Ability to Comment on Legislation and Elected Officials Restricted

The DISCLOSE Act will restrict free speech, increase confusion about campaign finance law and fails to treat all participants in the political process equally (treats corporations and trade associations differently than labor unions). The legislation S. 3628, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act (DISCLOSE Act), is a campaign finance bill portrayed as a fix to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.  It places restrictions on issue ads and election ads by trade associations and corporations and it places no restrictions on  similar communication by traditional democratic allies.

AGC believes the legislation is an inappropriate response to the Supreme Court’s ruling and if enacted would impact this November’s elections. 

Key Points:

• Unlike past changes in campaign finance law (such as McCain-Feingold), the Disclose Act is written to take effect immediately upon passage instead of waiting for the next election cycle and for regulations to be written to clarify compliance requirements.
• The bill would treat corporations and trade associations differently than labor unions, even though both sides are active in political advocacy. 
• The bill makes significant changes to foreign ownership rules. It gags companies that receive even small government contracts but does not similarly gag unions who represent government employees.
• The bill places significant and complicated restrictions on speech in the form of political advocacy while ensuring that these restrictions will not be clarified by regulation before the law impacts the 2010 elections.

Action Needed:

Please take a minute to contact your elected officials in opposition to the DISCLOSE Act by using the tools below.