Campaign Finance Reform Nearing Goal In House

OMB Watch has urged Reps. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA) to strengthen the portion of their bill dealing with exceptions to the ban on broadcast "issue advocacy" during an election cycle. Last July the Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill (H.R. 2356) stalled in the House of Representatives over a procedural rule that campaign finance reform advocates said would have unfairly limited debate on the bill. A petition to discharge the bill from committee to the House floor gained strong momentum within days of being filed, and had 205 of the necessary 218 votes by the time Congress recessed on August 3. Then the issue was put on the back burner in the fall while Congress concentrated on the national response to the September 11 attacks. But as the year drew to a close additional members signed, and brought the total to 214 by the end of 2001. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) has expressed optimism about reaching the required 218 signatures soon after Congress reconvenes on January 23. At least one member, Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), has said he would be the 218th signature. Although discharge petitions are rarely successful, campaign finance reformers used them successfully in 1998 and 1999. Once 218 members sign the petition, the bill will come up for debate on the floor, with a rule allowing votes on several substitute bills. A list of Representatives who have signed the Discharge Petition is available on the House website. OMB Watch has urged Reps. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA) to strengthen the portion of their bill dealing with exceptions to the ban on broadcast "issue advocacy" during an election cycle. While an exception allowing nonprofits to air candidate debates and forums was included, other nonpartisan, non-electoral communications, such as grassroots lobbying calls-to-action and get-out-the-vote messages, could still be prohibited. Though the bill would allow the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to make rules exempting these activities, it does not require the FEC to act. If the FEC failed to deal with the issue, nonprofits would find their broadcast advocacy rights severely limited during federal election cycles. OMB Watch is urging the sponsors to require the FEC to come up with rules protecting these rights.
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