GOP Greases Skids to Sink Campaign Finance Bill

CNSNews.com ^ | 2/20/02 | Jeff Johnson

[kattracks]

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - The bill that many House liberals called a Valentine's Day present to the American people may quickly be stamped "return to sender" if it is delivered to President Bush for his signature.

The House passed the Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Bill (H.R. 2356) early the morning of February 14th , over the objections of conservatives who argued that the bill imposed unconstitutional restrictions on the First Amendment rights of issue advocacy groups like the National Rifle Association, the Sierra Club and other groups from across the political spectrum.

Now conservatives on the House Republican Study Committee (RSC) appear to be laying the groundwork for a presidential veto of the bill or significant revisions in the Senate by using Bush's own words.

In an e-mail message circulated to House members and reporters Tuesday, the RSC referred to a letter President Bush wrote to then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) last year detailing the six principles Bush believed should govern any campaign finance bill sent to the White House for Bush's signature.

According to the RSC, the version of the Shays-Meehan bill passed by the House violates all six principles.

"Not one of President Bush's six reform principles," the RSC memo claims, "is incorporated into Shays-Meehan."

No members were available to comment on whether the RSC memo is an attempt to set up a Bush veto of the bill. But White House has not ruled out a veto.

Those principles laid out by Bush, according to the letter, included:

* Protect the Rights of Individuals to Participate in Democracy
* Maintain Strong Political Parties
* Ban Corporate and Union Soft Money
* Eliminate Involuntary Contributions
* Require Full and Prompt Disclosure
* Promote a Fair, Balanced, and Constitutional Approach

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), an RSC member, says the bill doesn't even past the first of the president's six "tests."

"Shays-Meehan is blatantly unconstitutional, and is hostile to free speech. It will muzzle citizen groups by preventing them from placing ads on radio and TV 60 days prior to an election," Akin said in a statement. "The right to free speech is one of our most cherished and guarded rights and should not be infringed."

On Bush's second point David Mason, the chairman of the Federal Election Commission, told CNSNews.com the day the bill was considered that he believes it will weaken the parties.

"This is an attack on the political parties," Mason said. "And, to the extent that it survives the courts, it will succeed."

The RSC complains that the bill would severely limit what activities parties could engage in and restrict their fundraising abilities. While some may argue that that, in itself, might not be a bad thing, the RSC says the provisions definitely weaken the parties.

The group points out that Shays-Meehan would also prevent the parties from raising money to donate to other groups, and from making independent or coordinated expenditures on behalf of candidates, "decimating one of the core reasons for parties to exist, to help elect candidates to office."

RSC member Rep. Mark Green (R-Wisc.), says the bill also fails to ban soft money as Bush requested.

"While it bans soft money to national parties, it still allows millions in these unregulated contributions to go to state and local parties," Green argued after the bill was passed. "It doesn't actually attack the soft money problem, it simply shifts it from the national level to the state and local level."

Contrary to providing for the "full and prompt disclosure" called for by Bush, the RSC believes the new requirements for disclosure concerning activity that merely mentions the name of a federal candidate will actually discourage rather than encourage citizens to participate in the political process.

Attorney and campaign finance law expert Cleta Mitchell says Shays-Meehan will have exactly the opposite effect from what the president desired.

"We will have much less disclosure under this bill," Mitchell told CNSNews.com .

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.), another RSC member, admits there are problems with the current campaign finance system. Nonetheless, he is highly critical of both the Shays-Meehan bill, and its authors.

"The sponsors of this bill were lying to America about what it does and doesn't do. Their bill only pretends to fix things, while making things worse with attacks on free speech, a brand-new set of huge loopholes, and more confusion than ever," Istook said after the early morning vote."

Whether Bush would veto the bill is uncertain, and supporters of the measure have expressed optimism because the White House has not significantly weighed in on the legislation. However, a veto has not been ruled out either.

On the day the Shays-Meehan bill passed the House, presidential Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush "has been very clear that he wants to sign a bill that improves the current system. Parts of that legislation surely do. Other parts are not as fully consistent with the president's principles."

Fleischer added the president will "wait to see what the final form is once it comes out of the Senate, and then he will have something declarative to state. Until then, I'm just not going to presume what action the president would take."

E-mail a news tip to Jeff Johnson.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[Jim Robinson]

"Not over my dead body will they curtail your free speech!"
-- President George "Dubya" Bush (I pray)

[Neets]

Pingeroonie gals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

BIG BUMP for W!!

[Cobra64]

"Not one of President Bush's six reform principles," the RSC memo claims, "is incorporated into Shays-Meehan."

If GWB does not veto this bill, he will be perceived as a weak Executive; and he will have let the liberals know that he is a wimp, having succombed to the liberal, left democrats.

When I was a younger man, many said that "Gerald Ford never did anything." However, he was a loyal American who had the guts to exercize his veto powers. GWB needs to take off his gloves battling Daschle, Gephardt, and Kennedy.

W should leverage and exercize his leadership skills here at home, in America.

God, I hope there are others who agree with me and send a kind word of support to W to the White House and ask him to use his Texas style delivery message to domestic evil-doers.

[jla]

Jim,
If this bill passes the senate, and the President does not veto it, what then will be your, and 'Free Republic LLC', position as to advocacy and further support of George W. Bush?

[Elkiejg]

FINALLY - somebody in D.C. is waking up!! I've been confused as to why President Bush/WH hasn't been more vocal about this terrible bill - and the one in the Senate - but after reading this article along with Bush's March letter, it's clear "they" still don't understand Bush. He told them what he considered was needed in a campaign finance reform bill. They evidently still don't understand he says what he means!!!! I'm praying he will VETO this terrible bill.

BTW, did anyone else hear Sheays talking to Hannity on the radio yesterday -- he admitted that Congress members are corrupt!!!! If it's not already posted, I'll put up a thread from NewsMax about the conversation.

[nopardons]

So do we all !

[nopardons]

I heard that show. Shays was arrogant , pompous, and really let the cat out of the bag; BIG TIME ! Hannity went off on him, about the unConstintutionality of his bill , and kept on at Shays, about that. It was good to hear Sean taking Shays apart.

[Elkiejg]

Just posted thread on Shays saying "Congress is corrupt".

[backhoe]

Silence, America!:

Silence, America!: for Silence, America!. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

---

Mini-Editorial:

Folks, all of us, when lauding, promoting, or referring to Free Republic to lurkers or browsers or the curious, ought to make a point of showing them- perhaps by emailing the link to it- the bump list.

With the admonition, "See how much you have not been told about? Now think of what you may have missed, because it simply was not talked about...."

Here's a Note to Activists:

Want to do something? Go here:

Ignorance Making You Ill? Cure It!

for links, tools, & instructions about how to contact a pile of different people, and how to send a link to this story right here ( or anywhere else ) to a "mass email" using Outlook Express.

---

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A further Mini-Editorial!

Folks, these clowns, corrupters, and frauds in Congress are trying to silence YOU!

Wake up, dammit!

Rush and Hannity and all the hosts in the world can inveigh against this garbage day and night, but unless you actually do something about it, it will not matter one tiny iota!

Now is the time! If not now, when? When they arrest your wife or kids for "improper speech?"

Get off your butts and send some emails and faxes. Write letters, especially letters to editors.

Call talk shows- the local ones are easy to get on and reach a lot more people than you may realize.

This- right here, this "issue"- is where the rubber meets the road...

There are over 70,000 members here, and I know each of you knows at least two or three more people you can tell about this-- so do it! Now!

And tell them to tell 2 more people, and tell them to "pass this on to 2 more..."

The right to speak freely is as fundamental to a free society as the right to defend yourself against unprovoked attack. This is a frontal assault on your liberty and the freedom of your children and spouse.

It's time to move out, folks- march, or die....

[MeekOneGOP]

GOP Greases Skids to Sink Campaign Finance Bill

Excerpt:

In an e-mail message circulated to House members and reporters Tuesday, the RSC referred to a letter President Bush wrote to then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) last year detailing the six principles Bush believed should govern any campaign finance bill sent to the White House for Bush's signature.

According to the RSC, the version of the Shays-Meehan bill passed by the House violates all six principles.

"Not one of President Bush's six reform principles," the RSC memo claims, "is incorporated into Shays-Meehan."

No members were available to comment on whether the RSC memo is an attempt to set up a Bush veto of the bill. But White House has not ruled out a veto.

Those principles laid out by Bush, according to the letter, included:

* Protect the Rights of Individuals to Participate in Democracy
* Maintain Strong Political Parties
* Ban Corporate and Union Soft Money
* Eliminate Involuntary Contributions
* Require Full and Prompt Disclosure
* Promote a Fair, Balanced, and Constitutional Approach

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), an RSC member, says the bill doesn't even past the first of the president's six "tests."

"Shays-Meehan is blatantly unconstitutional, and is hostile to free speech. It will muzzle citizen groups by preventing them from placing ads on radio and TV 60 days prior to an election," Akin said in a statement. "The right to free speech is one of our most cherished and guarded rights and should not be infringed."

---

"Not over my dead body will they curtail your free speech!"
-- President George "Dubya" Bush (I pray)
Jim Robinson
(((PING))))))
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[kattracks]

Shays Shocker: My Congressional Colleagues Are 'Corrupt'

[section9]

Just wanted to let y'all know that this bill sounds dead to me.

I think McConnell can bottle this bill up or at least change the Senate version enough to send this conference.

Bush has laid the intellectual groundwork to veto this thing if it does come out in its present form. I think he just waited for the Enron thing to subside.

He should fire a warning shot over their bow, btw. That might help McConnell in the Senate.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[FSPress]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12678-2002Feb14.html

go and read

[YaYa123]

"It will muzzle citizen groups by preventing them from placing ads on radio and TV 60 days prior to an election"

I don't want no stinking campaign finance bill but muzzling the NAACP, NARAL, People for The American Way, ADA, NOW and other left wing fringe groups is fine by me. Something needs to happen when neither Al Gore, Joe Lieberman, (nor any other democrat), would denounce the NAACP for it's Pick-Up Truck Dragging ad narrated by Mr. Bryd's daughter, in which she blamed Governor Bush for the death of her father. That disgusting ad was run all over the country, right before the presidential election.

Don't forget the equally disgusting (and untrue) anti Bush/Cheney black radio ads that unfairly maligned Governor Bush.

Untrue environmental ads against Bush were on the air courtesy of those lofty sounding "citizen groups", but in concert with the Gore/Lieberman campaign. Lieberman said, ""The environment is the work of God," then he said, Bush was toxic to Texas, totally ignoring the clean up record of pollutants Bush had recorded since 1998.

I'd say some citizen groups need a good muzzling!!

[medved]

The "six principles" leaves out a major issue item:

Hang any sorry SOB caught taking money from a foreign corporation or government.

[over3Owithabrain]

I'd say some citizen groups need a good muzzling!!

Problem is, the lefist media will gladly carry the water for these liberal advocacy groups - that's why you don't hear them complaining right now about being muzzled. They'll get all the free "unofficial" promotion they need in the press, while conservative groups are ignored or maligned.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I'd say some citizen groups need a good muzzling!!

Now that would be unconscionable. That means it would be wrong.

[RushLake]

"In this room my father taught me many things. He taught me to keep my friends close, and my enemies closer." While I agree with you one one level that it would be nice not to have to listen to the shrill voices of the loser left advocates, to drive them underground would be dangerous. Never forget that the Islamo-terrorists, the Nazis, and the Communists all lingered in cells underground awaiting the day to strike. (I like the way I tied those three distinct but comparable hate groups together in a sentence by the way.) Keep the rats out in the open so that when the time comes we can go plinking and dispose of them.