[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4832-S4833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  Mr. FEINGOLD. First, with regard to the matter that just came up on 
the floor a few minutes ago, I want to clarify an exchange that 
occurred with regard to the issue of campaign finance reform. The 
Senator from Arizona came to the floor and spoke and pointed out that 
he had heard the minority leader asked unanimous consent that the 
campaign finance reform issue be added to a unanimous-consent proposal 
that the majority leader had propounded. The Senator from Minnesota, 
Senator Wellstone, indicated that he believed a different attempt had 
been made and that in fact the minority leader had simply suggested 
that this was a matter that might come up.
  The Senator from Minnesota asked that I clarify this issue and that 
it is, in fact, the case that the minority leader, Mr. Daschle, did 
specifically ask unanimous consent that campaign finance reform be 
added to the unanimous-consent agreement. So, in fairness, the Senator 
from Arizona did accurately portray what was requested.
  Let me just say this, however. It is very important, as the Senator 
from Arizona indicated, as I know the Senator from Minnesota believes, 
that this issue remain not a part of partisan bickering. Obviously, 
there are many reasons why some partisanship is being demonstrated on 
the floor at this time. That is entirely inappropriate on some of the 
issues that are being discussed. But I agree with the Senator from 
Arizona that when it comes to campaign

[[Page S4833]]

finance reform, in this session, with this Congress and this President, 
that it has to be a bipartisan effort.
  It is my view that when Mr. Daschle, the minority leader, made this 
unanimous-consent request, that he was not seeking to make this a 
partisan issue. Senator Daschle has indicated that he believes that the 
so-called McCain-Feingold bill ought to be the vehicle for achieving 
campaign finance reform. He has indicated that he disagrees with some 
aspects of it. But I believe that the Senator from South Dakota is a 
friend to the issue of campaign finance reform.
  Nonetheless, I think we will do better on the issue of campaign 
finance reform if it is offered on the basis of a bipartisan agreement, 
either by Senators working together on the bill, as Senator McCain and 
Senator Wellstone and I are doing, or preferably if the two leaders, 
the Senator from Kansas and the Senator from South Dakota, were to get 
together and make sure that in the very near future this body turn 
specifically to the issue of campaign finance reform as the order of 
the day. That is what all of us who cosponsor this bill prefer, 
although we stand ready to attach this bill as an amendment to other 
legislation if we are not afforded that opportunity.

  So let me just reiterate, the campaign finance reform effort is the 
first bipartisan effort of its kind in 10 years in this body. It is a 
real effort. It is an effort that has enormous support, and we will not 
allow any partisan maneuvers on either side to prevent us from our 
opportunity to make this change that the American people want very, 
very much.

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