Campaign-Finance Disclosure Bill Fails In the Senate
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
07/27/10
Senate Republicans blocked a bill Tuesday that would force American companies and interest groups to disclose their roles in federal elections more than ever before. Democrats failed to end the Republican filibuster of the DISCLOSE Act on a 57-41 vote, essential ending the bill's chances for passage this year. All Republicans opposed the bill, while nearly all Democrats voted in favor of it. Democrats needed 60 votes to move it to final consideration.
Democrats wrote the bill in early 2010 to blunt the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Citizens United v. FEC, which eliminated spending limits for corporations and some interest groups in federal elections. Republicans hailed the ruling as a victory for free speech in federal elections, while Democrats warned that corporations' money would drown out the voices of average Americans in the democratic process.
The bill under consideration Tuesday would have prevented foreign corporations from spending money in American elections; prevented companies that receive TARP funds from financing elections or campaigns; prevented government contractors from funding campaigns; and would have required company CEOs to appear in campaign ads financed by their companies.
The House passed the legislation earlier this year, but not without controversy. A measure added by Democrats to win moderate votes stipulated that some large advocacy organizations would not be subjected to the new disclosure requirements. The primary group to benefit from the language would be the National Rifle Association.
Democrats knew the bill would fail, but chose to call a vote anyway, believing that Republicans' opposition to the legislation would be seen by voters as proof that the GOP puts the interests of corporate America over those of everyday people. But Republicans weren't the only ones with problems with the bill. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a staunch gun control advocate, voted with the Democrats to limit debate on the bill, but told reporters Tuesday she could not vote for the bill as it's written because of the provision for the NRA.
Moments before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said bill could not rein in corporate spending, but it could at least even the playing field in terms of telling voters who is paying for the ads on their televisions. "When the voice of corporations grows louder, the voice of the citizen becomes harder to hear," Reid said.
But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) rejected that notion and said Democrats wrote the bill not to protect voters, but to protect themselves in the November elections, when corporations are expected to favor Republicans. "This is nothing more than a transparent effort to rig the fall elections," McConnell said.
Democrats wrote the bill in early 2010 to blunt the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Citizens United v. FEC, which eliminated spending limits for corporations and some interest groups in federal elections. Republicans hailed the ruling as a victory for free speech in federal elections, while Democrats warned that corporations' money would drown out the voices of average Americans in the democratic process.
The bill under consideration Tuesday would have prevented foreign corporations from spending money in American elections; prevented companies that receive TARP funds from financing elections or campaigns; prevented government contractors from funding campaigns; and would have required company CEOs to appear in campaign ads financed by their companies.
The House passed the legislation earlier this year, but not without controversy. A measure added by Democrats to win moderate votes stipulated that some large advocacy organizations would not be subjected to the new disclosure requirements. The primary group to benefit from the language would be the National Rifle Association.
Democrats knew the bill would fail, but chose to call a vote anyway, believing that Republicans' opposition to the legislation would be seen by voters as proof that the GOP puts the interests of corporate America over those of everyday people. But Republicans weren't the only ones with problems with the bill. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a staunch gun control advocate, voted with the Democrats to limit debate on the bill, but told reporters Tuesday she could not vote for the bill as it's written because of the provision for the NRA.
Moments before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said bill could not rein in corporate spending, but it could at least even the playing field in terms of telling voters who is paying for the ads on their televisions. "When the voice of corporations grows louder, the voice of the citizen becomes harder to hear," Reid said.
But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) rejected that notion and said Democrats wrote the bill not to protect voters, but to protect themselves in the November elections, when corporations are expected to favor Republicans. "This is nothing more than a transparent effort to rig the fall elections," McConnell said.