Shays-Meehan and McCain-Feingold Bills to Restrict Political Speech Again Blocked in Senate

Shown below are the October 19, 1999 roll calls by which two bills to restrict free speech about political figures, opposed by NRLC, were blocked in the U.S. Senate.

This was the latest of many attempts by Senator John McCain (R- Az.) and Senate Democrats to pass so-called "campaign reform" legislation that would restrict commentary on those who hold or seek federal office. In this case, as on earlier occasions, the majority of the Senate voted to advance such legislation, but they were unable to muster the 60 votes necessary to "invoke cloture" and pass the legislation over procedural obstacles erected by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Ms.).

NRLC urged "no" votes on the attempts to invoke cloture.

Column No. 1 (Senate roll call no. 330) shows the vote on cloture on the text of the "campaign reform" bill passed by the House of Representatives on September 14, the Shays-Meehan bill (HR 417), which contains numerous sweeping restrictions on the right of citizen groups and political parties to comment on the actions of federal politicians. Fifty-two (52) senators voted to invoke cloture and advance the bill--eight short of the 60 required.

This was followed by the vote shown in Column No. 2 (Senate roll call no. 331), on cloture on the text of S. 1593, the latest version of the McCain-Feingold bill. While less sweeping than the House-passed bill, this proposal would still severely restrict the right of political parties, party officials, and members of Congress to raise or spend money for commentary on members of Congress and other candidates. For example, one provision would prohibit members of Congress from endorsing the fund-raising efforts of groups that engage in commentary on politicians that might influence voters.

On this vote, 53 senators voted for cloture -- seven short of the 60 votes required to advance the bill.

All 45 Senate Democrats voted for both cloture motions. The cloture motion on the Shays-Meehan bill was supported by seven Republicans, while the cloture motion on the McCain-Feingold bill was supported by eight Republicans.

Senator McCain vowed to press the issue again during next year's congressional session.

Extensive additional information on this issue is available at the NRLC website at www.nrlc.org, under "Campaign Finance Reform and Free Speech."

KEY

X Vote against cloture (against restrictions on political free speech)

O Vote for cloture (for restrictions on political free speech)

Alabama
Shelby (R) X X
Sessions, J. (R) X X

Alaska
Stevens (R) X X
Murkowski (R) X X

Arizona
McCain (R) O O
Kyl (R) X X

Arkansas
Hutchinson, T. (R) X O
Lincoln (D) O O

California
Feinstein (D) O O
Boxer (D) O O

Colorado
Campbell, B. (R) X X
Allard (R) X X

Connecticut
Dodd (D) O O
Lieberman (D) O O

Delaware
Roth (R) X O
Biden (D) O O

Florida
Graham, B. (D) O O
Mack (R) X X

Georgia
Coverdell (R) X X
Cleland (D) O O

Hawaii
Inouye (D) O O
Akaka (D) O O

Idaho
Craig (R) X X
Crapo (R) X X

Illinois
Durbin (D) O O
Fitzgerald (R) X X

Indiana
Lugar (R) X X
Bayh (D) O O
Iowa
Grassley (R) X X
Harkin (D) O O

Kansas
Brownback (R) X O
Roberts (R) X X

Kentucky
McConnell (R) X X
Bunning (R) X X

Louisiana
Breaux (D) O O
Landrieu (D) O O

Maine
Snowe (R) O O
Collins, S. (R) O O

Maryland
Sarbanes (D) O O
Mikulski (D) O O

Massachusetts
Kennedy, E. (D) O O
Kerry, J. (D) O O

Michigan
Levin, C. (D) O O
Abraham (R) X X

Minnesota
Wellstone (D) O O
Grams, R. (R) X X

Mississippi
Cochran (R) X X
Lott (R) X X

Missouri
Bond (R) X X
Ashcroft (R) X X

Montana
Baucus, M. (D) O O
Burns (R) X X

Nebraska
Kerrey, R. (D) O O
Hagel (R) X X

Nevada
Reid, H. (D) O O
Bryan (D) O O

New Hampshire
Smith, R.C. (R) X X
Gregg (R) X X

New Jersey
Lautenberg (D) O O
Torricelli (D) O O

New Mexico
Domenici (R) X X
Bingaman (D) O O

New York
Moynihan (D) O O
Schumer (D) O O
North Carolina
Helms (R) X X
Edwards, J. (D) O O

North Dakota
Conrad (D) O O
Dorgan (D) O O

Ohio
DeWine (R) X X
Voinovich (R) X X

Oklahoma
Nickles (R) X X
Inhofe (R) X X

Oregon
Wyden (D) O O
Smith, G. (R) X X

Pennsylvania
Specter (R) O X
Santorum (R) X X

Rhode Island
Reed, J. (D) O O
Chafee, J. (R) O X

South Carolina
Thurmond, S. (R) X X
Hollings (D) O O

South Dakota
Daschle (D) O O
Johnson, T. (D) O O

Tennessee
Thompson, F. (R) O O
Frist (R) X X

Texas
Gramm, P. (R) X X
Hutchison, K. (R) X X

Utah
Hatch (R) X X
Bennett (R) X X

Vermont
Leahy (D) O O
Jeffords (R) O O

Virginia
Warner (R) X X
Robb (D) O O

Washington
Gorton, S. (R) X X
Murray (D) O O

West Virginia
Byrd (D) O O
Rockefeller (D) O O

Wisconsin
Kohl (D) O O
Feingold (D) O O

Wyoming
Thomas, C. (R) X X
Enzi (R) X X