04.02.01

Senate Passes Campaign Finance Reform In 59-41 Vote

Cantwell overjoyed by Senate passage of top legislative priority

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate today passed landmark legislation that would dramatically improve the way political campaigns are financed by limiting the influence of special interests and ending political parties' use of so-called "soft money."

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who has made campaign finance reform a cornerstone of her legislative agenda, said that she is thrilled to see her top legislative goal achieved within her first 90 days in the Senate. She said that passage of McCain-Feingold is a critical breakthrough in the long battle to rein in campaign spending and make much-needed improvements in the way politics is conducted.

"The Senate has been through a rough-and-tumble debate on campaign finance reform these past two weeks, but we were able to keep the core principles of the bill intact," Cantwell said. "This legislation will have enormous impact. Finally, we will be able to slow the virtual arms race that campaign fundraising has become. McCain-Feingold provides the most significant campaign finance reform we've seen in more than a quarter century."

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), author of the bipartisan bill along with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said that Cantwell ran a campaign that helped to change the political landscape and to energize the Senate debate about campaign finance reform. He said her election over incumbent Sen. Slade Gorton, which resulted the Senate's 50-50 balance of Democrats and Republicans, provided critical momentum to help move the bill forward. According to Feingold, Cantwell also played a critical role in today's final passage of McCain-Feingold.

"Senator Cantwell has brought to the Senate a new perspective on campaign finance reform. Her help during this historic debate has been invaluable, particularly her hard work as a member of the 'core' group of Senators working together to pass McCain-Feingold," he said. "She has only been in the Senate for a few months, but she has already proved herself to be a skilled vote counter and legislator."

Cantwell said the reform coalition, led by Senators McCain and Feingold, succeeded in beating back several attempts to weaken or undermine the bill, including efforts to undermine the legislation's ability to survive a court challenge, triple the amount of money political action committees (PACs) can contribute to campaigns, and eliminate the provision to place restrictions on "issue ads" - political advertisements paid for by special interest groups that often attack candidates without the involvement or endorsement of their opponents.

"Without Maria the toughest obstacles that stood in the way of our success would have been much more difficult. Maria was essential to our victory on the severability issue, which was the critical vote to end soft money," Feingold said.

Cantwell said reformers also lost a few battles, but still managed to preserve the integrity and intent of the original bill.

"We weren't able to prevent an increase in limits on hard-money contributions by individuals, but we defeated an aggressive attempt to triple those limits, and we made sure that PAC limits were not increased at all," she said.

As amended, McCain-Feingold increases the amount individuals can contribute to candidates from $1,000 per election to $2,000, and also increases the amount they can contribute to state and federal political parties. The bill bans the use of soft money by political parties; creates a 60-day period before elections in which all campaign ads by third-party groups, including corporations and unions, must be paid for with hard money; requires broadcasters to grant candidates air time at reasonable cost; and holds the line on PAC contributions.

During the debate, Cantwell co-sponsored two amendments that would have encouraged candidates to abide by spending limits in exchange for public financing. She said she will continue her work to build support for public funding of elections.

"McCain-Feingold isn't perfect, and it doesn't solve all of the problems with the way political campaigns are financed, but it is a huge step forward in curbing the influence of special interests and a solid foundation for ongoing improvements to our political system," Cantwell said. "I'm proud to have played a key role in helping to pass this historic legislation, and I intend to keep working to make the process work better for both candidates and voters."

"No one has a greater commitment to reform than Senator Cantwell," Feingold said. "Her pledge during the 2000 campaign not to accept any soft money proved, once again, that it is possible to win without it."