Campaign Finance Reform

"More than 40% of union workers in America are frequently at odds with their leaders on political issues like tax cuts. The only way the bosses are able to continue this scheme is by denying their members the right to decide for themselves whether to support the bosses’ political agenda. Senator McCain has made clear he has no problem with that."
-Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

"Free political speech and participation in politics is one of the hallmarks of American freedom. McCain-Feingold rejects the Constitution, insisting instead that people should not be able to express their opinion except when it’s convenient to the politicians, and only when it’s controlled by government agencies."
-Randy Tate, senior vice president for government relations, Christian Coalition.

"It appears that the ‘McCain Lite’ version of the bill is simply a vehicle for amendments that contain the speech suppressive provisions of the previous iterations of McCain-Feingold, and to enable the bill to go to conference committee, in the hope of emerging with something very similar to the Shays-Meehan bill passed by the House on September 14."
-Carol Tobias, political director, the National Right to Life Committee.

"This proposed legislation is bad for America - in addition to its blatant and reckless disregard for the First Amendment, McCain-Feingold does not solve the problems plaguing our current campaign finance system. In fact, it will make the problems worse."
-David Keene, American Conservative Union chairman.

"McCain’s bill is a trick and a trap. It promises to open the political process, but for everyone but the union bosses, it shuts down whole avenues of political speech that Americans have enjoyed for over 200 years."
-Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

"Citizen participation in the political process is the answer to the problems that plague politics, it is not the problem."
-Randy Tate, senior vice president for government relations, Christian Coalition.

"McCain-Feingold will hamstring state parties from participating in the political process, but give labor unions a free pass."
-David Keene, American Conservative Union chairman.

"McCain Feingold ignores the American tradition of parties being organized around issues and beliefs, and would greatly weaken them as vehicles for citizens who wish to unite around share beliefs."
-Carol Tobias, political director, the National Right to Life Committee.

"This legislation does nothing to stem the tide of so-called hard money contributions to political parties and campaigns from labor PACs. In a true campaign finance bill the Unions should be required to get permission - in writing - from each member for engaging in political action with member dues."
-David Keene, American Conservative Union chairman.

"McCain’s phony ‘campaign reform’ does nothing to prevent union bosses from having unfettered access to worker paychecks as a source of political cash."
-Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.