Senate Narrowly Passes Campaign Finance Limits; Bush Promises Veto

The Senate on Thursday passed and sent to President Bush for his promised veto a bill to limit spending, curtail special-interest contributions and provide some public financing for congressional campaigns.

Democrats conceded before the 58-42 vote that the legislation is doomed because of nearly unanimous opposition from Bush and his Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill. The House passed the bill three weeks ago by a similarly insufficient margin to override a veto.

Only three Republicans--Sens. Dave Durenberger of Minnesota, James M. Jeffords of Vermont and John McCain of Arizona--voted for the bill. Two Democrats--Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina and Richard C. Shelby of Alabama--voted against it.

Democrats blamed what they call a “money chase” by lawmakers for the belief by 71% of those surveyed in a Gallup Poll last week that most members of Congress are more interested in serving special interest groups than the public.

“The problem is that to stay in office, members trim their sails and vote and speak in a manner that will keep their financial support,” said Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.). “What may be good for the country becomes secondary.”

But Republicans said the bill attacks the sources of contributions to their party most. Left untouched, they complained, are the tens of millions of dollars spent independently by unions each election on voter registration drives, phone banks and other get-out-the-vote activities on behalf of Democrats.

The legislation would impose “voluntary” limits on how much candidates can spend, with an inducement of partial public financing for those who comply, as in the current presidential campaigns. It also would cut by half the money spent by union, corporate and other special-interest political action committees in the 1990 election.

Bush, even though he will have accepted $200 million in taxpayer money for his White House and vice presidential campaigns, repeatedly has vowed to veto any bill that extends public financing to congressional races or restricts spending on them.

House candidates could spend no more than $600,000 to $750,000 and Senate candidates would be limited to between $1.6 million and $8.9 million.