CBC fails for a Republican.Campaign finance reform Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns. brings the two together It's not often that members of the Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Black Caucus, organization of African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Founded in 1970, it addresses legislative concerns of African Americans and other minority citizens, such as employment, welfare reform, minority business (CBC (1) (Cell Broadcast Center) See cell broadcast. (2) (Cipher Block Chaining) In cryptography, a mode of operation that combines the ciphertext of one block with the plaintext of the next block. ) side with Republicans to derail de·rail intr. & tr.v. de·railed, de·rail·ing, de·rails 1. To run or cause to run off the rails. 2. legislation near and dear to Democratic hearts. Yet that's exactly what happened when Reps. Robert Ney (B-Ohio) and CBC member Albert Wynn Albert Russell Wynn (born September 10 1951) is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 4th district of the State of Maryland since 1993. Early life and career Wynn was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (D-Md.) formed an alliance this past summer to co-sponsor rival campaign finance reform legislation. There was nothing underhanded in the way Ney wooed Wynn. As in any successful romance, he listened, he consulted, and he let the black legislator know his feelings mattered. It was a win-Wynn situation that gives other minority lawmakers the opportunity to rethink their positions and to possibly leave the Shays-Meehan bill at the altar like a jilted jilt tr.v. jilt·ed, jilt·ing, jilts To deceive or drop (a lover) suddenly or callously. n. One who discards a lover. bride. "Soft money" is at the core of the conflict between those for and against campaign finance reform. The proposed Shays-Meehan bill would ban soft money or unlimited contributions to the national parties' coffers that are often used for voter mobilization and advertising. It would keep the $1,000 limit on "hard money" contributions to House candidates, but increase contributions to Senate and presidential candidates to $2,000. The proposed Ney-Wynn bill caps soft money contributions to national party committees at $75,000 and does not change the current unlimited fundraising for state parties or $1,000 hard money limit. Some CBC members, like Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), passionately believe a campaign fund-raising overhaul is long overdue, but he doesn't support Ney-Wynn. Realizing that certain groups have been left out of the political system because of lack of funds, Lewis does call for a new process. "I think we have to go back to old-fashioned political campaigning," says Lewis, who believes the Shays-Meehan bill helps to accomplish this by banning excessive contributions. "Use radio and television, yes, but we've also got to wear out some shoe leather and knock on some doors." Wynn is not about to knock John Lewis, who many view as a national hero. He does have this to say, however: "Voter registration and mobilization is not a chicken dinner operation. You've got to have some serious resources." Modern campaigns require office space, phone banks, computer equipment, lists, none of which is free. An outright ban "would be detrimental to the goal of maximizing the African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. vote," adds Wynn. What happens next is anyone's guess. Both House Speaker Dennis Hastert and President George W. Bush have made no secret of their distaste for campaign is finance reform. But Democrats are not going away quietly. Lewis, Reps. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.), and John Conyers (D-Mich.) have sent out a letter to their fellow CBCers, imploring im·plore v. im·plored, im·plor·ing, im·plores v.tr. 1. To appeal to in supplication; beseech: implored the tribunal to have mercy. 2. them to vote for Shays-Meehan. Either way, says Wynn, people now look at the CBC differently. "We got a lot more consideration from the Shays-Meehan Coalition, and, the Democratic leadership, than we did when we were taken for granted Adj. 1. taken for granted - evident without proof or argument; "an axiomatic truth"; "we hold these truths to be self-evident" axiomatic, self-evident obvious - easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind; "obvious errors" on this issue." |
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