Campaign Finance Vote Possible In House
GOP leadership shifts gears, offers to let issue come to floor
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 22) -- In an abrupt about-face, House Republican leaders offered Wednesday to let comprehensive campaign finance legislation come to the floor for a vote.
Dissident Republicans who had pressured Speaker Newt Gingrich to allow a vote praised the move, saying the speaker has promised a fair, open debate.
"You're not going to see a partisan bill ... There's a seriousness here," Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) told reporters. "We like the outcome and we're grateful for it."
Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) said Gingrich is trying to do what's right, not what's popular.
"The country will respond to us if we do the right thing," Wamp said. "They're thirsty for a little integrity in this process. And our party, I think, is trying its best to give it to them."
One senior Republican, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Gingrich and other members of the leadership had offered to "let the House work its will" on the contentious issue.
Last month, GOP leaders incurred the wrath of Democrats and some members of their own party by keeping a comprehensive campaign finance bill from coming to a vote, and insisting on up or down votes on a series of more limited bills.
Since then, supporters of changes in the campaign finance
system have been collecting the signatures of House members on a so-called "discharge petition" to try to force the issue to a vote, over the GOP leadership's objections.
For a time Wednesday, 12 Republicans had signed, meaning that if all Democrats signed, supporters would have the 218 names needed. After Gingrich's concession, five Republicans withdrew their support for the petition.
One official told the AP the issue likely would be on the House floor within a month, and lawmakers would be permitted to offer virtually any proposal that was drafted in advance.
Minority Whip David Bonior (D-Mich.) questioned the GOP leadership's move.
"The Republican Party is doing this only because we have forced them to
do it," Bonior said. "Speaker Gingrich didn't deliver after his famous handshake with the president and he has done everything he could to block debate since then."
Clinton calls it 'great news'
In Harper's Ferry, W. Va., where he was celebrating Earth Day, President Bill Clinton said it was "great news" that House leaders had committed to a vote on campaign finance reform this year. Clinton said he hoped a bipartisan measure would emerge from the House and be forwarded to the Senate.
During a brief session with reporters, Clinton was also asked about
Rep. Dan Burton's description of him as a "scumbag." Clinton smiled and said he hoped Burton would vote for campaign finance reform.
During the same exchange, Vice President Al Gore brushed aside questions about his $353 in charitable contributions last year that led Republicans to label him "Vice President Scrooge."
Clinton laughed in obvious delight as the vice president faced questions about his charitable giving and why it was so much less than what the president gave.
Gore smiled and said, "I support every good charity. I always have."
CNN's John King and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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