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April 2, 2001
ROCKEFELLER HAILS PASSAGE OF MCCAIN - FEINGOLD CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, DC – After two full weeks of debate on the Senate floor, campaign finance reform legislation – known as the McCain-Feingold bill – prevailed this evening when the Senate voted 59-41 to pass the bill. As a longtime supporter of campaign finance reform, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) was among the 59 members who voted in support of the legislation.
"Passing comprehensive campaign finance reform legislation is long overdue. Campaign finance reform is at the crux of restoring public trust in government and is critical to strengthening the electoral process," Rockefeller said. "By passing the McCain-Feingold legislation we are taking real steps toward effectively limiting money in politics."
"Throughout my Senate service, I have worked to reform campaign finance, only to see a partisan wedge driven into this issue and the Senate grind to a halt during past debates. I am pleased to see that the McCain-Feingold legislation is finally poised to level the playing field so that all citizens will have an equal voice in government," Rockefeller added.
"Over the last few weeks, we have voted on dozens of amendments and fought off many attempts to kill the bill. But in the end we succeeded in passing the first real campaign finance reform since the early 1970's," Rockefeller said. "Once the House passes the legislation, I hope that President Bush will immediately sign this bill into law."
Major features of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation include a ban on all soft money contributions to the national political parties from corporations and labor unions; restrictions on misleading issue ads run by corporations and unions; tougher restrictions on foreign donations; and improved disclosure rules for campaign contributions.
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