Dateline: 02/14/02

After a marathon 17-hour debate the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2356, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act by a vote of 240 to 189. 

The bill must now be considered by the Senate, where a similar bill passed last year. While Senate approval is not assured, supporters are confident that the bill has the momentum needed to pass.

Details of the bill as passed yesterday by the House:

• Bans national political parties from soliciting or spending soft-money -- previously unregulated money contributed by corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals.
  
  
• Allows state and local political party organizations to spend up to $10,000 in soft money per donor for "get-out-the-vote" efforts.
  
  
• Bans labor unions and private businesses from sponsoring political advertising for federal candidates within 30 days of primary elections and 60 days of a general election.
  
  
• Doubles to $2,000 the hard-money limit for contributions of money by individuals to federal candidates.
  
  
• Triples the the amount of hard money a federal candidate can receive when running against wealthy opponents who are financing their own campaigns.

The bill was sponsored in the House by Rep. Chris Shays (R-Connecticut), and Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Massachusetts).

Opponents Try to Kill the Bill
House Republicans who opposed the bill argued that it infringed on First Amendment rights of free speech and offered several unsuccessful so-called "poisoned pill" amendments they hoped would prevent passage of the bill. Some of the failed amendments would have:

• Allowed certain special interest or political action groups to air political advertisements within the 30- and 60-day primary and general election limits. The exempted groups included gun rights groups, civil rights organizations, military groups and veterans.
  
  
• Forced the law to take effect the day after signage rather than after the general elections this November.
  
  
• Banned soft-money contributions from state and local political parties, as well as national.
  
  
• Banned non-U.S. citizens from making contributions to political campaigns.