Could someone help me with Kerry/Clean Elections Law/Wellstone?!

[wheresthemind]

Comeback Kerry would also like to be known as Campaign Reform Kerry, the principal co-sponsor, with the late Paul Wellstone, of the Clean Money, Clean Elections bill that would take special-interest cash out of politics in federal elections and replace it with full public financing of campaigns. Kerry has repeatedly boasted of this on the stump — as in the January 6 debate, when he said proudly, “Paul Wellstone and I together wrote the Clean Elections law.” In the 106th, 107th and 108th Congresses, Kerry’s name was on the bill, which has yet to become law. Then Wellstone, the Senate’s liberal conscience, died — and Kerry started running for president. Guess what? In the current, 108th Congress, Cautious Kerry, the decorated war hero, went AWOL, refusing to reintroduce the bill he now boasts about — leaving it with no sponsor in the Senate.

-http://www.laweekly.com/ink/04/11/news-ireland.php

I like Kerry... I really do... but I loved Paul Welltsone and if this is true I will be very upset. Can anyone tell me anymore? Why would he not reintroduce this legislation! Imagine the good press he could get amoung the progressives for carrying on one of Paul's fights.

[jpgray]

1. Here's my guess

First, it would never be passed in this Congress. Second, only political junkies would pay attention. Third, the amount of work it would take to push the bill would take away from his campaign, since Kerry would presumably not want to put it and let it die without pushing it, because that would be a blatant political move and may well be labelled by progressives as naked pandering with no substance.

So yes, he could put it out and give it the work it deserves, or he could campaign at a high level for president. He made his choice on that, and you are free to disagree.

Necessarily I think, a congressperson will be less effective in Congress if running for president at the same time. :(

[wheresthemind]

2. thats a decent reason...

If he did not take it up as president then I will be pissed.

I was just to tired to try and figure it out... sometimes I am spoiled by people like Wellstone and Kucinich too.