Heinrich: Our Government Belongs To The American People, Not Foreign Corporations And Special-Interest Groups

Press Release

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act (DISCLOSE Act), the most far-reaching campaign finance reform law since McCain-Feingold. The bill, which does more to strengthen disclosure and transparency than any measure in recent history, passed the House today by a vote of 219 to 206.

"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."

In addition to having the support of 80 percent of the American people, the DISCLOSE Act is backed by the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, Democracy 21, Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and Campaign Legal Center.

Source