The U.S. Capitol building (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
On a vote of 219-206, the U.S. House passed on Thursday a bill aimed at placing new disclosure requirements and limits on corporations and special interest groups in political campaigns.
The final bill exempts some of the most powerful interest groups – according to ABC News that includes the NRA and AARP – but here’s what ABC says the bill would do:
“The so-called Disclose Act requires the heads of companies, unions and nonprofit groups to appear personally in any sponsored political ads and endorse the message. It would also require them to reveal the names of the top five donors who helped foot the advertising bill.
“Foreign companies and those that hold lucrative U.S. government contracts or that have benefitted from federal bailouts would be banned from engaging in any independent political activity.”
New Mexico’s three House members – all Democrats – voted for the bill, which now heads to the Senate for consideration. Here’s what they and others from New Mexico had to say about it.
From U.S. Rep. Harry Teague:
“This bill shines a light on special interests and fly-by-night groups looking to manipulate and influence American elections. Without the DISCLOSE act, there is nothing stopping big corporations and limitless corporate money from anonymously drowning out the voices of American citizens. This is a commonsense bill that requires corporations to stand by their ads. Anyone who thinks it’s OK to allow big corporations and foreign entities to secretly spend millions to influence American elections is out of touch with 89 percent of Americans and cares more about politics than protecting the basic principles of our democracy.”
From U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich:
“The DISCLOSE Act closes some of the biggest election loopholes created by the Citizens United case, the Supreme Court decision that gave the green light to unlimited political influence by Wall Street banks, credit card companies, Big Oil, and insurance companies.
“Our government belongs to the American people, not foreign corporations and powerful special-interest groups.
“When the Citizens United case erased 100 years of campaign finance reform, there became an urgent need for Congress to begin restoring accountability and transparency in the election process.
“Our nation’s democracy is founded on the right to vote and the ability of every citizen to participate in that process equally. Ordinary Americans deserve that kind of transparency and to know who’s trying to influence their vote.
“This DISCLOSE Act is not perfect, but it will increase the integrity of our political process by providing the toughest-ever disclosure laws for big money interest campaign spending; doing so is fundamental to the future of our nation’s Democracy.”
From U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:
“Special interest groups seeking to influence elections must be accountable to the American people. This legislation increases transparency, improves accountability, and makes sure that elections are not subject to the influence of foreign entities.”
From Former U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, the Republican who is challenging Teague this year:
“Harry Teague and his Democrat colleagues are rushing legislation forward to stifle political debate in an effort to protect themselves in the upcoming election.
“This is yet another sign that Harry Teague has given up on New Mexico and is more concerned about his own self-preservation. Like his support of the Employee Free Choice Act, he has proven to worry more about Washington special interests and less about the citizens of New Mexico.”
From state Democratic Party spokesman James Hallinan, in response to Pearce’s statement:
“Steve Pearce has made it clear that instead of pushing for campaign finance transparency and accountability, he is standing with the big corporations on this issue. Pearce wants to keep the door open for interests like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to come in and do the dirty work by anonymously spending unlimited sums of money to benefit his campaign.”
Update, 8:15 a.m.
From Tom Mullins, the Republican challenging Luján this year:
“Rep. Lujan votes to take away your Constitutional rights to become a grassroots activist. We need transparency and ethical honest leadership from our representative. I agree with many who have characterized this law as the ‘Incumbent Protection Act.’”