Shays-Meehan Faces Hurdles

W A S H I N G T O N, Jan. 25 -- It might have seemed like an historic day on Capital Hill Thursday. Propelled by momentum from the Enron collapse, a so-called discharge petition in the House received enough signatures to force a debate and vote on the Shays-Meehan bill, the capstone of campaign finance reform efforts in the chamber

It was only the second time in history that a discharge petition got the needed majority of members' signatures.

But the bill faces several hurdles before passage. And then, perhaps, a long conference process, where the House and Senate try and reconcile their bills. And even then, the president could veto the measure. (His spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said the president would decide what to do when and if the bill reaches his desk).

For one thing, Democrats are worried about amendments that would kill the bill or gut its core provisions. They also fear that the political fallout from Enron could wane by the time the campaign finance measure actually comes to a vote. And the date of that vote could be as early as a month from now, according to Rep. Martin T. Meehan, D-Mass., a sponsor. Or not until just before Congress adjourns in June, which would be the preference of opponents.

Meehan said he is cautiously optimistic. "We have a lot of work to do, but I am cautiously optimistic we can get this bill passed."

Meehan's bill would ban lightly regulated "soft money" contributions that corporations, unions, and individuals make to political parties for party building or get-out-the-vote activities.

The Senate passed a bill with similar language.

Bill Had Been Blocked Earlier

Last spring, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said he would only put the Shays-Meehan bill to a vote in the House if several conditions we met. Proponents of the bill argued at the time that those conditions were too onerous. Instead, they collected signatures for a petition to force a vote. On Thursday, House minority leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., announced the inclusion of the final two signatures — Republican representatives Thomas Petri of Wisconsin and Charles Bass of New Hampshire gave their nods — which put the so-called "discharge position" over the top.