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HARRY BROWNE, LIBERTARIAN FOR PRESIDENT
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
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For additional information:
Bill Winter, Director of Communications
Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 226
Internet:73163.3063@CompuServe.com
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CAMPAIGN NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 1996


Harry Browne asks: Want to end political corruption?
Deprive politicians of their "jackpot" of federal favors 

        WASHINGTON, DC -- There is only one way to eliminate 
the massive political corruption that swirls around this 
year's presidential election, said Libertarian challenger 
Harry Browne -- strip politicians of their ability to hand 
out lucrative "jackpots" of government benefits at taxpayers' 
expense.

        "Lobbyists, special interest groups, and tainted 
money are drawn to political power like flies to garbage," 
said Browne. "The only way to get rid of the flies is to 
clean up the garbage -- by cleaning up Washington, DC."

        Browne's comments came as charges and countercharges 
flew between President Bill Clinton and Bob Dole about the 
tidal wave of special interest money that has washed over 
Republicans and Democrats in 1996. 

        The latest round of influence buying involves 
$720,000 in contributions from the Indonesian corporation 
Lippo, Ltd. to the Democratic National Committee; $38,000 
in illegal contributions from Aqua-Leisure Industries to the 
Dole campaign; and $140,000 in questionable contributions 
from the Hsi Lai Temple to the Clinton campaign. Attorney 
General Janet Reno is currently deciding whether to appoint 
an independent counsel to investigate the allegations.

        The first step towards solving this problem, said 
Browne, is to recognize that lobbyists and money are merely 
symptoms of the real problem.

        "The problem is that politicians have created a 
lucrative treasure chest for the special interests to fight 
over. The federal government has become an enormous jackpot 
-- with almost unlimited power to bestow favors and wealth. 
Naturally, everyone wants a share of that jackpot.

        "That's why American and foreign corporations 
contribute millions of dollars to Republicans and Democrats. 
It's so politicians will then dole out billions of dollars 
worth of government contracts and corporate subsidies -- not 
to mention favorable legislation, government-mandated 
monopolies, price support systems, and beneficial trade laws."

        Step two, said Browne, is to get the government out 
of the "jackpot" business.

        "As president, I will remove the federal government 
immediately and completely from every activity not specified 
in the Constitution -- education, energy, crime control, 
welfare, housing, transportation, health care, and 
agriculture. And, overnight, we'll see an abrupt end to 
campaign contributions from the education, energy, crime 
control, welfare, housing, transportation, health care, and 
agriculture lobbyists. Once the government has no 
unconstitutional favors to sell, the lobbyists and special 
interests will stop lining up to buy them."

        Until the power of government is strictly limited, 
said Browne, the problem of political corruption will get 
worse -- despite any possible reforms that politicians might 
pass.

        "Republican and Democratic politicians wrote all the 
current campaign finance laws," said Browne. "Are we 
surprised, then, when those laws benefit and enrich 
Republican and Democratic politicians? Of course not. The 
only surprising aspect of this campaign finance scandal is 
that voters are surprised. The federal government has spent 
the last 60 years baiting the mousetrap of government power 
with bigger and more expensive cheese. We shouldn't be 
surprised when it attracts bigger rats."

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