The battle over campaign finance reform continues, and both Democrats and Republicans are trying to find ways to kill the McCain Feingold bill without either having to take any of the blame. We would like to encourage students to stay vigilent regarding this issue, because if this bill dies in congress or in the courts, those who killed it must be held accountable. McCain-Feingold must pass. The way in which political campaigns are financed in this country are beyond corrupt.

The attempts to kill McCain-Feingold have been coming from very strange places: first from one of the most liberal senators, Paul Wellstone, D-N.H.

Wellstone proposed an amendment, which passed, that extends the bill's ban on electioneering ads within 60 days of Election Day.

The original bill covers only individuals, for-profit corporations and unions from engaging in electioneering, and it was done that way to stay within the bounds of the constitution. But Wellstone's amendment extends the ban to non-profit organizations. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that these groups are constitutionally protected to engage in electioneering activities.

So now, senators opposed to campaign finance reform will try to add a non-severability amendment to the bill, which would make it indivisible. Then if the Supreme Court finds the Wellstone amendment unconstitutional, the whole bill would be thrown out.

Watch closely. See who proposes a non-severability amendment, and more importantly, who votes for it. If you complain that your government doesn't listen to you, you're probably right, unless you're a millionaire. But this is the type of legislation that could make your government more accessible to you. If you don't support this legislation, you really don't have any right to complain.


For more information about campaign finance reform, go to http://www.brook.edu/GS/CF/CF_HP.HTM.
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