Campaign Reform to Get a Rest

Outlining his strategy to win final passage for campaign finance reform, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) said Sunday that he is likely to postpone action on the bill until the Senate concludes a lengthy debate on energy legislation.

Daschle’s comments in a televised interview underscored the confidence that advocates of the campaign bill have gained since the House approved a sweeping overhaul of campaign finance law Feb. 14. The Senate approved a nearly identical bill last spring.

Reform advocates hope that the Senate will now agree to the House version and send it to President Bush for his signature or veto. Opponents hope to force the legislation into a House-Senate conference to stall or change it.

Daschle told ABC’s “This Week” that he expects as early as today to seek agreement to take up the House-passed bill, debate it quickly and put it to a vote. But it is highly unlikely that he would get such consent because any of the other 99 senators could object.

The energy bill, meanwhile, is expected to take two weeks or longer to consider. It would be taken up after the Senate completes action on a separate measure to overhaul voting procedures--a result of the 2000 election controversy.

Asked whether a delay would sap the campaign finance bill’s momentum, Daschle said: “Just the opposite. I think that the longer it’s out there, the more focus on the issue and the greater degree of support.”

The bill would prohibit national political parties from collecting “soft money”--unlimited donations from corporations, unions and wealthy individuals. It would also raise the legal limits on individual contributions to candidates for national office and impose new regulations on preelection advertising by independent groups, such as the National Rifle Assn. or Sierra Club.

Proponents say the bill would curb the influence of big donors. Critics call it an unconstitutional infringement of free speech and a misguided attack on political parties.

If opponents begin a filibuster, proponents will have to muster 60 votes to break it for the bill to be considered by the Senate. Last week Sen. Gordon H. Smith (R-Ore.) indicated that he would probably oppose a filibuster even though he opposes the bill--an announcement that gave proponents hope that they have the needed margin for victory. Last April the Senate voted, 59 to 41, to approve a campaign finance bill sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.).

“I think we’re going to get this job done,” Daschle said.

Opponents, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have been weighing their options since the House vote and have not ruled out a filibuster or other stratagems to derail the bill. On Sunday, McConnell told CNN’s “Late Edition” that he thinks some version of campaign finance legislation will eventually become law. But he said critics would still fight back. “All options are before us,” including a filibuster, McConnell said.