The McCain-Feingold bill has been accused of hurting labor and helping labor. It has been criticized by some for favoring Democrats and others for favoring Republicans. Some say it would penalize interest groups. Others say it would empower the groups by diminishing the parties. On Capitol Hill, opinions about the bill's impact are shaped not just by party but also by lawmakers' own election experiences.
Differences cross all imaginable lines.
There are business groups on both sides of the issue, though most dislike the bill. Although some support it, there are interest groups across the spectrum that decry the legislation, from the liberal American Civil Liberties Union to the conservative National Right to Life Committee. Consider one of the main planks of the bill - the restrictions on ads by interest groups. Outside groups now spend millions on election-time ads, often attacking candidates but escaping regulation. McCain-Feingold would prohibit unions and corporations from funding these ads.