U.S. Senate began a two-week long debate yesterday about the controversial issue of campaign finance reform . Campaign finance reform was a main issue in the presidential campaign last year.
Soft money is raised by special interested groups, such as political parties.
The money is usually used to air campaign commercials in support of a candidate's stand on an issue, but not the candidate individually. Currently, anyone can contribute almost any amount of soft money. Hard money is given directly to a candidate. Only individuals can contribute and the amount is limited. In its current form the bill would ban all soft money contributions and restrict advertisements from outside groups that either support or oppose political candidates.