[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[February 26, 1998]
[Page 301]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 301]]


Statement on Campaign Finance Reform Legislation
February 26, 1998

    I am disappointed that the Senate Republican leadership today killed 
campaign finance reform. Given a chance to strengthen our democracy, an 
obstructionist minority instead chose to preserve the system of soft 
money and unlimited backdoor campaign expenditures.
    I am pleased that all 45 Democrats and a majority of the Senate 
supported the bipartisan McCain-Feingold legislation. I will support 
their attempts to bring this legislation up for a vote again this 
session. Just as the need for change has not gone away, campaign finance 
reform will not go away.
    In the meantime, I will redouble my efforts to push campaign finance 
reform through other means. I ask the members of the Federal Election 
Commission to take the step supported by a majority of Members of the 
Senate and ban soft money. And I continue to call upon the Federal 
Communications Commission to act to provide free or discounted airtime 
to candidates, and I will strongly oppose any efforts by Congress to 
block this reform. I believe these petitions offer us the most realistic 
hope for real reform this year.