Campaign Finance Reform Dies Again

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 25) -- The Senate failed today to muster the 60 votes needed to end debate on a campaign finance reform measure, effectively killing it for this year.

The vote was 54-46, and although proponents were disappointed, they said they would try again after the November elections. "We will be back next year," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of the bill's authors. "We will ultimately prevail...The people demand it."

The legislation would have set voluntary limits on Senate campaign spending, ended political action committee contributions and limited the practice of legislators collecting most of their donations from inside-the-Beltway interests, rather than people in their home states.

Opponents, however, said the legislation would have trampled on peoples' First Amendment rights to contribute to candidates and candidates' rights to get their messages out.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who opposed the measure, appearing on CNN's "Inside Politics," predicted that even if the bill had passed, the courts quickly would have ruled it unconstitutional.

Related Stories:

• Clinton-Gore Campaign Flush With Cash -- June 19, 1996
• For Dole, $37 Million And It's Almost Gone -- May 23, 1996

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