Campaign Finance Bill Wins Support

Supporters of an overhaul in campaign finance laws claimed success Friday in early skirmishes on the House floor, but they still face weeks of grind-it-out votes on more than 250 amendments by determined opponents.

“It gives us a very good indication of strong support,” Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) said after backers of the measure prevailed, 254-155, against an amendment they said would have effectively scuttled their bill.

The proposal, supported by Rep. William M. Thomas (R-Bakersfield) and the GOP leadership, would have made the entire bill void if any part of it were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The first substantive campaign finance votes on the House floor came as both political parties were pouring money into a special congressional election set for Tuesday in New Mexico. Because the balloting will occur so close to the November election, Republicans and Democrats alike have invested heavily in advertising.

Republican Heather Wilson will benefit from as much as $1 million in assistance from party organizations, according to GOP officials.

Democrat Phil Maloof, far wealthier than his rival, is receiving an estimated $300,000 from party organizations, according to Democrats.

GOP leaders have struggled all year to bottle up any efforts to curtail the millions of dollars that flow into campaigns. Republicans customarily raise and spend more money than Democrats, and their leaders are eager to do everything they can to retain that advantage, particularly with Democrats making a strong bid to recapture the House this fall.

The legislation is being debated under a time-consuming procedure in which numerous rival measures are to be debated and voted on, and more than 250 amendments are eligible to be brought to the floor as well. No final vote is expected before the end of next month at the earliest.

Supporters of the bill concede there are constitutional questions raised by their proposals to place certain limits on campaign spending. Still, they noted that Thomas’ amendment was a departure from the customary practice in which bills specifically state that nullification of one provision doesn’t affect the others.

In all, 188 Democrats, 65 Republicans and one independent voted to turn aside Thomas’ amendment, while 149 Republicans and six Democrats voted in favor of it.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) did not vote, but the three other top members of the Republican leadership backed the amendment--Majority Leader Dick Armey and Whip Tom DeLay, both of Texas, and John A. Boehner of Ohio.