Campaign Finance Debate in the House: Substitute Amendments to H.R. 2183 (105th Congress)

Publication Date: June 1998

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Politics

Type:

Abstract:

This report provides a summary and comparison of the 11 substitute amendments to H.R. 2183, a campaign finance reform bill offered by Representatives Hutchinson and Allen, that, under H. Res. 442, will be in order for consideration by the House. The House began consideration of the bill and these substitute amendments (as well as additional perfecting amendments) on May 21, 1998. This report is intended for use by House Members and staff in preparation for and during House debate and assumes basic familiarity with the underlying issues. It may be updated to reflect further legislative actions.

For further discussion of the issues reflected in these proposals, see two CRS overview issue briefs: Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money (IB98025); and Campaign Financing (IB87020). Two of the leading House reform bills are compared with each other and current law in: Campaign Finance Bills in the 105th Congress: Comparison of H.R. 2183 (Hutchinson-Allen), H.R. 3526 (Shays-Meehan), and Current Law (CRS Report 98-409). The issue and express advocacy issues are discussed in: Campaign Finance Reform: A Legal Analysis of Issue and Express Advocacy (CRS Report 98-282). Finally, a discussion of the union dues issue is offered in: The Use of Union Dues for Political Purposes and Agency Fee Objectors (CRS Report 97-555).