Cohen Votes to Support DISCLOSE Act to Shed Light on Election Spending

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today voted to support the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act (H.R. 5175). The measure would provide new rules for political spending by corporations, labor unions and interest groups and is a result of the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

“Special interest groups must disclose their political spending,” said Congressman Cohen. “Secrecy in political spending is unacceptable. The DISCLOSE Act would let voters know who is footing the bill for campaign ads and help keep elections honest.”

The DISCLOSE Act would close some of the election loopholes created by a recent court decision and help ensure that the voices of the American people are not drowned out by a corporate takeover of elections.

In the Citizens United case, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to unrestricted special interest campaign donations in American elections -- even from entities controlled by hostile foreign governments. Congress is acting on this legislation to restore transparency and accountability to campaigns and ensure that Americans know who is behind political advertisements.