Campaign reform supporters try to force House vote

By Dana Bash
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Supporters of a ban on unlimited donations to political parties said Thursday they expect to gather enough signatures to force their bill back to the House floor.

"We're here today with a simple message," said Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Massachusetts, one of the bill's sponsors. "Campaign finance reform is coming back to the floor of the House and this time the rules will be fair."

Last week the bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Chris Shays, R-Connecticut, was sidelined because supporters voted against what they called an "unfair" procedural rule crafted by the GOP leadership that controls the House.

Shays met with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, Wednesday night to try to convince him to bring the bill back before the House when Congress returns from its August recess. Hastert has said he has no intention of putting campaign finance reform back on the calendar, saying supporters had their chance last week but killed their own legislation because they lacked the votes for passage.

Supporters of the bill are attempting to bypass GOP leaders by using a legislative tool called a discharge petition. Once a discharge petition is filed, its supporters must wait seven legislative days before beginning a drive to collect 218 signatures from members who want the bill to go to the floor.

Campaign finance reform advocates passed their bill in the House twice before -- in 1998 and 1999 -- by using the discharge petition to force the GOP leadership to bring it up for a vote.

The discharge petition would bring the bill before the House under rules allowing a vote on the Shays-Meehan bill as well as two GOP-backed measures.