Common Cause urges Nevada congressmen to back campaign reform

"Our two congressmen will have an excellent opportunity to show their support for a strong, meaningful bill to restrict the controlled flow of soft money that is corrupting American politics," said Jim Hulse, chairman of the organization.

Soft money is the name for contributions funneled from corporations, labor, special interests and the wealthy to candidates through political parties. Those contributions aren't reported or controlled at the federal level.

"Such contributions were at the core of the 1996 campaign scandals," Hulse said, adding that the bill also deals with campaign ads disguised as presentations on one or more issues.

The bill was ordered to the floor after congressmen from both parties petitioned Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to release it from committee.

"The widespread abuses in campaign financing in 1996 in both the presidential and congressional elections was a disgrace to our republic," said Hulse. "I hope our congressmen have the will to clean up the system with the Shays-Meehan bill."

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