rssWhy Are Dems Voting Today on the DISCLOSE Act?
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 9:03 am
- 7 Comments
The DISCLOSE Act is up for another vote in the Senate today, and while everyone understands that the chances of flipping a lone Republican to vote for the cause is slim, most observers I’ve spoken to claim Democrats are still working hard to get the bill passed. Politico’s Meredith Shiner, however, presents an altogether less warm and fuzzy reason for why Democrats called another vote on the campaign finance issue:
When the defense authorization bill failed to clear cloture Tuesday, Democrats needed a measure to fill floor time before the weekend, and the DISCLOSE Act was one of the few measures in their legislative arsenal that was quickly available.
Having failed cloture once, the campaign bill only requires a less strict “motion to recommit” from Reid to call another cloture vote. New legislation likely would need 30 hours after being filed, 30 hours the Senate doesn’t have.
So even if Democrats know they’re likely short of votes Thursday, the alternative was practically nothing
Shiner’s logistical insight is revealing, but not mutually exclusive, of course, with other reasons Democrats felt compelled to call another vote on the bill. As far back as July, when the DISCLOSE Act first failed to overcome a GOP filibuster in the Senate before recess, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) vowed to bring it up again because the bill’s a win-win, as far as Democratic strategists are concerned: pass it, and enact much needed campaign finance reform, or fail to pass it, and gain more ammunition to target Republicans as in the pockets of big business and special interest groups. With that kind of non-deficit increasing card in his back pocket, it makes perfect sense for Reid to play it during every moment of Senate downtime.
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Comment posted September 23, 2010 @ 9:39 am
So, ARE Republicans “in the pockets of big business”? Or are the just incapable of communicating their message? This article gives us no reason why to oppose the disclose act.
Comment posted September 23, 2010 @ 11:29 am
A few weeks ago, the Senate fell just short of the votes needed to begin debate on the DISCLOSE Act — the most outrageous bit of election fixing ever conceived.
The Disclose Act is intended to reverse a Supreme Court ruling from earlier this year and would require any activist organization to disclose information about you if you made a contribution to them. Then of course they would share that information with those you stand against so that they could target YOU.
Other measures in the Disclose Act include prohibitions on political spending by companies that have significant holdings overseas.
Freedom loving conservatives spent years trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to restore the free speech stripped away by the McCain-Feingold “Finance Reform” Act. These conservatives wanted to protect their right to tell the truth about the Liberal Agenda in Washington.
When the Supreme Court ruled the McCain-Feingold Act unconstitutional, the liberals in Washington came up with a new “campaign finance” bill called the Disclose Act.
Let us be clear about this: Congress wants to eliminate free speech during election time.
And now they are trying to push it through yet again.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Today, your Senators will have a provisional vote to end debate on the Disclose Act. It’s essential they hear from you — their constituents — on this issue. Make a quick phone call, tell your Senators why you’re happy the DISCLOSE Act didn’t pass last time, and demand that they vote against disclose again tomorrow! Make your voice heard, and make sure that they know you want any so-called “election reform” legislation killed.
Contact Senator Bob Corker at (202) 224-3344, and Senator Lamar Alexander at (202) 224-4944, and tell them to vote “NO” on the current “Campaign Reform Act” as long as it contains legislation to limit your freedom of speech.
The Disclose Act was designed by liberals who want to shut you up and silence all opposition prior to this November’s election.
Without this critical legislation, conservative organizations can publicize legislator’s liberal votes and explain the legislation that was passed.
Do not be fooled! The far-reaching disclosure requirements of the Disclose Act are designed help to hide liberal senator’s and congressmen’s voting records rather than to bring transparency to elections. Their fancy rhetoric about “strengthening democracy” is designed to cover up the real reason that they pushed this bill: TO KEEP INCUMBENTS IN OFFICE.
In 1978, one of the first pieces of legislation Public Advocate spoke against in Congress was “HR One” which would restrict spending in Presidential elections. We predicted that this would lead to more attacks on free speech, and we were proved correct with the McCain-Feingold Act and again with Disclose.
That is why Public Advocate, with your support, launched an all-out effort to oppose the DISCLOSE Act and prevent it from going into effect before the November midterm elections.
Action on the legislation is once again being revived, and it is imperative that you get on your phones and call your Senators. But be prepared, the liberals will push for it again TODAY.
Disclose is being conjured up again by fearful democrats, and the Senate now has two choices: accept that the American people do not want this free speech stifling legislation and move on, or try to sneak it in again. We must be prepared for them to try and sneak it in again!
This is a critical moment for free speech; we must demand they protect our right to free speech and ensure that informed voters remain the cornerstone of our Republic.
Thanks for all you do,
Eugene Delgaudio
President, Public Advocate
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