Campaign Reform Begins Rocky Journey in House

The push for campaign finance reform got off to a rough start in the House on Tuesday, with key lawmakers indicating that the measure will not emerge from committee until at least July and that it may bear little resemblance to the bill passed recently in the Senate.

Saying there are “serious problems” with the Senate bill, House Republican leaders outlined plans to have more than two months of hearings on the reform issue. Some also vowed a vigorous fight against the ban on unlimited political contributions--so-called soft money--that is the core of the Senate measure.

The developments were discouraging news to advocates of reform, who emerged from their victory in the Senate last month hoping that the House would move swiftly and make few changes.

Reform backers said they remain optimistic that by the end of summer, Congress will pass the first major overhaul of campaign finance laws in a generation. But they acknowledged that they now face a steeper climb.

“The prospects for real reform remain good,” said Matt Keller, legislative director for Common Cause, a pro-reform group. “But the closer you get to the goal line, the stronger the defense becomes. [Republican leaders] will do everything in their power to stop this from happening.”

The obstacles facing reform backers were made clear in a contentious hearing Tuesday before the House Administration Committee.

House and Senate Republican leaders testifying before the committee outlined their opposition to many of the provisions in the Senate bill sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.).

“The Senate bill has serious flaws that will protect politicians in office from the people who are trying to hold them accountable,” said House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas).