To: AllPolitics Subject: Democrats Want To Link Campaign Reform With Investigations
From: Ann Curley/CNN
In: Washington
Posted: 2-27-97
Democrats sent letter to Gingrich urging ONE Congressional fund-raising probe
Stressing their support for a thorough investigation into alleged campaign finance violations, a group of one hundred Democrats have sent a letter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich, outlining why they feel it's a waste of taxpayer dollars to have multiple investigations into the matter.
Democrats are frustrated that both the Senate Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), and the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), as well as several other congressional committees, are duplicating efforts to investigate the same subjects.
Rep. Gary Condit (D-Calif.), the primary author of the letter, said during a news conference, "We believe that there ought to be thorough reviews and investigations, but there ought not to be duplication. We ought to try to be working in concert with the other body [the Senate] when we can and maybe a joint hearing would be appropriate and would save us money, save us time and save us a lot of effort on our side and a lot of effort on their side."
He complained that, for the purposes of investigating campaign finance, "The Senate is asking for $6.5 million today and Mr. Burton is asking for an additional $3.8 million. We think that's just kind of nonsense, and the American public, they're just kind of fed up with this."
In their letter, Democrats point out that "numerous other House Committees -- including International Relations, Oversight, Rules, Commerce, Banking and Intelligence -- have also launched investigations into some of the same issues being investigated by Chairman Thompson and Chairman Burton," adding, "this makes little sense. Redundant investigations are inefficient and waste taxpayer dollars. They will generate confusion, not better public illumination."
When asked by a reporter whether there is any hope of gaining Republican support for their proposal, Condit said, "We always have hope."