[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H4919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE DISCLOSE ACT

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, twice this week, Senate Republicans 
blocked a vote on the DISCLOSE Act, which would shine a much-needed 
light on the dark corners of secret, anonymous political spending. The 
bill stands on a simple idea: Voters have a right to know who is trying 
to influence their votes.
  This year alone, more than 600 super PACs have spent $133 million on 
outside ads--most of which have been negative and, many, dishonest. 
It's much easier to lie about a candidate when you're anonymous--and 
when you can't be held accountable.
  The American people see the damage being done. More than three-
quarters of voters believe financial campaign reform is a key national 
issue, and the vast majority of Americans oppose the Citizens United 
decision, which opened the floodgates for outside spending and 
dishonesty in elections. But even in the Citizens United decision, the 
Supreme Court anticipated that Congress would require disclosure as a 
critical means of providing transparency in campaigns.
  Madam Speaker, the voters have a right to judge the credibility of 
campaign ads, and they can't do that without disclosure of those who 
are paying for them.

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