Disclose Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, we heard a lot from the other side. I will be speaking in conclusion on this bill, along with Senator Reid, after the lunch break. We have never heard such falsities. The other side, first, talks about free speech and talks about how corporations have the right to free speech. The Constitution now guarantees that after Citizens United--and our bill does not get in the way of free speech. It simply requires disclosure, which the Court said was important.

Second, they are talking about how it treats unions and corporations differently. The bottom line is, the unions are opposed to this bill and to simply say that a $600 limit favors unions, no, we are just favoring big, huge givers who give tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars over small, little givers. If there is a union person who gives $10,000, they will be under this law. If there is a corporate person who gives $500, they will not be. It is a misnomer.

I see my friend and colleague from Illinois has arrived. Since I will be speaking after the lunch, and I am just waiting for Senator Brown to arrive, I yield the remaining time, other than the 5 minutes for Senator Brown, to my friend and colleague from Illinois, Senator Durbin.

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