The Disclose Act has broad support among Democrats, Independents, and even rank and file Republicans. Simply put its foundation is the belief that, if someone is trying to buy an election, the American people have a right to know who they are. But the small handful of billionaires, who want to plot in secret, have the support of the Republican Party.
Senate Democrats on Monday lost another attempt to pass legislation forcing donors of groups that bankroll most election ads to be revealed. But Democrats, led by New York Sen. Charles Schumer, pledged to hold the Senate floor hostage and continue the debate well into the night.
The DISLCOSE Act, which was dealt the same fate in the Senate in 2010, failed to overcome a key procedural vote on entirely partisan lines, 51-44. Democrats will push for another vote as early as Tuesday after holding a “midnight vigil” to protest the GOP filibuster of the measure.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was the only Democrat to vote “no” — a procedural move allowing him to bring it up again. Four Republicans and one Democrat did not vote on the bill, which would require unions, nonprofits and corporate interest groups that spend $10,000 or more during an election cycle to disclose donors who give $10,000 or more… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Politico>
Graphic credit: Nancy/C2NN
Regulatory legislation like this is so needed, because Republicans will do anything to win, as the following crime illustrates.
In early 2010, a new organization called the Commission on Hope, Growth and Opportunity filed for nonprofit, tax-exempt status, telling the Internal Revenue Service it was not going to spend any money on campaigns.
Weeks later, tax-exempt status in hand as well as a single $4 million donation from an anonymous benefactor, the group kicked off a multimillion-dollar campaign against 11 Democratic candidates, declining to report any of its political spending to the Federal Election Commission, maintaining to the I.R.S. that it did not do any political spending at all, and failing to register as a political committee required to disclose the names of its donors. Then, faced with multiple election commission and I.R.S. complaints, the group went out of business.
To Democrats and some campaign finance watchdogs eager to force more transparency in spending by independent groups, Hope, Growth and Opportunity stands out as the kind of “pop-up” organization that operates in virtual secrecy, with legal impunity…
Inserted from <NY Times>
Graphic credit: The Examiner
Of course, Republicans are wasting no time taking advantage.
One Republican group has reserved $6 million in television advertising time for the fall election season to help more than a dozen House GOP candidates, and about half the money will come from the nonprofit side of the organization that is not required to disclose its donors.
The Congressional Leadership Fund and its nonprofit affiliate, the American Action Network, reserved the ad time in seven key media markets — which will also be likely battlegrounds for the presidential campaign — as a down payment on a fall campaign to promote House Republicans.
The move comes as congressional Democrats are stepping up their criticism of nonprofit organizations that shield their donors and that are playing an increasingly prominent role in House and Senate races…
Inserted from <Washington Post>
Graphic credit: Salon
Rachel Maddow covered this story in two segments. In the first, she provided background on 1% mega-donors.
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In the second, she interviewed John Tester (DINO-MT).
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I don’t buy Tester’s point. Democrats are doing this for show, with good reason, and should come clean about it. We must make Republicans unanimous support for a few billionaires over everyone else an albatross to hang on Republican necks at every opportunity. Keep the votes coming!
10 Responses to “Republicans Obstruct Disclose Act”
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Not all of the money is from secret donors. Sheldon Adelson has been very open with his intent to supply unlimited funds to defeat Pres. Obama in November. I sincerely hope that they find him guilty og some sort of criminal activity in Macau with his casinos.
The RepublicanTs really don't care if their seats in Congress or even the Presidency have to be bought as long as they have them.
Sorry for my rants. Mea culpa.
Corporations are more inclined to want their donations secret than individuals.
Republicans know Romney will lose. They have no other choice but to depress the liberal vote.
Today Bachmann said there is infiltration of the Islamic Brotherhood in American politics, led by Democratic politicians. Is Islamic counting the same as Commie counting? How many Islamic Brotherhood members are in the Congress Ms. Bachmann? 64-72-91-3?
McCarthy/Nixon red baiting tactics are alive and well in Republican politics today, but, I guess the country is to young to remember just how hate filled and wrong that kind of oratory is.
Who will be the one to say, "At long last sir have you no decency………"
Steve I agree. On Bachmann's InsaniTEA, look at the article posted right before this one. Such bigots used to skulk under their sheets and hoods, until Republicans brought hate into the mainstream.
GNOP in Action…
True!
"In early 2010, a new organization called the Commission on Hope, Growth and Opportunity filed for nonprofit, tax-exempt status, telling the Internal Revenue Service it was not going to spend any money on campaigns."
Nonprofit needs review by the IRS…
They did. That's why they are now out of business.
The Disclose Act is so necessary, but not as much as identifying the Sheldon Adelson's of the country, but for identifying the somewhat smaller fish in the cesspool. Adelson is very public in his stocking of the election in his favour. And as information on the Corrupt Foreign Practices Act investigation become public his intent is better understood. Adelson is truly an ugly little man, inside and out, arrogant to a fault, deceitful and manipulative. But what about these others like the woman caught on tape talking to Scott Walker (Hendrickson?).
And then there is the news that the Koch's have bought a newspaper. What better way to control the people in an area than by controlling the media.
There is so much going on that fits in with other things to obfuscate issues that something like the Disclose Act is necessary to lift some of the clouds surrounding the election, and all elections. There is no doubt in my mind that the Republican/Teabaggers will obstruct this bill once again.
Exactly, and see my reply to Patty.
They did.