BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT -- Democrat U.S. Rep. Scotty Baesler missed two key congressional votes on campaign finance Wednesday night while raising money for his U.S. Senate campaign, according to his Republican opponent U.S. Rep. Jim Bunning.
Mr. Baesler of Lexington has also missed "several key votes," including one in June on the $250.7 billion defense appropriations bill that funds Fort Knox, Fort Campbell and other Kentucky military operations in Richmond and Louisville, Mr. Bunning said.
"Scotty Baesler is falling down on the job for Kentucky citizens," said Mr. Bunning of Southgate.
Mr. Baesler countered by saying both he and Mr. Bunning voted on no less than 98 percent of the bills in Congress over the last five years.
"My leadership on campaign finance reform is above reproach," Mr. Baesler said. Mr. Bunning's "attack is laughable."
Mr. Bunning said Mr. Baesler was attending a Wednesday night fund-raiser hosted by Gov. Paul Patton at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort and missed votes on two amendments to the Shays_Mecham campaign finance reform bill. Those amendments were:
The Doolitte Amendment, relating to the ability of independent organizations to distribute voter information guides within 60 days of an election.
The Fosella Amendment, which would outlaw political contributions from foreign citizens.
Mr. Bunning pointed out that Mr. Baesler was quoted in the New York Times saying that campaign finance reform was "the most important subject facing the country."
"The people of Kentucky hired Scotty Baesler to do a job," Mr. Bunning said. "Last night, he didn't bother to show up for work on the issue he believes is the most important on Congress' agenda.
"When the Congress voted to ban foreigners from contributing money to U.S. political campaigns, Scotty was busy sucking up to the big money boys in Frankfort at a Governor's Mansion fund-raiser," he said. "Just like any other laborer in Kentucky who doesn't bother to show up for work, he should be reprimanded and have his pay docked."
The event raised about $250,000, according to the Baesler campaign.
Mr. Baesler maintained he has already voted for the ban on foreign contributions, which he admitted was scheduled for a second vote Wednesday night.
And he claimed Mr. Bunning has "flip-flopped" on banning soft money contributions to political parties by first saying he supported it and now claiming he opposes it.
"Jim is the one that is guilty of hypocrisy," Mr. Baesler said, adding he himself is a "national leader" on pushing for votes on campaign finance legislation.
"The bottom line is this," Mr. Baesler said, "I have made clear I will vote to clean up campaign corruption and ban soft money. Jim has flip-flopped. That is the issue."
