House Republicans are gearing up to push campaign finance legislation that would scrap post-Watergate restrictions on the total amount of money individuals can donate and parties can spend on candidates.
House Democratic leaders, who see the GOP gaining a huge financial advantage, yesterday protested the bill, as did campaign finance advocacy groups.
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The Pence legislation, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Albert R. Wynn (
D-Md.), would also allow the parties to spend unlimited amounts in behalf of House, Senate and presidential candidates. In Senate races, for example, the limit on the total given by parties ranges from $2.1 million in California to just over $100,000 in such small states as Vermont and Wyoming; under the Pence-Wynn bill, there would be no limits.
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Wynn's co-sponsorship has angered some Democratic colleagues. He said yesterday he is trying to "educate" his critics to show the bill could benefit the Democratic Party.
The Senate is considering separate campaign finance legislation, which Democrats have denounced. Senate Democratic leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) said it is "clear to supporters of McCain-Feingold
that Republicans see this bill as an opportunity to subvert that reform legislation to their partisan benefit, not as an opportunity to advance reform."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/18/AR2005051802257.html