Lujan: Republican Legislation Opens the Door to More Secret Money in Our Elections
Press Release
Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico's Third District voted today against legislation introduced by House Republicans that seeks to further weaken campaign finance restrictions and increase the flow of secret money into the political system. H.R. 5053 eliminates current requirements that tax-exempt 501(c) groups make non-public disclosure of their substantial donors to the IRS.
Currently, foreign money cannot be given or spent in our elections. This bill opens the door for unlimited secret money from foreign governments or individuals to be funneled into our elections, by doing away with the only real protection against the use of foreign money by politically active 501(c)(4) organizations -- the disclosure of their substantial donors to the IRS.
"House Republicans continue to try to chip away at what little campaign finance regulations still exist in an effort to further allow secret money to influence our elections. This legislation undermines a key safeguard that ensures foreign money stays out of our electoral process," Congressman Luján said. "The American people deserve to know who is spending money to influence their vote. I will continue my efforts to advocate for reforms that will roll back the devastating effects of Citizen United by restoring accountability and transparency and putting the American people ahead of the special interests."
Luján has been championing efforts to reduce the influence of special-interest money in our campaign system and increase transparency. He has long been a cosponsor of legislation to address the impacts of Citizens United that opened the floodgates of secret money, including the DISCLOSE Act to increase public reporting of campaign-related activity, and a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Luján has also introduced the Fair and Clear Campaign Transparency Act that directs the FCC to undertake a rulemaking that makes political ad buy information searchable, sortable, and downloadable.
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