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Conyers Applauds Passage of DISCLOSE Act

Congressman John Conyers

For Immediate Release
June 24, 2010
Contact: Nicole Triplett
Jonathan Godfrey

(Washington D.C.) — Today, Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) praised the passage of campaign finance reform in H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act. This bill strongly addresses the problems raised by the Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United V. FEC, by restoring integrity and transparency to campaign finance.

"Citizens United is the most shocking Supreme Court decision I have read in many years," said Conyers. "Allowing groups to attack candidates for office without ever having to reveal which corporations bankroll their ads would have a crushing effect on our nation’s political discourse. The DISCLOSE Act is designed to prevent this. The bill we passed today fixes the Citizens United decision using the three tools the Supreme Court affirmed were within our means. We increase disclosure, require disclaimers on advertisements, and limit foreign influence in our elections.

"As Justice Stevens pointed out in his dissent, the constitution provides for restrictions on speech in order to prevent the few from drowning out the many. As he said, Congress has a compelling constitutional basis, if not a democratic duty, to take measures designed to guard against the potentially harmful effects of corporate spending in local and national races. I am pleased that we have done that today."

H.R. 5175 passed the House by a roll call vote of 219-206.

 

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