Early Thursday morning, the U.S. House passed the Shays-Meehan Bill, which would limit soft money contributions and regulate issue advocacy ads that mention candidates. The Senate is expected to take up the bill sometime next week.
The bill contains a provision from Rep. David Price, D-N.C., that would require candidates to be responsible for their political advertisements.
Under the "Stand by your Ad" provision, candidates would have to link themselves to their television ads by either appearing full-screen in their television ads and delivering the disclaimer directly or delivering the disclaimer in voice-over with a clearly identifiable picture visible.
Bridget Lowell, Price's press secretary, said "Stand by your Ad" is based partly on a 1999 N.C. state law that held candidates responsible for their ads.
Lowell said the requirement would improve the tone of campaigns.
"The law that was so successful (in North Carolina) will now be implemented across the country," she said.
But Thad Beyle, UNC political science professor, said the Shays-Meehan Bill, if passed, would not have any immediate effect on campaigning nationwide.
"You're going to reform some things that bother observers and even some participants," he said. "But you can never wipe the slate clean."
He said campaign finance reform bills always have loopholes and interest groups will discover ways to circumvent the new restrictions.