And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: "Victor Rocha" McCain speaks on campaign finance reform, tribal rights at journalism conference By REBECCA COOK The Associated Press 07/09/99 2:40 AM Eastern http://flash.oregonlive.com/cgi-bin/or_nview.pl?/home1/wire/AP/Stream-Parsed /OREGON_NEWS/o1691_PM_WA--Unity-McCain The Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain promised a renewed push for campaign finance reform when he spoke to a conference of minority journalists. "In Washington D.C., the public interest is no longer a factor," he warned Thursday. "It's the special interests that rule our legislative process." McCain said he plans to introduce a campaign finance reform bill in the next few weeks, drawing a line in the sand as fund raising for the presidential primaries makes headlines. McCain's legislation would ban soft money -- donations from unions, corporations and individuals that do not fall under federal contribution limits. The bill died in the last session of Congress. McCain is battling for the Republican nomination with Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who has raised a record $36 million, and wealthy publisher Steve Forbes, who is expected to spend millions of his own money early in the race, among others. Asked what Bush thinks about his campaign-finance bill, McCain replied, "I don't know." McCain added, "I hope he will join me in this effort to do away with soft money." The Arizona senator said he decided to attend the "Unity: Journalists of Color" convention at the last minute, after Bush was criticized for not attending. Bush ended up taking a quick walk through the conference, while McCain delivered a speech and answered questions. Delegates asked McCain about affirmative action and American Indians' tribal rights. He was also asked about Washington's Sen. Slade Gorton, a Republican and frequent adversary of Indian tribes. "I have strongly disagreed with the actions Sen. Gorton and other, Democratic, senators have taken," he said, without elaborating. "I will continue to fight those efforts to erode tribal sovereignty." The Seattle Times reported in April that Indian leaders flush with casino gambling revenue plan to spend $1 million to $5 million to try to defeat Gorton next year. Ron Allen, head of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe near Port Angeles, Wash., and president of the National Congress of American Indians, called Gorton "the dean of the anti-Indian movement." McCain emphasized his respect for ethnic diversity and highlighted his success with Hispanic voters. He said he supports affirmative action, in the form of training and aid programs that create a "level playing field." Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
