Fredreka Schouten for USA Today:

Despite the resistance from House conservatives and liberal watchdogs, the push to strengthen political parties is gaining traction from establishment Republicans and Democrats.

The liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice recently released a report that proposed easing, or dismantling altogether, candidate-party coordination limits.

Some Democratic lawyers also want to loosen those restrictions.

“In light of everything that has happened in the last five years on campaign finance, including the unleashing of super PACs, it’s time to revisit the effect that McCain-Feingold has had on parties, especially state and local parties,” said Neil Reiff, a Washington election lawyer who represents Democrats.

There’s precedent for rewriting campaign-finance laws in year-end funding bills.  Last year, lawmakers tripled the amount of money a single donor could give to all party committees. The provision appeared on page 1,599 of a 1,603-page, $1 trillion spending bill.