From: Janet Moore/CNN
In: Washington
Posted 10-2-97

Subject: Democrats Push For Showdown On Campaign Reform

Determined to have a vote on campaign finance reform next week, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) told reporters Thursday that, if given the opportunity to vote on the Lott amendment, a sufficient number of Republicans have indicated they would vote with Democrats to defeat it.

Lott's amendment would require labor unions to get written permission from individual members before spending any of their dues for political purposes. Democrats, who are the principal beneficiaries of labor support, want to defeat the amendment. But if they fail to strip the amendment from the McCain-Feingold bill, which they support, they would have to vote against McCain-Feingold to defeat the labor amendment.

Democrats claim this is a "killer" amendment used by Lott to have Democrats bring down reform legislation Lott didn't want in the first place.

The showdown may come next Tuesday if Lott attempts to stop debate on the issue. Daschle vows to offer the underlying reform legislation as an amendment to every single piece of legislation offered on the Senate floor.

Daschle admitted the majority of pending legislation will be non-amendable appropriation conference reports and the majority leader has the ability to control floor activity.

In Other News:

Thursday Oct. 2, 1997

• Getting To Know The Real Al Gore
• Policing The Food Supply
• Reno Faces A Friday Deadline
• Business As Usual For Gore
• Gingrich: Tobacco Deal Shouldn't Enrich Lawyers

E-mail From Washington:
• Democrats Push For Showdown On Campaign Reform
• Air Force Defends Flying Record Of Nominee For Top Civilian Post

Vxtreme Streaming Video:
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