Debate will last 3 days.

Sponsor: Rep. Leonard Hobbes (R-CA-41)

Co-sponsor: Rep. Marcus Miliam (R-TX-17), Rep. Tom Coniam (D-AZ-4), Rep. Richard Perry (D-WV-2), Rep. Dick Dexter (R-CA-21), Rep. Micheal Wilt (R-TN-5), Rep. Leonardo Stackhouse (D-IL-10), Rep. Caspian Forsyth (I-CA-32), Rep. Scott Matthews (I-ID-1), Rep. Christian Bullitt (R-TX-27), Rep. Josh Frappier (D-MA-6), Rep. Tyler Warren (D-CA-14), Rep. James Cross (R-MS-2), Rep. Max Cherry (D-NC-2), Rep. Vernon MacGyver (D-MI-5)

PARTY CONVENTION FREEDOM ACT

I. Finding of Fact

1) The United States Government, using taxpayer funds, specifically provides and pays for every aspect of the Democratic and Republican Presidential nominating conventions. The base grant for each party is four million dollars plus a cost-of-living adjustment.

2) Millions of Americans do not ascribe to the views of either the Democratic or Republican parties.

3) The United States government, thus, is expressing financing and endorsing the positions of two political parties that do not constitute the wishes of all of its citizens.

4) It is not the responsibility of the government to meddle in America's free and fair election process.

II. Authorization

1) Be it enacted, that the Federal Elections Commission no longer is given the authorization to finance any portion of any political party's Presidential nominating convention.

2) This legislation will go into effect upon its passage through Congress and the signature of the President of the United States.

Mr. Chair,

This bill is only necessary and proper. We could use a trim on our budget and Party Conventions should be subsidized by the DNC and the RNC. George Soros and Halliburton can bankroll the party conventions, not the taxpayer.

I motion for Unanimous consent of this bill.

I yield.

Mr. Chairman,

Reserving my right to object for the time being, can someone tell me through what fund does this money come? Is this part of the money allocated for the candidates' general election monies? To whom does the money go, and what makes this different than the general election monies that candidates get at the outset of the general election campaign?

I wish to hear from the sponsor(s) of the measure before I make up my mind. Have they been explicitly invited to appear here?

I yield.

Mr. Chair,

First, as one of the co-sponsors of this legislation, in response to the gentleman from New Hampshire's question it is my understanding that money for Democratic and Republican convention is specifically provided by the Federal Elections Commission. It is not part of the money allocated for the candidates.

Second I echo the sentiments of my friend from Michigan and would also like to add that this kind of funding is immoral. To give special privilege to two certain parties over other '3rd-parties' is simply wrong and this is one of the many barriers we must destroy to allow '3rd-parties' to blossom in this country so we are not limited to a two-party system with two sole philosophies.

I yield.

Mr. Chair,

I am going to support this bill on good faith assuming that the reason third parties never seem to garner above about 5% of the popular vote nationwide (the anamoly elections of 1980, 1992, and 1996 excepted) is because the actions of the federal government pretty much make a two party system a self-perpetuating prophecy. I urge the rest of my colleagues to test this premise by first voting AYE
on this bill.

I yield,

Bill passes by UC.

My error. Mr. Carlson objected and it has not passed committee by UC.