To the Point

Whatever Happened to Campaign Finance Reform?

Two years ago, the McCain-Feingold Law, named for Senate Republican John McCain and Democrat Russ Feingold, became the first campaign finance reform in a generation. Like all campaign finance reforms, it was designed to prevent individuals or special interest groups from buying access to elected officials. Democrats supported it, despite predictions that it would limit their use of -soft money,- but supporters of John Kerry may be demonstrating otherwise. The Bush-Kerry campaign is the first test of the new law, but even its authors say interest groups have found ways around it. Have Democrats and Republicans changed sides on the issue? Warren Olney takes examines attempts to control the influence of money in politics with journalists, public policy experts, advocates for government accountability, and the former political director of the California Republican Party. Making News: Pentagon Briefing As the violence continues in Iraq, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers led today's briefing at the Pentagon, answering several questions about the latest attacks in Fallujah and Najaf. Fay Bowers, who covers security matters for the Christian Science Monitor, says Meyers also acknowledged the need to go back to Congress for additional supplemental funding before the November election. Reporter's Notebook: Robert MacNeil on Being an American The public broadcasting audience will remember Robert MacNeil as half of the MacNeil -Lehrer anchor team on PBS. Yet, despite his success in this country, MacNeil did not become an American citizen until 1997, two years after leaving the show. His memoir, Looking for My Country, has now been released in paper back. MacNeil shares his thought on how he felt about September 11 and what-s happened since.