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.
Dear Representative Inslee, I’m writing to express my great dismay and disappointment in finding that you voted for the Shays-Meehan bill. It's an assault on the First Amendment of the highest order. No matter how you stretch the Constitution, it can never be construed to allow the muzzling of Americans about the voting records of their elected officials through letters, publications and the media. If the Sierra Club wants to tell me about legislation that you support or have voted for, even the week of an election, they have the right to present their message and I have a right to know and hear about it, even if I dissagree. The same is true concerning the AARP, the NRA, my local PTA, or any other group or person. Shays-Meehan limits the free expression of political thought, exactly the kind of speech the Framers intended to protect. King George arrested, as dissenters, people for pamphleteering about the abuses of the crown in order to protect his power. How is this bill any different? This can not stand. I've never been very politically active, but I promise that I'm going to be knocking on a lot of doors come this election season, telling people about how you voted and why it is so wrong. Respectfully, Chris Edstrom
They will have no opposition because issue ads will not be able to be run by groups who could make clear the lies that are being perpetrated.
THE RATS CONTROL EVERY SINGLE MAJOR MEDIA OUTLET IN THIS COUNTRY. EVen Fox - now with Whoraldo and Great on.
On the non cable "news" shows - and on programs such as 60 minutes whose pro-Clinton defense piece was aired right before the 92 election - RAT BASTARDS WILL BE ABLE TO GET ON THERE AND GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS WITH ZERO OPPOSITION AND INFORMATION ALLOWED BY THE GROUPS WHO ARE SUPPORTED BY MR. AND MRS. AVERAGE AMERICAN!
What this also means is that Mr. and Mrs. AVerage American who support the NRA, for instance, will find out that the NRA is not very effective any longer fighting for their pro-2nd amendment rights and will stop supporting the NRA.
This piece of legislation is the worst to come before the Congress since HIllary care.
IN fact, I predict, it will allow HIllarycare to be put into place.
Further, it proves to the Clinton led Rat Party that they have the Republicrats in the palm of their hands and therefore it paves the way for further such "victories" for those who want to destroy us.
I am totally disgusted that the Republican party HEAD - our President - cannot defeat the Rats in his own party - and now is being forced to veto this legislation (something I want him to do with all my might) or to let it go and suffer the consequences.
Again, my party supports these liberal traitors. They have just killed my country and I refuse to be a party to their atrocity. If President Bush has the internal strength and character that I think he does, HE MUST veto this bill no matter what else happens. If he does not - and I say this with all the seriousness I possess - it is OVER for this nation. There will be no more chance to take it back......watch and see.
Yes, and that is important, and that's where we really have a fight..
BUT, the DNC base is broke. Without left wing organizations and unions, the democrat individual is screwed.
It's the Republican base that's employed, and can give.
In NY, Hillarey ran on soft money from out of state. NY voters were giving to Lazio.
She accused Lazio of big business soft money, so Lazio asked her to sign a soft money ban to make it fair. She refused to sign.
Had it not been for soft money from out of state, Hillary would have been broke. The actual Republican voters were giving to Lazio, and the democrat base was not giving to Hillary.
If organization are taken out of the picture, and it's up to the voters to support their canidates, we win, The democrat base consists of losers who don't want to be employed..
Methinks the dems will rue this day. Doesn't the president have to sign this to make it law? Boy, Rush is HOT!
Maybe this discussion should not be if the man is dying.
Methinks the dems will rue this day. Doesn't the president have to sign this to make it law? Boy, Rush is HOT!
This *is* a fundamental issue and I too beleive in the two party system but you paint the GOP with too much of a broad brush. There is nothing different -- pro or con --about the Republican compaired to other parties except that it is the party that contains the most people that stand for freedom. That is why me must work in the primaries to remove those 41 R's who voted for this and we must work in the general elections to support the rest of them.
Hey G.W., you need to veto this or I'll put him in the same bad GOP bin as the other 41 R's.
I cannot believe how he voted Yes and turned his back on all conservatives. CT is known for it's RINOs, look at Rowland, our governor.
How true! The Biased Left Wing Media has won a huge victory here. It is up to Dubya to slay this evil dragon before it consumes the last of American Values. I have faith that President Bush will do the right thing and veto this attempt to enable the Biased Left Wing Media to choose our politicians. But shouldn’t we start a petition or something to let him know we are out here and opposed to this act of tyranny?
I think you mean free rein(not reign of freedom).
Bump!
Where does the DNC get all their money? If unions can't give, special interest groups can't give, businesses can't give....where will they get THEIR money?The DemonRATs don't have to pay for access to NBCCBSABCCNNPMSNBCTheNewYorkTimesWashingtonPostLosAngelesTimesYourLocalTVStationAndPaper OR the union trade propaganda sheet. What McShame-Slimeroad and Shames-Noman do is block OUR access to the broadcast portion of the aforementioned media outlets (and if they could have written it so that the union trade propaganda sheet is somehow media, they would have banned our access to the print media as well).
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