But Will It Really Help?
Campaign Finance Reform Passes Senate
| Below is a news statement by the president of Common Cause as the US Senate voted to approve a campaign finance reform bill. |
Senate passage of the McCain-Feingold bill tonight, at long last, is an important victory for the American people who believe their government should respond to their needs - and not just the needs of an elite class of political donors. This vote is more proof of the power of the reform issue.
Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold, who have steadfastly led this fight when the prospects for a win were even less certain than they were this year, deserve great credit for their courage, commitment, and skill.
Minority Leader Tom Daschle also deserves special note for holding the vast majority of the Democratic caucus together at the many critical junctures along the way. This vote is also a great victory for the activists and volunteers that are part of Common Cause - and who have been fighting to shut down the soft money system since it first reared its head some 17 years ago.
Tonight's bipartisan victory sends a loud signal to the leadership of the House of Representatives that the American people are paying close attention to this debate, and will have zero tolerance for any foot-dragging when it comes to scheduling action on this bill in the House. They expect - and will demand - that the House take up this legislation at the earliest possible date, and deliver a real reform bill to the Oval Office for the President's signature.
Majority Whip Republican Tom DeLay has stated that he will do anything in his power to kill campaign finance reform, but he's tried and failed at that twice before when the bill has passed with big bipartisan majorities. The handwriting on the wall is not any more promising for Mr. DeLay and his cohorts this time around.
There is incredible momentum for reform across the country, and voters know the difference between elected officials who are voting to clean up the system, and politicians who are voting to preserve the corrupting soft money system.
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Common Cause is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan citizens’ lobbying organization working for open, honest, and accountable government at the federal, state, and local levels.
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