Editorial: Don't fritter away a historic chance

Under normal circumstances the bill would move on to the Senate for its consideration. But the GOP leadership in the House is playing games with this important legislation, allowing a vote later this week on a competing measure offered by freshman Republicans that is the legislative equivalent of a fig leaf.

The bill passed Monday would ban "soft money," the unregulated contributions that unions and corporations make to national and state political parties. It also would regulate "issue ads" -- which claim to educate voters but in reality are advocacy ads for specific candidates -- stopping their use in a 60-day period before an election.

The current system for funding political campaigns is out of whack. Big interest groups with huge amounts of cash funnel money to political parties. The parties, in turn, spend outrageous sums of money advocating on behalf of -- or against -- political candidates, without any restrictions whatsoever.

The GOP political leadership argued that the legislation could hurt Republicans. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, referred to it as "political disarmament" for the GOP. But the fact is this legislation stops soft money to both Democrats and Republicans. Besides, voters elect politicians to go to Washington and do what's best for the nation -- not what's best for their re-election bid. Sadly, Nevada Reps. John Ensign and Jim Gibbons did not join the cause of reform, voting against the legislation.

Whatever version gets final House approval, ultimately its fate rests with the Senate. The Senate once already this year rejected similar legislation -- it now will have a chance to right its previous wrong. But it will take some significant pressure from the public to force the issue because Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has said he will not revisit the issue.

The public's faith in the political process has been damaged over the years by campaign scandals involving both Democrats and Republicans. Instead of launching a congressional investigation whenever there is an outbreak of campaign finance shenanigans, wouldn't it be a lot easier to pass legislation that would help prevent these abuses in the first place?

It's time Congress shows voters it is serious about strengthening campaign finance laws. To do anything less will only deepen cynicism that big-money interests will continue to have too much influence in elections.

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