The bipartisan agreement to set the new limit, put together after more than a week of bargaining off the Senate floor, would be the first increase in the cap since the last major campaign law was passed more than a quarter century ago.
Opponents appear to have one major weapon left.
They plan to propose technical language requiring that if some provisions are ruled unconstitutional by the courts, then other parts of the bill will also be stricken. However, time and options appeared to be diminishing for the foes. His provision would also raise aggregate limits for giving and allow for adjusting the caps for inflation in the future. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who cosponsored the hard money agreement, echoed Thompson's upbeat assessment for the legislation. I have reason to believe that some people who were not for it will now be for it.