The DISCLOSE Act

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act
Here's A Link To The Bill

Video From The President From July 26, 2010


First, let's start with the factual errors made by the President.

1) "Big corporations, even foreign controlled ones..." is factually incorrect. Go to the bottom of this blog and READ THE LAW! It states "It shall be unlawful for a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country." The LAW already prohibits foreign companies from making any contributions!

2) "Corporate lobyists will be able to tell members of Congress, if they don't vote the right way, they will face an onslaught of negative ads in there next campaign." I guess kind of like how the unions put an "onslaught" of negative campaign ads against Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas when she didn't vote the way they wanted her to.

3) "So the House has already passed a bi-partison bill..." Take a look at the vote tally below! Only 2 Republicans voted for the bill and 36 Democrats voted against it! Is that bi-partison?

Here's the problem with this law. The "special interest" groups who will be able to influence politicians will be the unions and other groups carved out by the politicians. Why don't companies have a right to air t.v. ads? Do you want some bureaucrat in Washington picking and choosing who has the right to free speech? Don't forget what the Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Audio From Mark Levin On The DISCLOSE Act

	Ayes	Noes	PRES	NV
Democratic	217	36		2
Republican	2	170		6
Independent
TOTALS	219	206		8

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 391

§ 441e. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals¹

(a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for—

(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make—

(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election;

(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or

(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3)) (2 U.S.C. § 434(f)(3)); or

(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national.

(b) As used in this section, the term "foreign national" means—

(1) a foreign principal, as such term is defined by section 611(b) of title 22,² except that the term "foreign national" shall not include any individual who is a citizen of the United States; or

(2) an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act)³ and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined by section 1101(a)(20) of title 8.1

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¹Section 303 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), Pub. L. No. 107-155, amended section 441e by revising the title of the section and the wording of subsection (a). This amendment is effective as of November 6, 2002.

²22 U.S.C. § 611(b) provides:
"(b) The term "foreign principal" includes—

(1) a government of a foreign country and a foreign political party;

(2) a person outside of the United States, unless it is established that such person is an individual and a citizen of and domiciled within the United States, or that such person is not an individual and is organized under or created by the laws of the United States or of any State or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place of business within the United States; and

(3) a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country."

³Section 317 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), Pub. L. No. 107-155, amended section 441e(b)(2) to insert a cross reference to the Immigration and Nationality Act. This amendment is effective as of November 6, 2002.

From FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN LAWS Compiled by THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION