Even so, the Republican leadership would have none of it. Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi pulled the bill off the floor after supporters of reform mustered a majority in two test votes but fell short of the 60 votes needed to squelch a Republican filibuster, The New York Times reported. The twosome vowed to fight on, and so they must. The corruptive influence of soft money undermines the republic. The cynicism and apathy it engenders in the citizenry threatens our democracy.
Soft money is the unlimited, unregulated donation to political parties.
Donations to individual political candidates are limited by law. But the parties funnel funds to candidates, thus neatly sidestepping laws that limit contributions by individuals to candidates. Or the parties may spend the funds on issue ads, some of which justifiably may be mistaken for campaign ads. Experts predict that amount will more than double in the upcoming presidential election. Now there's something to look forward to.