Campaign Finance Reform

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the ongoing debate over campaign finance reform, explaining the major issues associated with the reform and some of the reasons for the disagreement about how campaign finance should be implemented. In particular, the paper focuses on the McCain-Feingold bill, detailing what it would change about campaign finance and why there is still opposition to the bill even though it is bipartisan.

From the Paper:

"Campaign finance reform has been debated since Richard Nixon ran for the Vice Presidency under Eisenhower. In the wake of the Watergate fiasco, some meaningful reforms were made. However, there have been no major changes to campaign finance laws since that time. The time is ripe for change, but what kind of changes do we want? Do we want changes that make a joke of our constitution or do we want changes within the boundaries of the constitution? The major issue is soft money "was originally intended to go to party-building activities and get-out-the-vote drives but which increasingly has been used as a way to funnel large contributions to presidential and other candidates." (Hamburger, Tom "Campaign-finance debate jumps to center stage // There is widespread agreement that federal election rules need repairing. But there is no consensus on how, and there is lots of opposition to the lead." Minneapolis Star Tribune, 09-28-1997, pp 21A). However, the McCain-Feingold bill, the one most advocates support, would also limit advertising. The problem with that is any changes that try and skirt around the constitution, by limiting free speech, will most likely be thrown out by the Supreme Court. Until recently most congressmen did not look at finance reform seriously."

More papers on Campaign Finance Reform:

• Essay # 27880 : "State and Local Campaign Finance Reform in California"
• Essay # 7657 : "Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform Bill"
• Essay # 4493 : "Campaign Finance Reform: Proposals in Congress"

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