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Feb 7, 2007 -- Extend "Stand by Your Ad Provision" to the Internet: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director We applaud Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Michael Castle (R-DE) for introducing legislation to ensure that the public is more accurately informed about efforts to influence the outcome of elections. The Responsible Campaign Communications Act of 2007, introduced today, would extend the "Stand by Your Ad" provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) to Internet ads and "robo-calls" paid for by candidates and political committees.
The "Stand by Your Ad" provision is a common sense means to better hold candidates and parties accountable for their actions to influence, and in some cases mislead, voters. Extending this measure to target new forms of voter deception is a logical and necessary step.
The "Stand by Your Ad" provision of BCRA, which applies to ads run on television and radio, was specifically upheld by the Supreme Court in its landmark decision McConnell v. FEC. The bill is crafted to be consistent with rules governing the Internet recently issued by the FEC. As the power of the Internet as a fundraising and campaigning tool grows, it is essential that candidates claim the same responsibility for their advertisements over the Internet as they do for ads over the airwaves.
This bill would also extend "Stand by Your Ad" requirements to cover "robo-calls," and require the disclaimer be run at the beginning of the call. Misleading "robo-calls" intended to sound like they are coming from a candidate's opponent have been on the rise in recent elections. If candidates choose to campaign this way, they should at least take credit for the deceptive practice.
This bipartisan effort deserves expeditious action in the 110th Congress.
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