and long-term incumbent politi-
cians hold an unfair financial advantage, which in
turn serves to discourage potential candidates from
seeking public office.
(3) The current campaign finance laws have in-
hibited the full and fair discussion of public policy
issues, as challengers who are not well known to the
electorate are forced by government regulation to at-
tempt to amass contributions from large numbers of
donors at the outset of a campaign. As a result,
challengers who lack the necessary resources to
bring new issues into the public debate often are
eliminated from political campaigns before their
voices are even heard.
(4) The regulation by government of political
speech through the regulation of campaign contribu-
tions and expenditures is patently undemocratic be-
cause it favors institutionalized special interests over
grassroots and citizen activity by imposing burden-
some reporting and disclosure requirements and
stringent spending limits on the political parties,
thereby tilting the financial and tactical advantage
in political campaigns to well-financed interest
groups and wealthy individuals.
(5) The effect of the unreasonably low contribu-
tion limits has been to force more contributors and
political activists to operate outside the system, re-
sulting in even less accountability and even greater
encouragement of irresponsible behavior.
(6) The only way to encourage the robust dis-
course of public issues and candidates, promote the
free exchange of political speech and ideas, protect
constitutional freedom, and foster a more informed
electorate is to lift all current restrictions on polit-
ical candidate and party contributions and expendi-
tures and to provide full, instantaneous disclosure of
all contributions and expenditures in elections for
Federal office.
SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF LIMITATIONS ON FEDERAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
Section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(9) The limitations established under this subsection
shall not apply to contributions made during calendar
years beginning after 2002.’.’
SEC. 4. TERMINATION OF TAXPAYER FINANCING OF PRESI-
DENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.
(a) TERMINATION OF DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX
PAYMENTS.—Section 6096 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—This section shall not apply to
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001.’’
(b) TERMINATION OF FUND AND ACCOUNT.—
(1) TERMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN FUND.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 95 of subtitle
H of such Code is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 9014. TERMINATION.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with
respect to any presidential election (or any presidential
nominating convention) after December 31, 2002, or to
any candidate in such an election.’’
(B) TRANSFER OF EXCESS FUNDS TO GEN-
ERAL
FUND.—Section 9006 of such Code is
amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
‘‘(d) TRANSFER
OF
FUNDS
REMAINING
AFTER
2002.—The Secretary shall transfer all amounts in the
fund after December 31, 2002, to the general fund of the
Treasury.’’
(2) TERMINATION OF ACCOUNT.—Chapter 96
of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at
the end the following new section: