[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[March 15, 2001]
[Pages 244-245]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders on Campaign Finance 
Reform Legislation
March 15, 2001

Dear __________ :

    As the Senate prepares to consider campaign finance reform 
legislation, I wanted to highlight my principles for reform. I am 
committed to working with the Congress to ensure that fair and balanced 
campaign finance reform legislation is enacted.

    These principles represent my framework for assessing campaign 
finance reform legislation. I remain open to other ideas to meet our 
shared goals.

    I am hopeful that, working together, we can achieve responsible 
campaign finance reforms.

         Sincerely,

                                                          George W. Bush

                                

Campaign Finance Reform: President Bush's Reform Principles

    Protect Rights of Individuals to Participate in Democracy: President 
Bush believes democracy is first and foremost about the rights of 
individuals to express their views. He supports strengthening the role 
of individuals in the political process by: 1) updating the limits 
established more than two-decades ago on individual giving to candidates 
and national parties; and 2) protecting the rights of citizen groups to 
engage in issue advocacy.

    Maintain Strong Political Parties: President Bush believes political 
parties play an essential role in making America's democratic system 
operate. He wants to maintain the strength of parties, and not to weaken

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them. Any reform should help political parties more fully engage 
citizens in the political process and encourage them to express their 
views and to vote.
    Ban Corporate and Union Soft Money: Corporations and labor unions 
spend millions of dollars every election cycle in unregulated ``soft'' 
money to influence federal elections. President Bush supports a ban on 
unregulated corporate and union contributions of soft money to political 
parties.
    Eliminate Involuntary Contributions: President Bush believes no one 
should be forced to support a candidate or cause against his or her 
will. He therefore supports two parallel reforms: 1) legislation to 
prohibit corporations from using treasury funds for political activity 
without the permission of shareholders; and 2) legislation to require 
unions to obtain authorization from each dues-paying worker before 
spending those dues on activities unrelated to collective bargaining.
    Require Full and Prompt Disclosure: President Bush also believes 
that in an open society, the best safeguard against abuse is full 
disclosure. He supports full, prompt and constitutionally permissible 
disclosure of contributions and expenditures designed to influence the 
outcome of federal elections, so voters will have complete and timely 
information on which to make informed decisions.
    Promote Fair, Balanced, Constitutional Approach: President Bush 
believes reform should not favor any one party over another or 
incumbents over challengers. Both corporations and unions should be 
prohibited from giving soft money to political parties, and both 
corporations and unions should have to obtain permission from their 
stockholders or dues-paying workers before spending treasury funds or 
dues on politics. President Bush supports including a non-severability 
provision, so if any provision of the bill is found unconstitutional, 
the entire bill is sent back to Congress for further adjustments and 
deliberations. This provision will ensure fair and balanced campaign 
finance reform.

Note: Identical letters were sent to Trent Lott, Senate majority leader, 
and Thomas A. Daschle, Senate minority leader, and copies of the letter 
were provided to all other Senators.