Congress Shuns a Mandate to Pass Campaign Reform : Why risk fairness, when you might be voted out?

Shame on Congress.

If the representatives of the people will not enact campaign finance reform now, then when? How many more outrageous examples of excess in political fund-raising and spending do they need to be called to action?

Admire, and pity, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He is an honorable but lonely man, vainly touring the Senate office buildings in search of support for his reform bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Russell Feingold of Wisconsin.

President Clinton, to his credit, has endorsed the McCain-Feingold legislation. Cynics may call it lip service, considering the almost daily stream of new fund-raising allegations stemming from his 1996 campaign. But at least the president is willing to take a stand.

In the past, Congress has gone through the motions of debating campaign finance reform legislation, even if there was no chance of it passing. This time the arrogance is supreme. Only Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) among McCain’s fellow Republicans has been willing to step forward. Precious few Democrats have joined them.

The problem, of course, is that the McCain-Feingold measure would seek to lessen the huge advantage incumbents enjoy in the electoral process because of their ability to raise money. The present system got them to Washington. Why change it now and give some future opponent a chance to replace them? Why level the playing field when it works so well for them now?

Why? Because the excess of campaign fund-raising, of winning at any cost, is eroding public faith in the entire system. Even if it is the excess of a few, all members of Congress are stained by the abuse.

The public wants reform. The polls show it. Election votes in many states and localities overwhelmingly show it. But the majority of incumbents are afraid to take the risk on a little fairness. Their inaction can only be read one way: They value their own political skins more than the public’s need to have confidence in Congress.

McCain says, “Only outside pressure will cause this dam to break.”

So be it. Common Cause is accepting that challenge with a petition drive to gain 1,776,000 signatures in support of reform by July 4--the day President Clinton proposed as a deadline for passing a measure.

Back in 1776, the American colonists drafted a petition of their own that listed their grievances against King George III. Among them was this: “He has refused to assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”

In 1997, what could be more wholesome and necessary for the public good than campaign finance reform?