THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1994 TAG: 9406220464
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: 940622 LENGTH: WASHINGTON
He promised to clean up Washington. But now, Clinton is being criticized for business as usual.
{REST} A study released Tuesday by Common Cause says the president raised more money during his first 15 months in the White House than did President George Bush. Clinton's ambassador ranks are sprinkled with big-time donors. Some of his top lieutenants have left government to become lobbyists.
Clinton is expected to attend four fund-raisers this week, including a $1,500-a-plate presidential dinner for 1,800 people, which Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization that lobbies for government accountability, plans to protest.
``In terms of big money and powerful interests and lobbyists, nothing has really changed here,'' said Charles Lewis, director of the Center for Public Integrity, another nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization in Washington.
Ellen Miller, director of the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics, agreed. ``What makes these ethical lapses so compelling is that Clinton promised the American people it would be different,'' she said.
Clinton has initiated some steps at reform, such as executive orders barring senior officials from lobbying for foreign governments or lobbying their former offices for five years. He also has supported campaign-finance reform and lobbying disclosure measures.
``The president introduced campaign-finance reform legislation last year, which Common Cause supported,'' said Dee Dee Myers, the White House press secretary. ``The president has urged that Congress take final action as quickly as possible.''
``It is President Clinton who is now placing the presidency on the auction block,'' Common Cause President Fred Wertheimer said. ``It is President Clinton who is now benefiting greatly from the corrupt campaign-finance system that continues to thrive and prosper.''
Clinton and the Democrats are beating the Republicans at fund-raising, Common Cause says. From July 1992, when Clinton became the presidential nominee, to March 1994, the Democratic National Committee raised $40.5 million in ``soft money'' from corporations, unions and wealthy individuals, Common Cause says.
``Soft money'' is a way to circumvent federal laws that limit campaign contributions to $1,000 for individuals and bar corporate and labor donations. To get around that rule, special interests can contribute huge sums to the parties, which then can spend the funds to assist candidates.
{KEYWORDS} CAMPAIGN FINANCES by CNB