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Van Hollen, Castle, Jones, Brady Announce DISCLOSE Act to Address Citizens United Ruling


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DISCLOSE Act Summary

DISCLOSE Act
 
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Washington, Apr 29, 2010 -

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE), Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), and Chairman Robert Brady (D-PA) announced introduction of the DISCLOSE Act, which will address the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and ensure transparency and disclosure in our electoral process.  Senator Schumer also announced the Senate companion bill today.

“I’m proud today to be joined by Congressmen Castle, Jones, and Brady to introduce the bipartisan DISCLOSE Act,” said Van Hollen. "This legislation will let the sun shine in at a time when so many Americans are already concerned about the influence of powerful special interests on our democracy. Every citizen has a right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and our legislation will allow voters to follow the money and make informed decisions.”

“At a time when Americans are struggling to have their voices heard in Washington, the Citizens United ruling expanded the ability of special interest to influence the political process.  Americans have the right to know what organization or individual is behind political advertisements and under the disclosure requirements in this bill, they will get this critical information,” said Castle.

“The American people are crying out for sunshine and reform in the electoral process, and those are issues I’ve worked on throughout my career.  My presence here today is an extension of that effort.  I don’t know many people in Eastern North Carolina who believe that transparency is a bad idea, or that Chinese or Russian-flagged companies should be able to spend unlimited amounts to influence U.S. elections, or that Wall Street banks should be allowed to spend their bailout money on campaign ads.  This bill would address those issues,” said Jones.

“The bill being discussed today helps restore some of the balance between the citizen and his or her right to a government that’s accountable only to them. The Committee on House Administration has jurisdiction over federal elections, and therefore the vast majority of this bill. The Committee already held its first hearing on this matter back in February and I am announcing that I will be holding a hearing on this legislation as soon as next Thursday. I am very committed to getting this legislation passed in the House, passed in the Senate and on the President’s desk by the time the midterm elections are in full swing,” said Brady.

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