During a March 2000 address at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vice President Al Gore said that campaign finance reform is "one of the most important steps we can take to return government to the people." His father (Al Gore Sr.), Gore asserted, lost a Senate seat in 1970 in part because of "special interest money that was funneled into his opponent's campaign by the infamous Nixon 'dirty tricks' operation." This event, Gore maintained, has shaped his views and rendered him more sensitive to the campaign finance issue.
             Only a very small percentage of Americans contribute money to political campaigns. For example, only one percent of the population provided 1992 congressional candidates with 77 percent of their money. Most campaign money is donated by special interest groups such as large corporations, by political action committees, or by wealthy individuals.
             Campaign finance reform has become an important issue, particularly as we near the year 2000 Presidential election. Reformists call for public disclosure, but this alone will not solve the problem. It is, however, a step in the right direction. Says Fortune Magazine columnist Jeffrey Birnbaum: "...money in politics is like water: it will always find its way around the dams you put up, and it's the reason why so many people are turned off from politics" (News Bytes, 2000).
             The traditional ways to spend campaign funds involve paying salaries to staff members and purchasing television advertising. But many politicians use the money instead on various means of enhancing their images and advancing their careers.
             Groups lobbying for reform call for limits on the (often obscene) amounts of money spent on political campaigns. Democratic elections, they say, should create a financially level playing field for all candidates, regardless of personal wealth or number of wealthy friends and business cont...