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Path Cleared for Campaign Finance
Associated Press on Yahoo News ^ | 02/21/02 | Jim Abrams

Posted on 02/21/2002 10:44:16 AM PST by justanotherfreeper

WASHINGTON - Prospects for final congressional passage of campaign finance legislation received a major boost Thursday when Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., indicated he would oppose any filibuster by opponents.

Smith's comments appeared to give supporters of the bill the 60 votes they need to overcome any stalling tactics on the measure that is designed to limit the influence of money in politics.

The bill passed the House last week and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., has said he hopes to win quick passage when the Senate reconvenes next week.

Smith's spokesman, Joe Sheffo, said the senator was "strongly inclined" to vote for a motion to end delaying tactics and bring the bill to a conclusion although he would still oppose the legislation when it comes to a final vote.

Smith's position is that there should be a debate so that "at the end of the day no one is going to be able to say they didn't hear both sides," Sheffo said.

The Senate's leading opponent of campaign finance legislation, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not said whether he will attempt a filibuster or use other parliamentary tactics to block the bill.

Smith, a first-term senator, is up for re-election this fall and faces a competitive race against Oregon's secretary of state, Bill Bradbury.

The House last week passed far-reaching campaign finance legislation that would end the system in which corporations and unions pour hundreds of millions of dollars in unregulated "soft money" into the national political parties. It would also ban the use of soft money to finance the broadcasting of issue ads, often thinly veiled means to attack or endorse a candidate, in the final 30 days of a primary or 60 days before a general election.

The Senate, led by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Russ Feingold, D-Wis., passed a similar bill by a 59-41 vote last April. Daschle has said it is his hope that the Senate can approve the House bill without change, avoiding the possibility of the legislation getting stalled in a House-Senate conference, and send it directly to the president.

President Bush has not committed himself on the legislation. He joined congressional Republicans in trying to stop its passage but his senior advisers have indicated that he will sign it.

"That's very good news," Daschle's spokeswoman, Ranit Schmelzer, said of Smith's probable opposition to a filibuster. "The magic number is 60, and as long as they don't flip any Republicans, we're there."

Among the 59 senators — 47 Democrats and 12 Republicans — who voted for the bill last April, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has indicated that he has changed his position and now opposes the legislation. But Smith would join one other senator, Democrat Ernest Hollings of South Carolina, who voted against the bill last year but now says he is ready to stop a filibuster.

If the filibuster is avoided, it would require only 51 votes to pass the bill and send it to the president.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cfrlist; silenceamerica
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So it looks like McConnell can't stop it and its up to Bush.
1 posted on 02/21/2002 10:44:16 AM PST by justanotherfreeper
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To: justanotherfreeper
Media Monopoly Funny that the FCC is considering throwing out the rules on media market monopoly at the same time CFR is going down. Hmmm, backroom deal. NAAAHHHHH!!! Wake up people, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!!!
2 posted on 02/21/2002 10:49:14 AM PST by jayef
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To: justanotherfreeper
Maybe this was what he was waiting for...to see which clowns know the Constitution and which don't. Then he can veto the bill and tell us WHY he had to veto it..while the clowns in Congress were giving themselves a payraise, they were also busy taking away our Freedom of Speech. So then he President has to veto the bill, which will get him lots of airtime, and also give him a primetime audience to explain to those that don't know that this is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
3 posted on 02/21/2002 10:50:53 AM PST by DJ88
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To: justanotherfreeper
"RECALL THEM ALL". We need a grassroots effort to Recall ALL the politicians from DC. We, the people, are not being heard, and I for one have had it.
4 posted on 02/21/2002 10:56:32 AM PST by LillyDayStar
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To: jayef
Am I reading this right, the FCC is going to deregulate media outlets? Won't this create a media monopoly?

I read another news story the other day that said the same thing about the FCC deregulating DSL Service Providers, I guess this is all part of the plan.
5 posted on 02/21/2002 10:56:34 AM PST by jgrubbs
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To: justanotherfreeper
So it looks like ... its up to Bush

I wouldn't gamble on those odds.

6 posted on 02/21/2002 10:57:50 AM PST by bloodmeridian
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To: justanotherfreeper
One thing for certain, we know who voted FOR this bill.
I'm sure I won't forget. Come their re-election, I'm working to get out the vote for their opponant in the primaries.
7 posted on 02/21/2002 10:58:30 AM PST by concerned about politics
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To: concerned about politics
Is't Christopher Shays, the co-author of the Shays-Meehan Bill, a Republican?

It was not only voted on by members of the GOP, but co-authored by a member of the GOP.

I wonder how many conservatives in Connecticut blindly voted for Shays just because he was a Republican.
8 posted on 02/21/2002 11:03:29 AM PST by jgrubbs
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To: LillyDayStar
We need a grassroots effort to Recall ALL the politicians from DC

Please skip Dr. Ron Paul.

9 posted on 02/21/2002 11:03:38 AM PST by isthisnickcool
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To: justanotherfreeper; DJ88
I can't believe this!
10 posted on 02/21/2002 11:06:46 AM PST by hchutch
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To: isthisnickcool
HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT GETS A PASS, the rest of the scum should be recalled, and then put on trial for breaking thier oath.

This is a crock of garbage, if this legislation passes, the republic is dead, unless we can get enough of a grassroots movement to revive it. The chances of that happening are nil to none.

We are going through the death throes right now, hear that death rattle? It's OVER!! So what are we gonna do about it? Nothing, absolutely NOTHING!! as usual...
11 posted on 02/21/2002 11:09:45 AM PST by Aric2000
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To: jgrubbs
The problem is this: Vote Republican, or Democrat.
Most races come down to this.
People vote the lesser of two evils.
Maybe the opponant was even worse!
12 posted on 02/21/2002 11:10:51 AM PST by concerned about politics
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To: justanotherfreeper
Democrat Ernest Hollings of South Carolina, who voted against the bill last year but now says he is ready to stop a filibuster.

Senator Integrity.

13 posted on 02/21/2002 11:11:06 AM PST by Senator_Blutarski
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To: Aric2000
If every TRUE conservative in America would stop blindly supporting the GOP, and lend support to a party that requires their candidates to be REAL conservatives, like the Constitution Party we could make a difference, but I'm afraid it will not happen because too many GOP voters are scared to leave the party, they don't realize that the Republican Party was a third party at one time.
14 posted on 02/21/2002 11:12:23 AM PST by jgrubbs
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To: justanotherfreeper
Just moments ago, I received a donation solicitation phone call from the Florida Republican party. I told the young feller that I'm withholding any monetary support till the outcome of CFR is known.

He gallantly hung in there, replying that Republicans should still contribute even though we may disagree on some various issues.

I said, "Sorry friend, but this is THE issue with me because this bill is a trash of our Constitution and I'm not backing off". He then began to agree with what I was saying, rather sincerely, I felt.

So I suggested it was his duty as a good Republican to pass my comments on to the higher-ups because otherwise they won't know what the people in the boonies are saying. He said he would. Well, who knows?

In a way, I felt sorry for this young volunteer. He sounded like he agreed with me, but his job was to say thanks and goodbye and move on to the next phone number, no matter his personal feelings.

Leni

15 posted on 02/21/2002 11:12:59 AM PST by MinuteGal
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To: justanotherfreeper
call Sen. Smith and ask him if he's also going to ensure that the more important national priorities ala Economic Stimulus Plan, Energy Plan, Judges, etc., stop being filibustered so they can be passed.
16 posted on 02/21/2002 11:14:37 AM PST by Steven W.
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To: concerned about politics
PS...This bill still hasn't hit Bush's desk yet. I think he'll send it back for modification. I'm not going to freak, hate him, or commit suicide because the world is comming to an end.
I'm waiting until it hits Bush, if it does.
17 posted on 02/21/2002 11:15:50 AM PST by concerned about politics
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To: MinuteGal
Way to go.
18 posted on 02/21/2002 11:17:45 AM PST by Howlin
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To: jgrubbs
If every TRUE conservative in America would stop blindly supporting the GOP, and lend support to a party that requires their candidates to be REAL conservatives, like the Constitution Party we could make a difference, but I'm afraid it will not happen because too many GOP voters are scared to leave the party, they don't realize that the Republican Party was a third party at one time.

That's exactly why all these "hate Bush" liberal media articles are being posted, isn't it? Split the party. Vote for your guy.

19 posted on 02/21/2002 11:17:46 AM PST by concerned about politics
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To: diotima;JohnHuang2;Chairman_December_19th_Society;dittomom,dalebert;samtheman;harpo11...
FYI.
20 posted on 02/21/2002 11:18:21 AM PST by Molly Pitcher
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