McCain vows to defy own party in push for campaign finance reform

January 2, 2001
Web posted at: 9:47 p.m. EST (0247 GMT)

By CNN Capitol Hill Producer Dana Bash

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On the eve of the 107th Congress, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, vowed Tuesday to fight for campaign finance reform, with a vote on legislation "as soon as possible" in the face of likely opposition from the new president and his own party leaders.

"If we don't do it early our chances of success diminish as time goes by," said McCain.

He said he would wait to bring his reform legislation to the Senate floor until after the Democrats lose the majority on January 20 when Vice President Dick Cheney takes on the role as president of the Senate, giving Republicans a 51-50 tie-breaking majority.

A spokeswoman said he will likely introduce the bill the week of January 22, which he views as the first real week of the legislative session.

The former GOP presidential candidate said he has not had any discussions about the bill or his plans to force a vote with President-elect George W. Bush, the man who defeated him in last year's primaries, or his staff.

GOP leaders who oppose McCain's bill to ban unregulated contributions to political parties said they remain hopeful they can work with him to scale back his legislation to something more acceptable to most Republicans.

But McCain and his Democratic co-sponsor Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wisconsin, said the new makeup of the Senate probably gives them the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster for the first time.

Although the most recent version of campaign finance reform legislation in the Senate is limited to a ban on so-called soft money, McCain said he hasn't decided what specifically will be included in the bill he will introduce later this month.

Aides to the Democratic leadership said they hope McCain's bill will combine campaign finance reform with electoral reform.