To: AllPolitics Subject: Sen. Nickles On Kenneth Starr
From: CNN "Inside Politics Weekend"
In: Washington
Posted: 2-22-97
Senate Assistant Majority Leader Don Nickles (R-Oklahoma), in an appearance on CNN's "Evans and Novak," said he thinks that Whitewater Independent Counsel Ken Starr has done the right thing in reversing his decision to leave his post, because he had an "obligation and a commitment to see this thing through,"and he hopes that Starr will soon bring his investigation to closure.
"I hope that he will do that and hopefully he'll do it soon, whatever actions he's going to take, hopefully he will make them pretty quick," Nickles said. The Senator said although he respects Starr, when asked if this week's back and forth has hurt his credibility, Nickles replied, "It probably hasn't helped his case."
Nickles, who sits on Senator Fred Thompson's Government Affairs Committee, which is looking into alleged improper democratic fund-raising, called it "one of the biggest scandals to hit maybe in history," and said that the committee should be granted the necessary money to investigate. Thompson has asked for some $6.5 million for the investigation, which has been met with resistance from Democratic leaders.
"We need to go to the sources. We need to find out what happened,"Nickles said, "If we have to drag this thing out and every three months, well let's come back and beg for additional money. That's what happened under the Whitewater investigation, you might remember Bob, Alfonse D'Amato was fighting again for additional monies. Never had significant resources and it just didn't happen. We'd like to say let's go ahead and fund this thing. Get it done and do it right and get it done."
According to Nickles, any Democratic filibuster on the issue would be a "ridiculous thing to do " and although he wouldn't give a definitive time, Nickles said he hopes to finish the investigation this year. When asked if the committee intends to look into Republican fund-raising, Nickles maintained that most allegations have been made against the DNC, but said "we did subpoena in one case, a couple of republicans who were involved.
But you know, we don't do subpoenas, you don't do investigations by quota. you do 'em by wherever the facts lead. And the fact is, the democratic national committee has been involved in very significant campaign activities, many of which look very illegal. And those need to be investigated."
In terms of campaign finance reform legislation, Nickles, who chairs a republican task force to look into the matter, said "I think we can put together a bill that will pass -- that can have bipartisan support. It won't be the so-called McCain-Feingold Bill, but it can do some significant things that would help clean up the system, make it better -- make it a better system, make it where you have immediate disclosure, where you have access -- you find out where the money's coming from." He also said he'd like to reduce PAC contributions.
The Oklahoma Republican said he is holding out hope that the balanced budget amendment, which is set for a Senate vote next week, still may pass. "We need 67 votes. We have 55 Republican votes. We need 12 Democrats. If all the Democrats who voted for it last time and who campaigned for it in this last election, we'd pass it with 68 votes," going on to say, "We lost Tim Johnson and he voted for it in the previous Congresses, the same amendments he now has announced he's going to vote against it and that disappoints me. He didn't do what he said he's was going to do in the campaign. I'm hopeful though that the other two that you mentioned, Senator Torricelli and Senator Landrieu, will do what they said they were going do in the campaign and support the amendment. If they do I think we'll get the 67 votes."
Nickles said he thinks the Tony Lake and Alexis Herman Cabinet nominations are in trouble, but said he will wait for confirmation hearings to decide whether or not he'll vote for them.