Baucus: Elections Belong to Montanans, Not Corporations

Press Release

Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today declared that elections should be determined at the ballot box, not in corporate boardrooms as he signed on as an original co-sponsor to the DISCLOSE Act, a tough new campaign finance law.

The DISCLOSE Act, which is an acronym for Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections, would:
* Prevent any corporation that is controlled by a foreign national from contributing or spending money to influence a U.S. Election
* Require the head of corporations, unions, or organizations to appear in any ad they run stating that they "approved this message"
* Prevent any entity that receives a government contract worth more than $50,000 or that received TARP money from making campaign related expenditures.

"I've always said there is too much money in politics and this legislation is just plain common sense which is why I support it 100 percent," Baucus said. "Elections belong to the American people, not shadowy corporations or foreign nationals. In Montana, we stand by our word and if someone wants to run an ad in Montana they darn well better appear in it so Montanans know who is behind it."
The DISCLOSE Act was drafted in response to the recent Citizens United Supreme Court case which critics say will allow unprecedented spending and electioneering by outside organizations including corporations and unions.

The legislation was introduced today on the steps of the Supreme Court by Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Al Franken (D-MN).

An accompanying bill is expected to be introduced today in the House of Representatives.

Source