Campaign Finance Reform Process a Waste of Time

Some people are calling campaign finance reform legislation "the incumbent protection act." Not only would it make it even more difficult than it already is to challenge an incumbent. It would severely restrict the ability of individuals and interest groups - including pro-life organizations -- to put their message before the public.

The McCain-Feingold legislation was further complicated Monday by the narrow approval of a bill authored by Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota. That bill would ban advertising late in a campaign by advocacy groups such as National Right to Life and the Sierra Club. This is as outrageous as it is unconstitutional.

Do you see what is going on here? Members of Congress are trying to regulate speech. If they succeed, then the big networks will determine what you hear and see during a campaign. The courts will never stand for this. That's why the entire proceeding is a waste of time. Congress ought to be dealing with the energy and economic problems, not wasting the people's time and toying with the First Amendment.