Whitehouse Intros Super PAC DISCLOSE Bill

RI Future first reported this story Monday morning, but we thought you might want to know that it has now actually happened. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse introduced the DISCLOSE Act, which would require Super PACs and other anonymous political donors to stand by their TV ads by requiring that they put their names on them.

“The American people deserve to know who is really behind these ads,” said Whitehouse, according to a press release from his office.  “This legislation will require organizations involved in elections to tell the public where they are getting their money, and what they are spending it on – shining a badly needed light into the activities of these groups.”

Here are more quotes from some of Whitehouse’s 34 co-sponsoring senators:

“In the age of super PACs, it is more important than ever for citizens to understand who is financing political campaigns and negative attack ads. Voters must be able to make informed decisions, and this legislation provides rules that will prevent this unregulated influx of money from compromising the transparency of our electoral process.”
– Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire

“Republicans and Democrats have both touted disclosure in the past and the ideas in this bill have earned broad support. There’s a lot we need to fix with campaign finance, but at a minimum, the American people at least deserve to know where the deluge of money financing these new shadow campaign operations is coming from.”
– Senator Tom Udall, D-New Mexico

“Citizens United unleashed a wave of corporate campaign cash that threatens to drown out the voice of the people.  This is a serious threat to our democracy and we cannot stand by while it happens.”
– Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon

“We believe that all of the unlimited cash allowed by the Citizens United decision must at least be disclosed.”  “This legislation seeks to limit the damage of the Supreme Court decision that has given corporations and the very wealthy unprecedented sway over our elections, and represents one of the most serious threats to the future of our democracy.”
– Senator Charles E. Schumer, D-New York