A little less than a year ago, I asked you to support the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, calling it “no-brainer legislation.” The bill, introduced repeatedly by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) over the last several years to little effect, would modernize the way in which Senate candidates file their campaign fundraising disclosures (and bring Senate candidates into line with House candidates and presidential candidates).
Well, the bill has been reintroduced and has more support than ever. This may be the year (finally!) that the Senate puts transparency over secrecy on the key issue of campaign contributions. If one of your senators is on this list of cosponsors — Akaka, Alexander, Bennett, Bingaman, Brown, Cardin, Chambliss,
Cochran, Dodd, Durbin, Feinstein, Grassley, Harkin, Isakson, Kerry,
Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Lugar, McCain, Nelson (NE), Reed, Reid,
Rockefeller, and Schumer — don’t bother making any phone calls to them. But if you don’t see your senators here, consider picking up the phone and letting them know how you feel. When an industry’s interests are at stake in a bill, there are always lobbyists buzzing around Capitol Hill telling lawmakers how to vote. But when it comes to transparency, and bills that protect the public interest, there is no one to voice an opinion but you.
