GOP Criticizes Campaign Reform Efforts

While President Clinton called for campaign finance reform as a way to strengthen democracy by cleansing the political system, a Republican senator said Saturday that the measures are really an assault on the Constitution.

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, delivering the GOP’s weekly radio address, said the assault is being “cloaked in the guise of reform” through the measure sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.).

“Be it bumper stickers on your car, yard signs on your lawn, a letter to your local newspaper or member of Congress, the Internet or a voluntary contribution of your own hard-earned money to the candidates or party of your choosing--these are all constitutionally protected means of participation in our democracy,” McConnell said.

Also Saturday, Clinton sent a letter to all senators asking them to vote for the McCain-Feingold bill, which would curtail “soft money” contributions.

McConnell made a pitch for an alternative to the measure: the “paycheck protection” bill. The legislation requires labor unions to obtain the written consent of their members before spending union dues on political campaigns.