What makes the Republicans fear victory so? Back in June, President Bush unveiled a campaign-reform package that would go a long way toward eliminating the political protectionism that now gives House incumbents a 97.7 per cent re-election rate, a lower turnover than the Politburo. But a key portion of this program is now threatened by a familiar old enemy: Republican backsliding.
According to the Republican Study Committee report, House Republican leader Bob Michel has promised to cooperate with House Speaker Tom Foley to bring the issue of campaign reform to the floor as early as April. The $100 million question here (the lowest estimate for the amount of soft money unions donate to political campaigns) is whether this will include legislation to implement the Beck decision, which gives workers the right to demand back any of their dues money that supported political campaigns, a major source of funding for the Democrats. Although a key part of President Bush’s package, this is not likely to get by Foley.
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