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From: CNN
In: Washington
Posted 10-30-97
Subject: Deal Struck To Debate Campaign Reform Again
After months of a partisan impasse on how and when to address the concern over campaign fund-raising abuses, Senate leaders came to the floor Thursday to announce an agreement on how to break the logjam.
Calling it a "victory for the American people" Senate Minority Leader Tom Dashle (D-S.D.) said it was with "great enthusiasm" that they were announcing an agreement. Democrats' key priority was an up-or-down vote on the bipartisan bill, Daschle said.
Opponents will have the opportunity to move to table the bill, which means there's no guarantee the bill will actually get to a vote. And the agreement allows amendments whereby the bill could be significantly modified.
The agreement would allow Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), a longtime advocate of campaign finance reform, to bring up his bipartisan bill which has been subjected to delaying tactics, including those from his own party.
According to the agreement reached today, campaign reform would come up on or before March 6, 1998. It would, in effect, be a replay of the prior debate over the McCain-Fiengold bill.
When asked why he thought Daschle would agree to this, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said he thought the Democrats finally got tired of dealing with the issue. And Lott said he "can live with it" because it doesn't ensure passage of McCain-Fiengold, which he called "a bill that is bad for our party and our country."In Other News:
Thursday Oct. 30, 1997
• Lobbyist Says Babbitt Talked About Campaign Contributions
• Jiang Visits With Capitol Hill Lawmakers
• Babbitt Allegations Trigger Independent Counsel Law
• Reno To Question Chinese Offical About Fund-Raising
Poll:
• Clinton, Gore Approval Ratings Move Up
E-mail From Washington:
• Deal Struck To Debate Campaign Reform Again
• House Fund-Raising Hearings To Resume Next Week
• White House Cautiously Optimistic On Fast Track