[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1236-E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRACY IS STRENGTHENED BY CASTING LIGHT ON SPENDING IN ELECTIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5175) to 
     amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit 
     foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit 
     government contractors from making expenditures with respect 
     to such elections, and for other purposes:

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise to urge my colleagues to 
support the rule and the underlying bill, the DISCLOSE Act. I strongly 
support the DISCLOSE Act, which recognizes the significant 
contributions of libraries, librarians, and library workers to our 
nation's communities.
  In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court 
opened the floodgates to unrestricted special interest campaign 
donations in American elections--even from entities controlled by 
foreign governments. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that all 
organizations, corporations, and unions are free

[[Page E1237]]

to take unlimited corporate money and make unlimited political 
expenditures.
  The DISCLOSE Act would strengthen disclosure of election ads and 
would force corporate CEO's to stand by their ads by appearing on 
camera to say that he or she ``approves this message.''
  This bipartisan legislation would control the flood of special 
interest money into America's elections. Powerful special interests and 
their lobbyists should not be able to drown out the voices of the 
American people with their pocketbooks.
  The DISCLOSE Act would establish touch disclosure requirements for 
election-related spending by big oil corporations, Wall Street and 
other special interests, so the American people can follow the money 
and see clearly which special interests are funding political campaign 
activity and trying to buy representation in our government. This 
legislation would also prohibit foreign entities from manipulating the 
outcomes of American elections and help close other special interest 
loopholes.
  Further, the DISCLOSE Act would ensure that social welfare 
organizations with membership of 500,000 or more, stand by their 
political ads and prohibits them from using corporate dollars for 
campaign purposes, while respecting privacy of their contributors.
  I believe that people need to know who is paying to influence their 
elections.
  According to a recent Washington Post-ABC poll, the American people 
agree. Eight in ten Americans opposed the high court's ruling, 
including seven out of ten Republicans, and 72 percent favored 
congressional action to curb the ruling.
  Congress should act now to pass this important bill.
  I strongly support the DISCLOSE Act and urge my colleagues to do the 
same.

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