Statement in Support of Senator Daschle's Efforts to Bring McCain-Feingold bill to the Floor May 8, 1996 First, with regard to the matter that just came up on the floor a few minutes ago, I want to clarify an exchange that occurred with regard to the issue of campaign finance reform. The Senator from Arizona came to the floor and spoke and pointed out that he had heard the minority leader asked unanimous consent that the campaign finance reform issue be added to a unanimous-consent proposal that the majority leader had propounded. The Senator from Minnesota, Senator Wellstone, indicated that he believed a different attempt had been made and that in fact the minority leader had simply suggested that this was a matter that might come up. The Senator from Minnesota asked that I clarify this issue and that it is, in fact, the case that the minority leader, Mr. Daschle, did specifically ask unanimous consent that campaign finance reform be added to the unanimous-consent agreement. So, in fairness, the Senator from Arizona did accurately portray what was requested. Let me just say this, however. It is very important, as the Senator from Arizona indicated, as I know the Senator from Minnesota believes, that this issue remain not a part of partisan bickering. Obviously, there are many reasons why some partisanship is being demonstrated on the floor at this time. That is entirely inappropriate on some of the issues that are being discussed. But I agree with the Senator from Arizona that when it comes to campaign finance reform, in this session, with this Congress and this President, that it has to be a bipartisan effort. It is my view that when Mr. Daschle, the minority leader, made this unanimous-consent request, that he was not seeking to make this a partisan issue. Senator Daschle has indicated that he believes that the so-called McCain-Feingold bill ought to be the vehicle for achieving campaign finance reform. He has indicated that he disagrees with some aspects of it. But I believe that the Senator from South Dakota is a friend to the issue of campaign finance reform. Nonetheless, I think we will do better on the issue of campaign finance reform if it is offered on the basis of a bipartisan agreement, either by Senators working together on the bill, as Senator McCain and Senator Wellstone and I are doing, or preferably if the two leaders, the Senator from Kansas and the Senator from South Dakota, were to get together and make sure that in the very near future this body turn specifically to the issue of campaign finance reform as the order of the day. That is what all of us who cosponsor this bill prefer, although we stand ready to attach this bill as an amendment to other legislation if we are not afforded that opportunity. So let me just reiterate, the campaign finance reform effort is the first bipartisan effort of its kind in 10 years in this body. It is a real effort. It is an effort that has enormous support, and we will not allow any partisan maneuvers on either side to prevent us from our opportunity to make this change that the American people want very, very much.

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