LWVUS Joins Letter Supporting the DISCLOSE Act

The League of Women Voters joined about 70 other organizations in urging the US Senate to actively support the DISCLOSE Act, pass it, and move it to President Biden’s desk. The DISCLOSE Act (S.443) is critically important legislation that would take crucial steps toward protecting democracy by shining a bright light on the secret money that corrupts our political system. At its foundation, the DISCLOSE Act would stop anonymous spending in our elections by requiring entities trying to influence our elections to disclose their major political donors. Among other provisions, this legislation would also require disclosure of major donors who underwrite advertisements supporting or attacking judicial nominees.

July 14, 2022

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator,

We, the undersigned members of the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD) coalition, which includes organizations from the labor, civil rights, environmental, faith, social justice, reproductive rights, and many other communities, representing tens of millions of Americans, write to urge your active support of the DISCLOSE Act (S.443). This critically important legislation, spearheaded by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), would take crucial steps toward protecting democracy by shining a bright light on the secret money that corrupts our political system. As Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) has indicated, he hopes to schedule a debate and vote on this people-powered bill in the coming weeks.

Over the past several years, the DFAD coalition has fought for passage of transformative federal legislation designed to fortify free and fair elections and strengthen the right of voters to have their voices heard in a truly multi-racial democracy. The DISCLOSE Act was a key component of that legislation. As you know, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was shamefully filibustered in the Senate earlier this year, at a time when our country is under unprecedented attack. It is not surprising that Americans of all political stripes were dismayed at the blocking of that legislation – and that they continue to call on Congress to take decisive action.

The Senate now has the opportunity to take a smaller yet significant step toward ensuring that special interests, corporations, billionaires, and foreign interests do not sway our elections and gain control over our government – by passing the DISCLOSE Act. At its foundation, the DISCLOSE Act would stop anonymous spending in our elections by requiring entities trying to influence our elections to disclose their major political donors. Among other provisions, this legislation would also require disclosure of major donors who underwrite advertisements supporting or attacking judicial nominees.

The conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court opened the floodgates of unlimited, secret, dark money spending in the disastrous 2010 decision in Citizens United. Since then, super PACs and dark money non-profits have dumped huge sums of money into elections. Over $1 billion of dark money was spent in the 2020 election cycle alone, according to the non-partisan, non-profit Open Secrets. Major corporations and wealthy donors are spending this undisclosed money without being linked to their toxic advertisements, with some organizations backed by anonymous donors helping to fund and organize the pro-Trump rally on the morning of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Voters have a right to know who is trying to influence our views and our elected representatives. However, in the current, out-of-balance system, wealthy special interests and big-money donors hold too much power, and they use political loopholes to hide their spending on lobbying, elections, and judicial confirmation hearings. It is time for the Senate to make the promise of democracy realized by taking the imperative step of shining a bright light on secret, dark money spending. We urge you to actively support the DISCLOSE Act, pass it, and move it to President Biden’s desk.

Signed,

See Attached Letter for Signatories