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| DEATH TO REFORM? | |
 October 19, 1999 
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KWAME HOLMAN: For the third time in as many years, an effort in the Senate to reform the nation's campaign finance laws again was defeated, again on a largely party-line vote.
KWAME HOLMAN: Although the bill had the support of a slim majority of senators, it did not attract the 60 votes needed to end debate and bring the matter to a final vote. SENATE PRESIDING OFFICER: On this vote the yays are 52, the nays are 48. KWAME HOLMAN: But the setback did not come as a surprise to the bill's chief cosponsors, Wisconsin Democrat Russell Feingold and Arizona Republican John McCain. |
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| Building a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||
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KWAME HOLMAN: The McCain-Feingold bill would ban the use of so-called "soft money," the unregulated campaign contributions given to political parties. In hopes of attracting additional support, the two Senators this year simplified their bill, dropping a provision to regulate political advertising by interest groups. But their strategy was complicated when senators from both parties offered their own amendments. SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I suspect that the opponents were concerned that were we ever allowed a truly clean vote on a soft money ban, that we might come close to 60 votes. I believe that explains the extraordinary efforts from both Democrats and Republicans top prevent that clean vote from occurring. KWAME HOLMAN: But throughout the debate, a solid group of Republicans, led by Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, remained opposed even to the stripped-down campaign reform bill.
KWAME HOLMAN: In fact, this afternoon, the Senate took two votes to move to a final vote on campaign finance reform, but both fell short of the 60 votes needed. Following that second vote, Majority Leader Trent Lott tried to set aside the legislation and move to a debate on so-called partial birth abortion. But supporters of campaign reform angrily objected, and Senate decorum showed signs of stress. SEN. TOM DASCHLE: Mr. President, excuse me. SENATE PRESIDING OFFICER: The Minority Leader is recognized. |
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| Keeping the Senate's word | ||||||||||||||||||||
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KWAME HOLMAN: Campaign reform supporters were able to continue their debate into this evening. But they did so with the full knowledge the legislation remains stalled unless and until they get 60 Senators to vote together for the issue. |
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SENATE
CLERK: Mr. Byrd, aye. 
SEN.
JOHN McCAIN: I think it's fair to say that neither I nor the Senator
from Wisconsin began this debate with the expectation that we were close
to achieving 60 votes for campaign finance reform. We did, however,
believe that we had a chance to build a super majority in support of
some reform. 
SEN.
MITCH McCONNELL: Since my party took over the majority in the Senate,
the 52- 48 vote was the highest watermark, actually during that period,
and going all the way back over the 20 years that I have been involved
in this issue, so I think it is safe to say, Mr. President, there is
no momentum whatsoever for this kind of measure which puts the government
in charge of what people may say, when they may say it, and attempts
to take the two great American political parties out of the process.
SEN.
TOM DASCHLE: This is a question about whether or not we're going to
keep our word -- whether or not we're going to have the opportunity
to finish the debate on campaign finance reform, whether or not we're
going to have the opportunity to offer amendments. That's what that
is about. So no one ought to be misled. Do we finish our business? Do
we follow through with commitments? Do we have a good debate or not?
