[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7303-S7304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE DISCLOSE ACT
Mr. REID. Mr. President, the debate this morning will be related to
the Citizens United case. That is the case where the Supreme Court
changed more than 100 years of precedent in the United States, which in
the past had totally prevented corporations from being involved in
Federal elections. The Supreme Court stood that rule on its head and
denied stare decisis, which certainly surprised nearly everyone. They
became involved, it appears, in the political process by a 5-to-4
majority, now allowing corporations, including corporations that have
foreign interests, to become involved in our process. They really have
opened the door. We have these nameless, faceless individuals spending
huge amounts of money--corporate money and other money--where there is
certainly no transparency whatsoever. These ads are being run on
television and radio around the country. No one knows where the money
comes from, how much it is. In fact, I repeat, there is no
transparency. That is what the debate is about today. We have had a
vote on this once before. I have the right to call it up again, and I
will do so at the appropriate time, but it is important that the
American people know how
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outrageous the Supreme Court's decision was.
Would the Chair now announce morning business.
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