Statement Of D21 President Fred Wertheimer On Senate Introduction Of DISCLOSE Act
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today reintroduced the DISCLOSE Act to continue his decade-long effort to end secret contributions, or “dark money,” from being spent in federal elections.
The Act was first introduced in 2010 by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Representative Chris van Hollen (D-MD) and has been introduced and advocated by Senator Whitehouse in every Congress since then.
Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) is also today reintroducing the companion DISCLOSE Act in the House.
Democracy 21 applauds Senator Whitehouse for his relentless and unswerving leadership in the battle to close the “dark money” disclosure loophole. Democracy 21 applauds Representative Cicilline for his strong leadership in the House fight to enact the DISCLOSE Act.
The DISCLOSE Act will help protect our democracy by requiring that nonprofit organizations spending money in federal elections disclose their donors in order to shine light on contributions that are being given in secret today.
The DISCLOSE Act will close a gaping loophole in the campaign finance disclosure laws that, since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010, has allowed billions in unlimited, secret contributions – including more than $1 billion in the 2020 election cycle alone – to be spent to influence federal elections and the decisions of federal officeholders.
As Senator Whitehouse has noted, “The DISCLOSE Act would shine a light on special-interest spending to neutralize its toxic effect, giving Americans’ voices a chance to be heard.”
Democracy 21 urges Congress to finally enact the DISCLOSE Act.
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