GOP Senators Block Bill to Disclose Donors to Political Nonprofits
July 17, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
In a party-line vote, Republican senators on Monday halted Democrat-backed legislation requiring nonprofit groups that engage in political activity to reveal their donors, Reuters and the Associated Press report.
The bill, called the Disclose Act of 2012, fell nine votes shorts of the 60 required to clear a procedural hurdle and go to the Senate floor. The measure would require tax-exempt groups that spend at least $10,000 on campaign activity during an election cycle to disclose to the Federal Election Commission the identity of any contributor giving $10,000 or more.
“Social welfare” organizations, or 501(c)(4) nonprofits, have become increasingly active buyers of issue-oriented campaign ads and are outspending super PACs, which are required to identify their donors.
Democrats and the Obama administration contend that the current rules allow wealthy donors with special interests to influence elections under cover. Republicans argue that requiring disclosure would violate free-speech protections and open donors to harassment.
