WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted down the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Elections (DISCLOSE) Act to bring new transparency to campaign ads in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case that increases the role of money in politics:
“At a time when Pennsylvanians are being inundated with election year TV ads, it should be the perfect time to increase disclosure and sunlight on who is paying for some of these ads. However, a minority in the Senate has said no for the second time this year.
“The DISCLOSE Act is commonsense legislation to respond to the Citizens United ruling that increased the power of corporate special interests and the role of money in politics. It requires those who finance ads seeking to influence elections to clearly identify themselves.
It is a very simple choice: either there is going to be sunlight and exposure about our elections and who is funding them or we are just going to have darkness. Unfortunately, some people in the Senate don’t want the public to know who is helping their campaigns.”
###
