Critics of the Supreme Court’s ruling Wednesday upholding the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law are right: Money will always find a way into the system. Nonetheless, the decision by a closely divided court is a major victory in the struggle to limit the influence of big money on federal elections.

Voting 5-4, the justices approved major revisions in campaign finance law that limit the flow of unregulated “soft money” to political parties. The court also upheld restrictions on issue ads paid for by special interest groups like the National Rifle Association, the American Civil Liberties Union and AARP.

More importantly, the ruling acknowledges Congress’ authority to attack the problems of corruption – or the appearance of corruption – that challenge the integrity of government.

Opponents of the legislation have wrapped themselves in the Constitution, calling reform an infringement on the First Amendment. The court rejected that argument, instead focusing on the importance of allowing Congress to curb the abuse rampant in the system.

Now, on the heels of this success, is the time to start looking at the next stage of reform.

Already President Bush and Democrats Howard Dean and John Kerry have abandoned the system of federal matching dollars that, in the past, has limited the fund raising and spending of presidential candidates. The floodgates are wide open.

Bush already has raised more than $100 million during the primary season, even though he has no opponent. The nine Democrats battling for the party’s nomination have raised, together, almost as much.

The campaign finance system needs a complete overhaul to further reduce influence peddling. Maine’s system of public financing would be a good place to look for an effective example. And the Federal Election Commission, which is nothing more than a tamed lap dog for the two parties, needs to be unleashed and given the teeth to be a real watchdog.

No doubt, money does talk; the Supreme Court’s ruling means it might not get the last word.


Drugs and sports


Quebec Major Junior hockey may be a new entrant into our community, but we’re all too familiar with the problems of drugs, especially in sports.

A report by a Canadian newspaper Tuesday cited league sources and claimed widespread use of stimulants in the league. Reaction was immediate. League officials announced their intention to reinstate a drug-testing policy that had lapsed more than a year ago. That’s a good move.

Several owners, including Mark Just of the Maineiacs, expressed a zero-tolerance attitude about performance enhancing drugs. Not on my team, he said.

But without the testing, how would he or other team leaders ever know for sure?

There’s a lot at stake for the young players in this league: their health, professional advancement and the lessons in ethics they will carry forward. The temptation to seek out an advantage, something that will give an edge, is always there, in sports and in life. But real success can’t be built on a foundation of cut corners. The tradeoffs are too great.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League needs to take a strong stand. Mandatory drug testing, with tough penalties, should be instated as soon as possible. Otherwise, the league sends the message that it’s OK to cheat.
[email protected]