Hastert may revive campaign finance bill

From Ted Barrett
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert could revive a bill addressing campaign finance laws if backers appear close to forcing a vote, an aide said Wednesday.

The House bill was quashed on a procedural vote in July, but backers, mostly Democrats, say they have almost enough petition signatures to bypass normal rules and move the bill to the House floor. Hastert spokesman John Feehery said the Republican leadership will probably move the bill if the petition drive nears success.

"If it's clear they're going to get 218, then we'll probably move it," Feehery said. But he added: "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Supporters say they have 205 of the 218 signatures needed to bring the bill up for a vote, including 14 Republicans. If the petition drive is successful, Democrats would control the House floor, Feehery said.

"The speaker doesn't want to lose control of the floor, but he wants to show that he was forced to act," he said.

The reform legislation, known in the House as Shays-Meehan, fell victim to a procedural hurdle after a bitter dispute between supporters and the GOP leadership. But during the August recess, backers are scouring the country in support of a discharge petition, which would move the bill over the objection of House leaders.

The push for more signatures is being led by the reform bill's main sponsors -- Reps. Chris Shays, R-Connecticut, and Martin Meehan, D-Massachusetts. They are being aided by the sponsors of its companion Senate bill, John McCain, R-Arizona, and Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin.

Hastert's spokesman says the speaker may move the bill before a petition drive forces it to the floor.

An aide to Meehan said 190 Democrats have signed the petition and predicted supporters would get about five more after the recess. One independent has also signed the petition.

Asked if the drive would be successful, Feehery said, "It's looking that way. I was surprised how many people signed on to it." But he predicted, "They'll have more success getting the discharge petition than getting votes for Shays-Meehan."

One reform supporter, Common Cause legislative director Matt Keller, said he was "pretty confident" enough signatures would be collected. But Keller said he was not taking anything for granted.

Common Cause plans two town hall meetings in Hastert's northern Illinois district and may target 12 to 15 wavering representatives with a radio ad campaign. Keller said it was good news the GOP leaders might move the bill before the 218 signatures are collected.

"They see the handwriting on the wall -- 205 signatures in four days is unprecedented," he said.

Keller said he is confident a half-dozen Republicans -- including Reps. Wayne Gilchrist of Maryland, Greg Ganske of Iowa, Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey and Sue Kelly of New York, will tell Hastert after the recess that they will sign the petition if he refuses to move the bill.

Keller also said he hoped to gather additional signatures from the 11 Democrats who twice signed similar petitions in the past but who haven't signed on to this one. However, some of those Democrats are members of the black caucus who have since come out against the bill, fearing it will hurt minority voter outreach.

In a similar petition drive that spanned 1997 and 1998, supporters gathered 204 votes over six months, prompting then-Speaker Newt Gingrich to schedule floor action. The bill went on to pass the House 252-179 but died in the Senate following a filibuster led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.