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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| JANUARY
19, 1999 5:15 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Public Campaign Jodie Silverman or Eric Schmeltzer, 202-293-0222 |
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| Another State of The Union, Another Promise for Campaign Finance Reform? | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- January 19 -
"I am asking the United States Congress to pass a real campaign finance
reform bill this year." "I also must now call on you to finish the job both Houses began last
year, by passing tough and meaningful campaign finance reform and lobby reform
legislation this year." "We should also curb the role of big money in elections by capping the
cost of campaigns and limiting the influence of PACs. This year, lets give the
folks at home something to cheer about." "Now I challenge Congress to go further -- to curb special-interest
influence in politics by passing the first truly bipartisan campaign reform bill
in a generation." "Let's work together to write bipartisan campaign finance reform into
law and pass McCain-Feingold by the day we celebrate the birth of our democracy
-- July the Fourth." "This year, by March 6th, at long last the Senate will actually vote on
bipartisan campaign finance reform proposed by Senators McCain and Feingold.
Let's be clear: A vote against McCain and Feingold is a vote for soft money and
for the status quo. I ask you to strengthen our democracy and pass campaign
finance reform this year." WASHINGTON -- While President Clinton will undoubtedly use tonight's State of the Union address to make another plea for campaign finance reform, he can leave a lasting legacy of his presidency by backing up those words with swift action and pass comprehensive campaign finance reform, Ellen Miller, Executive Director of Public Campaign, said today. "The president's propensity for raising millions of dollars from wealthy special interests speaks volumes about his commitment to meaningful campaign finance reform," Miller said. "But a presidency that has prided itself on empowering all Americans, rewarding good ideas and building trust in government should be able to deliver to the people a system of campaign funding which delivers our democracy to all people of this nation," Miller said. The president and the presidency are seen as part of the problems plaguing our campaign finance system. Without a dramatic move on campaign finance reform, President Clinton's legacy on campaign finance reform will be tainted by allegations of illegalities and infusions of campaign cash from wealthy special interests. On the other hand, taking bold action on campaign finance reform will not only restore the American people's faith in our democracy, but mark this president as a bold reformer who heeds the wishes of the people he was twice elected to represent. In eight statewide polls conducted by The Mellman Group for Public Campaign this past August, public support for the McCain-Feingold bill garnered strong majorities across the board, ranging from 75 percent to 58 percent. In addition, support for more comprehensive Clean Money Campaign Reform was as strong or stronger, ranging from 74 percent to 60 percent. Clearly, people nationwide want to see a change in the way we finance our election campaigns. While piecemeal reforms may take us in the right direction, meaningful campaign finance reform must be about offering an alternative to the current system which is fueled by lots of cash from a few wealthy special interests. During the November elections, Arizona and Massachusetts voters passed Clean Money Campaign Reform which allows candidates to voluntarily choose to take no private money, limit their spending and fund their campaigns through a publicly funded Clean Elections fund. Arizona and Massachusetts join Maine and Vermont in passing this kind of comprehensive reform, demonstrating that while Congress and the President may dither on campaign finance reform, people are outraged enough to take matters into their own hands. Public Campaign is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working on behalf of comprehensive campaign finance reform. ### |
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