This would have the effect of assuring that the soft-money ban is wiped out if other provisions, such as constraints on political advertising, are invalidated. The vote on this proposal could be close. Democrats have said this, too, would be a deal breaker. Although both the McCain-Feingold and Hagel bills are aimed at curbing the amount of unregulated cash in political campaigns, they differ in fundamental ways and draw their support from rival camps. Many traditional opponents of reform efforts support Hagel as a less drastic alternative to McCain-Feingold.
Critics say they support it as a way of killing the broader bill.
President Bush has encouraged Hagel but stopped short of endorsing his proposal. Advocates of the Hagel approach argue that a soft-money ban would starve both national and state parties and rechannel big money toward independent advocacy groups, which would then dominate campaigns. Hollings's proposal garnered 40 votes, short of the two-thirds majority required to amend the Constitution. News Jobs AP Shopping Archives Entertain.