From the collapse of Wall Street to the current spill in the Gulf, Americans have great reason to be distrustful of the influence corporations have over elections and, therefore, their Representatives in Washington. That is why the Citizens United Supreme Court decision came as a shock to those of us committed to protecting our democracy from excessive influence that is bought and paid for.  The Citizens United decision opened the door to a flood of new campaign spending from corporations without disclosure or accountability, diminishing the voice of the average American voter.

The DISCLOSE Act passed today will go a long way towards bringing transparency and accountability back to the federal electoral process,  preserving the integrity of our elections from foreign companies or from corporations striving to have greater influence over our government. It enables our nation’s citizens to know exactly which corporation or interest group is paying for the political advertisements aimed at influencing their vote, and prevents foreign governments, TARP recipients and government contractors from making any political expenditures.

While I remain concerned about the exemption in the bill for certain organizations, I continue to be committed to the greater good accomplished by achieving transparency and accountability in the electoral process, and securing the power of the American voter in our democracy."

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