Common Cause Applauds DISCLOSE Passage, Pushes for More

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  • Dale Eisman

Common Cause applauds the U.S. House today for passing the DISCLOSE Act, while at the same time urging Congress to do more to raise the voices of everyday Americans in our political process.

“The DISCLOSE Act provides much needed transparency to our political process,” said Common Cause President Bob Edgar. “But DISCLOSE was designed to blunt a bad Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates of corporate and union spending around elections. Congress needs to do more than simply pass DISCLOSE to ensure that the voices of average Americans are not drowned out by millions of dollars in special interest cash.”

“Congress must also push forward with the Fair Elections Now Act, bipartisan legislation that would end the corrupting, nonstop chase for campaign cash,” Edgar said. “Transparency is important, but Congress must also address the root problem: the undue influence of special interest cash in our election.”

The DISCLOSE Act, sponsored by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), is Congress’ response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC that overturned decades of common sense restrictions on corporate and union spending in elections. The transparency measures and restrictions on foreign companies and government contractors are important to ensure our elections are fully transparent.

The Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826, S. 752) would compliment the DISCLOSE Act by giving candidate for Congress the option to run for office on a blend of Fair Elections funds and a four-to-one match on donations of $100 or less.