Ensign, Gibbons hit on campaign reform

Monday, Aug. 10, 1998 | 10:50 a.m.

Common Cause President Jim Hulse said the two Nevada congressmen joined with Speaker Newt Gingrich to support "killer amendments" that would have derailed or weakened the Shays-Meehan bill which passed the House earlier this month.

Ensign replied part of the bill is unconstitutional.

"You don't go willy nilly violating the Constitution. While I believe in campaign finance reform, I believe more in the Constitution."

A spokesman for Gibbons said the Reno congressman has been a leader in efforts to get a campaign financing bill.

The Shays-Meehan bill outlaws so-called soft money that allows political parties to contribute to campaigns without the source of the funds being identified. Hulse also said it restricts attack advertising in federal campaigns by outside groups that have caused so many dirty advertisements to be aired in the media.

"It's a matter of record that Congressman Ensign and Gibbons have consistently opposed meaningful campaign reform," Hulse said.

Common Cause is a non-partisan, non-profit citizen's lobby, which does not endorse candidates. But Hulse said Nevada's Democratic Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan "have firmly supported strong reform legislation."

Hulse said the Shays-Meehan bill faces troubles in the Senate because of a threatened filibuster from Senate Majority Leader Trend Lott, R-Miss., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. He said "the delaying tactics of the leadership in both houses are leading us to yet another dirty, unregulated campaign."

Candidates hosted

The Republican Women of Las Vegas will host a candidate luncheon at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Palace Station hotel-casino. The featured speaker will be Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, a gubernatorial candidate. Also scheduled to speak are Bob Beers and Dennis Silvers, candidates for Assembly District 4. The lunch is $16 a person and will be held on the second floor of the casino. RSVP to Mary Ellen at 898-8782.

Teachers endorse Jones

Las Vegas Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Jan Jones last week trumpeted her endorsement by the state teacher's association. The Nevada State Education Association represents more than 20,000 Nevada educators, making it one of the biggest groups to endorse a candidate so far this election season. "Every single child and school employee in the state will benefit when Jan Jones is in the governor's office," association president Elaine Lancaster said.