    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [February 26, 1998]
    [Page 301]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 301]]

    Statement on Campaign Finance Reform Legislation
    February 26, 1998

        I am disappointed that the Senate Republican leadership today killed
    campaign finance reform. Given a chance to strengthen our democracy, an
    obstructionist minority instead chose to preserve the system of soft
    money and unlimited backdoor campaign expenditures.
        I am pleased that all 45 Democrats and a majority of the Senate
    supported the bipartisan McCain-Feingold legislation. I will support
    their attempts to bring this legislation up for a vote again this
    session. Just as the need for change has not gone away, campaign finance
    reform will not go away.
        In the meantime, I will redouble my efforts to push campaign finance
    reform through other means. I ask the members of the Federal Election
    Commission to take the step supported by a majority of Members of the
    Senate and ban soft money. And I continue to call upon the Federal
    Communications Commission to act to provide free or discounted airtime
    to candidates, and I will strongly oppose any efforts by Congress to
    block this reform. I believe these petitions offer us the most realistic
    hope for real reform this year.