IMPACT
Finance bill will affect all Americans

On Wednesday Congress passed the campaign finance reform bill. With a vote of 60-40, the Senate made the biggest change to campaign finance since the Watergate scandals.

How much will this change affect individuals?

Probably not too much. According to a Gallup poll, 10 percent of Americans followed the debate on campaign finance reform “very closely.”

Information from the Pew Research Center cites that campaign finance reform ranked 19th out of 20 as one of the nation’s top priorities.

But with the passing of this bill, the impact on Americans may be bigger than one might think. The bill will probably end up with the Supreme Court making a final decision.

It all comes down to small government versus big government and the issue of freedom of speech.

One reason most Republicans oppose the bill is because of the power that it would ultimately put in the hands of the government. But supporters say that it is just a way for the government to keep tabs on things.

Opponents say that the restrictions are an unconstitutional restriction of freedom of speech. Their main concern is that it will prevent organizations from voicing their opinions in the final days before elections. But supporters are not worried, stating that they are confident it will prevail.

In the end, the timing of this bill is probably perfect. With the recent collapse of Enron, and the speculation that top officials may have paid their way out of any real trouble by giving large political donations, has brought up many questions about who exactly is benefiting from campaign contributions.

Maybe now the question will be answered.

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002