Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
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Senator Byrd's Efforts on Campaign Finance Reform (Part II)

6/29/2021

 
By Richard Jones, Byrd Center Student Intern
Read Part I here >>
​Senator Robert C. Byrd made his issues of the campaign financing system in the United States and its reform part of his agenda for the 100th Congress. In 1988, Byrd and Oklahoma Senator David Boren introduced campaign financing reform legislation. The bill set voluntary spending limits for Senate candidates in general elections in all states. The bill was met with opposition from the Senate Republican Party who led a filibuster against the legislation, arguing that the proposal favored Democrats and would restrict American citizens from participating in elections, with Senator Mitch McConnell arguing that Congress would never agree on the extent of these limitations to campaign contributions. Despite a Democratic majority in the Senate, the move for a cloture vote to end the filibuster failed seven times, though Byrd threatened to keep the Senate in continuous session until the legislation was resolved. Republican senators subsequently scattered and Byrd moved to have the Senate sergeant-at-arms gather the absentee senators to participate in a record eighth cloture vote which also failed [1]. Byrd withdrew the bill after this but made clear his intention to call up the legislation in the future.

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Senator Byrd's Efforts on Campaign Finance Reform (Part I)

6/29/2021

 
By Richard Jones, Byrd Center Student Intern
​Campaign financing has been a prevalent issue in the United States for a considerable time. Nearly 50 years ago, the late Senator Robert Byrd addressed the need to reform this system and continued to speak on this issue throughout the rest of his time in Congress. Byrd’s issues with the campaign financing system can be traced back to his own experiences and his first campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1958. Byrd continually criticized the high amounts of money it takes to run for public office in the United States and the rising disparity between those elected and the citizens they represent. Byrd’s efforts to reform the campaign financing system in the United States remained an important aspect of his political career and continues to be a relevant issue in the United States since Byrd’s passing. 
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Robert C. Byrd poses for a portrait outside the U.S. Capitol shortly after his successful campaign for the Senate in 1958.

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The Byrd Center advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
© 2021 Robert C. Byrd Center for
​Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Statement on Systemic Racism
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
  • Education
    • People Powered 2023 Program
    • Educational Resources
    • Internship Program
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Falkner CAO Papers
    • Blog
    • Digital Collections
    • Oral History Project
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
  • Events
    • Summer Fundraiser 2023
    • Voices of the Community series
    • Forum on Pollution
    • Formidable - author event
    • Voices of the Community
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
    • Annual Report
  • Reservations
  • Login
  • WV Civics Coalition