THAT'S WHY I RECENTLY CALLED THE BANKROLL ON SOME OF THE
           INTERESTS BEHIND THAT BILL, TO GIVE ME COLLEAGUES AND THE
           PUBLIC A SENSE OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AT STAKE, NOT JUST
           TAXES BUT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. WE CONSIDERED THE BILL NOT
           BECAUSE IT AFFECTED THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BUT BECAUSE
           IT DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE POCKETBOOKS OF A WEALTHY FEW. AND, I
           AM AFRAID A SIMILAR POINT CAN BE MADE ABOUT ANOTHER PIECE OF
           LEGISLATION, MR. PRESIDENT, THE H-1B BILL. WE HAVEN'T

           CONSIDERED IT YET, BUT WE MAY WELL YET AND SO FAR A TERRIFIC
           EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE BY BOTH SIDES TO SEE IT TAKEN UP. NOW, WHY IS THAT?
           WHY WHEN WE HAVE MORE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS TO CONSIDER, WHEN WE
           HAVE THE REAL PEOPLE'S BUSINESS TO DO, WHY ARE WE PUSHING SO
           HARD TO TAKE UP H-1B?
           I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY WANTS THIS BILL
           TO GET DONE, MR. PRESIDENT. IN THE CASE OF H-1B, I'M NOT
           ADDRESSING THE MERITS OF THE LEGISLATION. AIM NOT NECESSARILY

           OPPOSED TO RAISING THE LEVEL OF H-1B VEES SAFMTS I WANT TO
           POINT OUT WHAT IS ON OUR AGENDA AND WHY, WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE
           THIS SET OF LEGISLATION AS PART OF OUR AGENDA?
           THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY WANTS TO GET THIS BILL PASSED. AND THEY
           HAVE THE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO BACK IT UP. THE AMERICAN
           BUSINESS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION, A COALITION WHICH FORMED TO
           FIGHT FOR AN INCREASE IN H-1B VISAS, OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF THE
           FINANCIAL MIGHT BEHIND PROPONENTS OF H-1B'S?

           AB.I.'S CHOCK FULL OF POLITICAL ZONEERS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT
           INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN BRINGING MORE HIGH-TECH
           WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES. PRICEWATERHOUSE, COOPERS, ELI
           LILLY AND FORMER BABY BELL SOUTH AND SOFTWARE COMPANY ORACLE,
           TO NAME JUST A FEW -- ALL OF THESE HAVE GIVEN HUNDREDS OF
           THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE ALONE AND THEY WANT
           US TO PASS H-1B. WE ALL KNOW THIS, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS IS

           STANDARD PROCEDURE THESE DAYS FOR WEALTHY INTERESTS. YOU'VE GOT
           TO PAY TO PLAY ON THE FIELD OF POLITICS. YOU'VE GOT TO PONY UP
           FOR A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION. AND ANYONE WHO
           CAN'T AFFORD THE PRICE OF ADMISSION, MR. PRESIDENT, IS GOING TO
           BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. I CALL THE BANKROLL TO POINT OUT WHAT
           GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN VARIOUS BILLS. THE MILLIONS OF
           SOFT AND PAC MONEY THAT WEALTHY DONORS GIVE AND WHAT THEY
           EXPECT TO GET IN RUFERMENTB AND YET WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT
           T IT TOOK A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD BETTER DISCLOSURE

           OF THE ACTIVITY WEALTHY DONORS EARLIER THIS SUMMER WHEN WE
           PASSED THE 527 DISCLOSURE BILL. BUT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL NOR
           DO. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE OTHER
           GAPING HOOP LOOPHOLES IN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCING LAW. WEALTHY
           INTERESTS HAVE THE FOUR HELP SET THE POLITICAL AGENDA. WEALTHY
           INTERESTS SPEND UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO PUSH FOR BILLS
           WHICH SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE WEALTHY FEW AT THE EXPENSE OF
           MOST AMERICANS.
           
           WE'VE GOT A QUESTION: WE'VE GOT A QUESTION WHY WE CONSIDER --

           WE'VE GOT TO QUESTION WHY WE CONSIDER SOME BILLS ON THIS FLOOR
           WHILE WE IGNORE SOME OF THE CRUCIAL ISSUES THAT THE AMERICAN
           PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, LIKE INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND
           SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES. BUT INSTEAD, WE ARE LEFT WITH AN
           AGENDA THAT LOOKS LIKE WEALTHY AMERICA'S TO-DO LIST. SDHOU IT
           HAPPEN, MR. PRESIDENT?
           IT'S ALL ABOUT ACCESS. AND ACCESS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY. BOTH
           PARTIES OPENLY PROMISE AND EVEN ADVERTISE THAT BIG DONORS GET
           BIG ACCESS TO PARTY LEADERS. WEEKEND RETREATS AND OTHER SPECIAL

           EVENTS WHERE WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT
           WHAT THEY WANT DONE. WHAT THEY WANT DO. WHETHER THAT MIGHT BE A
           REPEAL OF THE ESTATE TAX OR THEIR COMPANY WANTS TO SEE THE H-1B
           BILL PASSED THIS YEAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THAT'S THE KIND OF
           ACCESS MOST AMERICANS CAN'T EVEN DREAM UP L. OF R# -- DREAM OF.
           AND I HAVE TO WONDER WHY WE AREN'T DESIGNEE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?
           RIGHT NOW THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS SHOOSH THE TREASURY-POSTAL
           APPROPRIATIONS BILL. AND, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT

           THE MOTION TO PROCEED EVEN THOUGH I MAY WELL VOTE AGAINST THE
           UNDERLYING BILL IN THE END. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE
           LIKE THE REPEAL OF THE ESTATE TAX IS THE PEOPLE'S -- BUT I
           DON'T THINK AN ISSUE LIKE THE REPEAL OF THE ESTATE TAX IS THE
           PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. NOT REALLY. NOT WHEN 98 OUT OF 100 PEOPLE
           AREN'T AFFECTED BY IT ANYWAY. SO WE NEED TO GET AT HEART OF
           WHAT'S WRONG HERE. OUR PRIORITIES ARE WARPED BY THE UNDUE
           INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN THIS CHAMBER. WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE OUR
           PRIORITIES AND DO IT NOW. BY PUTTING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

           BACK ON THE AGENDA. BECAUSE THE BEST WAY TO LOOSEN THE GRIP OF
           WEALTHY INTERESTS IS TO CLOSE THE LOOM HOLE THAT SWALLOWED THE
           LAW -- SOFT MONEY. SOFT MONEY HAS EXPLODED OVER THE PAST FEW
           YEARS. SOFT MONEY IS THE CULPRIT THAT BROUGHT US TO THE
           SCANDALS OF 1996. THE SELLING OF ACCESS AND FLUNDZE IN THE
           WHITE HOUSE AND TO THE CONGRESS, THE AUCTION OF THE LINCOLN

           BEDROOM, OF AIR FORCE 1. WITHOUT SOFT MONEY, THE PARTIES WOULD
           NOT HAVE TO KOL UP WITH OFFERS TO GET BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO OPEN
           THEIR CHECK BOOKS FOR THESE HUGE CHECKS. SOFT MONEY ALSO BRINGS
           US TIME AND TIME AGAIN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY AND THE
           IMPARTIALITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. EVERYTHING WE DO IS
           UNDERCRUIT STPHEE AND SUBJECT TO QUESTION BECAUSE MAJOR
           INDUSTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE GIVING OUR POLITICAL PARTIES
           SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. WHETHER IT IS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
           LEGISLATION, THE BANKRUPTCY BILL, THE DEFENSE SPEND OR HEALTH

           CARE, SOMEONE OUT THERE IS TELLING THE PUBLIC, OFTEN WITH
           JUSTIFICATION IN MY VIEW, THAT THE CONGRESS CANNOT BE TRUSTED
           TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PUBLIC INTERESTS BECAUSE THE MAJOR
           AFFECTED INDUSTRIES ARE GIVING US SO MUCH MONEY. FOR MORE THAN
           A YEAR NOW, I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN THE
           LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THROUGH THE CALLING OF THE BANK ROLL AND
           THE REALLY BIG MONEY, THE MONEY MANY BELIEVE HAS A BIG
           INFLUENCE HERE, IS SOFT MONEY. WE HAVE TO CLEAN OUR CAMPAIGN
           FINANCE HOUSE AND THE BEST PLACE TO START IS BY GETTING RID OF

           SOFT MONEY. LET'S PLAY BY THE RULES AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY. WITH
           SOFT MONEY THERE REALLY ARE NO RULES. THERE REALLY ARE NO
           LIMITS. BUT WE CAN RESTORE SOME SANITY TO OUR CAMPAIGN FINANCE
           SYSTEM. NOW, WHEN CAME TO THE SENATE, I WILL CONFESS, I DIDN'T
           EVEN REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SOFT MONEY WAS. AFTER A TOUGH
           RACE AGAINST A VERY WELL-FINANCED OPPONENT, WHO SPENT TWICE AS
           MUCH AS I DID, I WAS MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH THE DIFFICULTIES
           THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WEALTHY HAVE IN JUST RUNNING FOR
           OFFICE. AND MY INTEREST IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM DERIVED, OF

           COURSE, FROM MANY THINGS, BUT IN PART FROM THAT SPEEFRNS. BUT
           SOFT MONEY HAS EXPLODED SINCE I ARRIVED HERE WITH FAR-REACHING
           CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR ELECTIONS AND THE FUNCTIONING OF THE
           CONGRESS. AND NOW I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO NOTHING ON
           CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, WE MUST STOP THIS CANCEROUS GROWTH OF
           SOFT MONEY BEFORE IT CONSUMES US. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW
           MINUTES TO DESCRIBE TO MY COLLEAGUES THE GROWTH OF SOFT MONEY

           IN RECENT YEARS. MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS A FRIGHTENING STORY. SOFT
           MONEY FIRST ARRIVED IN THE 19 80 ELECTIONS AFTER A 1978 F.C.C.
           RULING OPENED THE SDOOR FOR PARTIES TO ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS
           FROM CORPORATIONS AND UNIONS WHO ARE BARRED FROM CONTRIBUTING
           TO FEDERAL ELECTIONS. THE BEST AVAILABLE ESTIMATE IN IS THAT
           THE PARTIES RAISED UNDER $20 MILLION IN SOFT MONEY IN THAT
           CYCLE. AND THEN BY THE 1992 ELECTION, THE YEAR I WAS ELECTED TO
           THIS BODY, SOFT MONEY FUND-RAISING BY THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES HAD
           RISEN TO $86 MILLION. NOW, $86 MILLION IS CLEARLY A LOST MONEY.

           IT WAS NEARLY AS MUCH AS THE $110 MILLION THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL
           CANDIDATES WERE GIVE NON1992 IN PUBLIC FINANCING. FROM THE U.S.
           TREASURY. AND THERE WAS A REAL CONCERN ABOUT HOW THAT MONEY WAS
           SPENT SPENT. DES SPILETE THE F.C.C.'S DECISION THAT SOFT MONEY
           COULD BE USED FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GET OUT THE VOTE AND VOTER
           REGISTRATION CAMPAIGNS, WITHOUTVITING THE FEDERAL ELECTION
           LAW'S PROHIBITION ON COURT AND UNION CONTRIBUTIONS IN
           CONNECTION WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS, THE PARTIES SENT MUCH OF
           THEIR SOFT MONEY TO BE SPENT IN STATES WHERE THE PRESIDENTIAL
           ELECTION BETWEEN GEORGE BUSH AND BILL CLINTON WAS CLOSE, OR ON

           IN THE ALTERNATIVE, OR SOMETIMES IN THE SAME PLACES WHERE THERE
           WERE KEY CONTESTED IS THAT THE RACES. STILL, MR. PRESIDENT,
           EVEN THEN WITH THAT TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE USE OF SOFT
           MONEY, STILL SOFT MONEY WAS FAR FROM THE CENTRAL ISSUE IN OUR
           DEBATE OVER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN 1993 AND 1994. AND IN
           1995, WHEN SENATOR MCCAIN AND I FIRST INTRODUCED THE
           MCCAIN-FEINGOLD BILL, OUR BILL INCLUDED A BAN ON SOFT MONEY BUT
           IT WAS NOT PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL AND FRANKLY, NO ONE
           REALLY PAID THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO IT AT THAT TIME. THEN, MR.

           PRESIDENT, CAME THE 1996 ELECTION AND WITH IT, THE ENORMOUS
           EXPLOSION OF SOFT MONEY. FUELED BY THE PARTY'S DECISION TO USE
           THE MONEY ON PHONY ISSUE ADS SUPPORTING THEIR PRESIDENTIAL
           CAMPAIGNS. REMEMBER THOSE ADS THAT EVERYONE THOUGHT WERE
           CLINTON AND DOLE ADS BUT WERE ACTUALLY RUN BY THE PARTIES?
           THAT WAS REALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, THE, IF YOU WILL, THE PUBLIC
           DEBUT OF SOFT MONEY ON THE NATIONAL SCENE. THE TOTAL SOFT MONEY
           FUND-RAISING SKYROCKETED AS A RESULT. THREE TIMES AS MUCH SOFT

           MONEY WAS RAISED IN 1996 AS IN 1992. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
           SOFT MONEY TRIPLED IN ONE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE. THE
           REASON WAS THE INSATIABLE DESIRE OF THE PARTIES FOR MONEY TO
           RUN PHONY ISSUE ADS AND, OF COURSE, THAT DESIRE HAS ONLY
           INCREASED SINCE 1996. BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES ARE RAISING
           UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS OF SOFT MONEY FOR AD CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE
           ALREADY UNDERWAY THIS YEAR. SOFT MONEY IS FINANCING OUR
           PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS, MR. PRESIDENT, AND THIS CONGRESS JUST

           STANDS BY AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT. FRED WORTHHFM
           EIMER, A LONGTIME ADVOCATE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, SAID IT
           WELL IN AN OP-ED IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" ON MONDAY. HE WROTE,
           "VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH IN THEIR
           PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS ARE LIVING A LIE.
           
           THE LIE IS THIS: THAT THE TV ADS NOW BEING RUN IN PRESIDENTIAL
           BATTLEGROUND STATES ACROSS AMERICA ARE POLITICAL PARTY ISSUE
           ADS. NRXF EVERYONE AND I MEAN EVERYONE KNOWS THESE AS OUR

           PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ADS, BEING RUN FOR THE UNEQUIVOCAL
           PURPOSE OF DIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION." END
           OF QUOTE. WORTHHEIMER NOW GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE ADS PROMOTE
           GORE AND BUSH -- BY THE BUSH AND GORE PRESIDENTIAL
           CAMPAIGNSANCES ARE TARLGDED TO RUN IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES.
           THE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE MERELY CONDUITS FOR THIS SCHEME AND
           COVER FOR THE LIE. HE CONTINUES, "WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
           ALL THIS?

           WELL, FOR STARTERS, WE ARE LIVING THIS LIE IN THE ELECTION FOR
           THE MOST IMPORTANT OFFICE IN THE WORLD'S OLDEST DEMOCRACY. THE
           LIE WILL RESULT IN SOME $100 MILLION OR MORE IN HUGE CORRUPTING
           CONTRIBUTIONS BEING ILLEGALLY USED BY GORE AND BUSH IN 29000
           PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. MANY MILLIONS MORE WILL BE ILLEGALLY
           USED IN THE 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RACES." END OF QUOTE. MR.
           PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE FULL TEXT OF MR.

           WITHER HYMNER'S ARTICLE, "GORE/BUSH AND THE BIG LIE" BE
           INCLUDED.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. FEINGOLD: THE BIG LIE LET TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR TWO
           POLITICAL PARTYS INTO THE SOFT MONEY MACHINE. OTHER THAN THE
           MILLION OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR ADS SUPPORTING PRESIDENTIAL
           CANDIDATES, SOFT MONEY HAS RAISED PRIMARILY FROM CORPORATE
           INTERESTS WHO HAVE A LEGISLATIVE AX TO GRIND AND SO THE
           EXPLOSION OF SOFT MONEY BOUGHT AN EXPLOSION OF ACCESS IN THIS
           CONGRESS AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION. HERE ARE SOME OF THE
           COMPANIES IN THIS VERY EXCLUSIVE GROUP. WE FLOW THEY HAVE A BIG

           INTEREST IN WHAT CONGRESS DOES. PHILIP MORRIS, JOSEPH SEAGRAMM
           AND SONS, R.J.R. NABISCO, WALT DISNEY, L.A.N. PARTICULAR RIDGE
           RIDGEFIELD, FEDERAL EXPRESS, AT&T, M.C.I., THE A SOPHISTICATION
           TRIAL LAURX THE N.E.A., ANHEUSER-BUSCH, EYE LEE LILY,
           TIME-WARNER, CHEVRON CORP., ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND, NYNEX,
           NORTHWEST AIRLINES -- MR. PRESIDENT, IT A WHO'S WHO OF
           CORPORATE AMERICA. THEY ARE INVESTORS IN THE UNITED STATES

           CONGRESS, AND NO ONE CAN CONVINCE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT
           THESE COMPANIES GET NO RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. THEY HAVE A
           SAY, MUCH TOO BIG A SAY, IN WHAT WE DO. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. AND
           IT IS THAT DISTURBING. MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHY OUR PRIORITIES
           ARE SO OUT OF WHACK WHACK. WE SHOULD BE GOING TO THE
           TREASURY-POSTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT
           THE MOTION TO PROCEED DESPITE THE FACT THAT I MIGHT VOTE
           AGAINST IT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DOFMBIT BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT

           WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, NOT JUST WHAT THE
           WEALTHY INTERESTS WANT. AS I SAID WHEN I FIRST BEGAN CALLING
           THE BANKROLL LAST YEAR, WE KNOW IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES
           THAT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVOLVED IN VIRTUALLY
           EVERYTHING THIS BODY DOES. CAMPAIGN MONEY IS THE 800-POUND
           GRILL LA IN THIS KHAIFIRMRY DAY THAT CAN'T BE TALKED ABOUT BUT
           CANNOT BE IGNORED ALL AROUND US AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

           PIME NOTICE THIS GORILLA. STUDIES COME OUTEN A WEEKLY BASIS
           FROM A VARIETY OF GROUPS THAT CAMPAIGN FOR FINANCE REFORM THAT
           SHOW WHAT WE ALL KNOW. THE AGENDA OF THE CONGRESS SEEMS TO BE
           UNDULY INFLUENCED BY CAMPAIGN MONEY. BUT IN OUR DEBATES HERE,
           WE ARE JUST SILENT ABOUT THAT INFLUENCE AND HOW IT IS
{END: 2000/07/26 TIME: 14-30 , Wed.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}