Posted on 02/14/2002 1:52:44 AM PST by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - They did it: Following a 16-hour debate, the U.S. House of Representatives early Thursday morning passed a bill that would change the nation's campaign finance laws - for the better, said supporters; and for worse, said critics.
The vote was 240-189, with 41 Republicans and one independent voting for the Shays-Meehan bill, 12 Democrats voting with 176 Republicans and one independent against it.
The measure that passed around 2:30 a.m. is close enough to the Senate version that it could go straight to the Senate floor for a vote, in which case Republicans are promising a filibuster; or if the Senate doesn't accept it outright, it could move into a conference committee first.
President Bush, much to the dismay of some Republicans, is expected to sign the measure once it reaches his desk.
Here's some of what the House-passed bill does: It bans unregulated "soft-money" given to national political parties by corporations, unions, interest groups, and individuals; but it would allow soft-money contributions to state and local parties, up to a $10,000 limit.
It allows individuals to donate up to $2,000 (from the current $1,000 limit) to political candidates. And it also restricts broadcast advertising in the sixty days before an election.
The latter provision may provide the "meat" for a legal challenge. Opponents - who already are threatening to sue -- say restricting broadcast advertising before an election is tantamount to restricting free speech.
As for the soft-money ban, opponents say it is nothing more than a move to protect political incumbents against challengers who are less well known.
On the other hand, campaign finance "reformers" say the bill will help restore public confidence in the political system where money buys influence. Nonsense, say critics, who insist that money talks - always has and always will. They say politicians will find ways around the law, or simply walk through its loopholes.
an fitting depiction of our "courageous" congrescritters.
Sad, but true. One more thing to remember this coming fall.
Where is the gop leadership on this issue?
I've been looking for it too, but somehow Bush gets everything he wants. He'll get tax relief, too.
"Let's get one thing straight here: Politicians WILL be controlling our speech WITHIN our lifetimes."
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Heck Laz.....it's ALREADY being done illegally and legally. Remember what happened to people and entities that spoke out against the Sick Slick and Hitlery? Audits for all.....and it was apparently legal. The politicians right now...let the PC police among us...control, steer, harass, moderate, repress, coerce, GOVERN....our speech NOW..!!
More like freeway underpasses. EVERYONE will be able to drive a tractor-trailer rig through them (including us).
But the bill still stinks to high heaven.
Here is what is says on the front page of the site.
"Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America."
Where does that say Republican?
Not being the brightest bulb on the tree, how so?
There is no way the Supremes are going to stop us from running a printing press, for example.
"A drop of ink can make a million think." -Lord Byron
The same way we will get around it when they pass laws to confiscate our firearms, and when they make the anti-prolife laws fit with much tougher teeth and when Hillary care comes into being and you need heart bypass surgery but will be standing in line and waiting a few years. We will break the laws and become criminals and go to jail or be fined of everything we have. This is where this takes us.
The elite have become that much more elite. The peasant class has become that much more of the peasant class. (There is no middle class any more). The peasants can no longer ban together to fight the monster. That's what this means. It has torn the heart out of the American political process and when the heart goes, the nation goes. We just haven't issued the death certificate yet - but America is DEAD if President Bush does not veto this outrageous piece of garbage.
However, I am old fashioned in that I think republicans should act as republicans to get my support.
Then to be challanged, sending it to SCOTUS with the hope of having it striken down as unconstitutional. Thereby allowing the Pres to collect politcal points and giving him a more powerful platform to redesign the bill acording to his time-tabel and removing that hairy beast from the media's grasp of control.
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