'Disclose' Act (H.R. 5175)

UPDATE, June 24, 2010: House Passes DISCLOSE Act

The House of Representatives has passed a bill to blunt the impact of a Supreme Court decision that ruled as unconstitutional curbs on outside organizations which buy political TV ads.

The bill is designed to increase disclosure requirements for third party groups as a response to the so-called "Citizens United" case.

Under the act, third party groups would have to list who their largest donors are along with other previously confidential information. The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., says that the legislation will add transparency to the electoral process. Conservatives say the act is an infringement on First Amendment rights.

Some liberal Democrats objected to a recently added carve-out in the bill for large, established advocacy groups such as the National Rifle Association. The bill’s sponsors said the measure would not have been able to pass without the special provision.

The House approved the bill 219 to 206.

More than 30 Democrats voted against the legislation. Two Republicans sided with Democrats on the issue: Reps. Joseph Cao (R-LA) and Mike Castle (R-DE).

Here's Obama's reaction to the passage of the bill:

OBAMA: I congratulate the House of Representatives on today's passage of the DISCLOSE Act, a critical piece of legislation to control the flood of special interest money into our elections... The House bill is not perfect - I would have preferred that it include no exemptions. But it mandates unprecedented transparency in campaign spending, and it ensures that corporations who spend money on American elections are accountable first and foremost to the American people. I urge the Senate to act swiftly on its version of the bill, and I look forward to working with both chambers on prompt enactment of final legislation.

What a disgrace!

Here's the roll call. See how your representative voted.

WISCONSIN

Democrats — Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.

Republicans — Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.

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Free speech is under assault in our country.

From Barbara Lyons, Wisconsin Right to Life:

In yet another move to curtail free speech in America, the House of Representatives plans to vote on a measure, the “Disclose” Act (H.R. 5175), which is intended to make it extremely difficult for corporations, including groups like Wisconsin Right to Life, to freely participate in the election process. The House bill carves out exceptions for labor unions and the National Rifle Association, making the measure especially insulting.

It is completely discriminatory for certain “favored” organizations to be allowed free speech while Wisconsin Right to Life, its chapters, its parent organization, and its colleagues in other states are restricted and even silenced.

Congress is attempting to put these new restrictions in place as soon as possible to blunt the impact of the January 2010 Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision which overturned previous speech restrictions enacted by the Congress.

Clearly, the provisions in the “Disclose” Act will ultimately be found unconstitutional. The goal appears to be to mute the voices of citizen groups for the November elections and for as long as they can get away with it.

Wisconsin Right to Life has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve the First Amendment right to free speech. In 2007, Wisconsin Right to Life was victorious in the U.S. Supreme Court in a challenge to the McCain/Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act. The WRTL victory opened the door to positive legal and constitutional decisions in other cases like Citizens United as instrumental in restoring the ability to speak freely about issues and candidates, a principle that is at the core of our freedoms as Americans.

Free speech for some?

That's not America.
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Here's the text of H.R. 5175.