Three Approaches

[Shalin Sood <Dkid84@aol.com>]

I feel that it is very important to discuss and debate the three current views on campaign-finance reform; two of the three are usggested bills and one is a view/outlook. The McCain-Feingold Bill is the bill that I most agree with because it is clearly outlined and adresses all campaign finance reform issues. As a student of politics, I feel very strongly about campaign finance reform. If a contributor or group contributes considerably to a candidates campaign, I am sure that that candidate will not forget the contributor when it come times to vote on issues or set policy agendas. This is wrong because only a miniscule amount of the population contributres more than $200 to the campaigns of political candidates (only about 0.111% I believe); eventually, it will be these contributors, who are usually upper-class, who will be major influences ina candidates agenda. The McCain-Feingold Bill adresses this large problem. As for the Hagel Bill on campaign finance reform, it does not have any provisions regarding independent expenditures. The third view/approach is that of President Bush. I understand that President Bush's view is only a view and not a bill, but I think it is important to address and discuss the President's view. His view is considerably vague regarding campaign finance reform because he does not have a set policy regarding independent expenditures. Furthermore, his other views on other aspects of campaign finance reform are vague. A positive note about the campaign finance reform debates and discussions in Congress is that the political actors (Senators) are on the nation's stage. They will and must be held accountable for how they vote; people will be watching to see whether their representatives vote against or for the bills regarding Campaign Finance Reform.