PenceBlog: Pence campaign finance amendment detailed by BNA - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) today detailed the House vote on Friday that passed the Pence campaign finance amendment to the DJS Bill. Below are some excerpts. You can link to BNA here (subscription needed).

“In a move that caught reformers off guard, the House voted 215-205 late July 26 to block criminal enforcement of provisions of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act barring direct corporate and union funding of certain political advertising in the weeks before an election.

The House backed an amendment offered by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) to an appropriations bill (H.R. 3093) funding the Departments of Commerce and Justice and science-related agencies. The bill was passed by the House and sent to the Senate, where the fate of the Pence provision is unknown.

In arguing for his amendment on the House floor, Pence cited the Supreme Court's June decision in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life Inc. (WRTL), which held that ads the Wisconsin antiabortion group wanted to sponsor in 2004, during Feingold's reelection campaign, calling on him to oppose judicial filibusters, were protected by the First Amendment. Pence said that the WRTL case was "a huge victory for the First Amendment because it's a major step in restoring the free speech rights to grass-roots lobbying organizations, left, right, and center." He added: "Those of us who hailed this ruling and welcomed it as a first step toward the reversal of McCain-Feingold were encouraged, but we knew this was not the end of the story."

posted by Pence Press Office # 1:52 PM