The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, also known as BCRA or McCain-Feingold, was a major campaign finance reform law in the United States. The law banned soft money, or unlimited donations to political parties, and placed new restrictions on campaign ads. The law was passed in the wake of the Enron scandal and other major campaign finance scandals.
BCRA was a response to the growing influence of money in politics. In the 1990s, the cost of campaigns skyrocketed, and the role of big money donors became increasingly important. The new law was designed to level the playing field and reduce the influence of special interests.
The most controversial provision of BCRA was the ban on soft money. Soft money is unlimited, unregulated donations to political parties. These donations can be used for a variety of purposes, including get-out-the-vote efforts and party-building activities. The ban on soft money was intended to reduce the influence of big money donors and level the playing field for candidates.
The other major provision of BCRA was the restriction on campaign ads. The new law placed limits on the amount of money that could be spent on campaign ads, and prohibited the use of corporate or union money to finance ads. These provisions were designed to reduce the negative effects of campaign advertising and make elections more about issues and ideas, rather than money.
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 was a major campaign finance reform law that aimed to level the playing field and reduce the influence of special interests. The law had a significant impact on the way campaigns are conducted, and is still controversial today.