Sep 26, 2006 -- Momentum for Senate Electronic Disclosure: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director

Electronic disclosure for the Senate is long overdue. So we are encouraged that the Campaign Disclosure Parity Act (S. 1508) has gained renewed bipartisan traction in recent days through the efforts of Senators Durbin, Cochran, Feingold, and McCain. At stake in this bill is simply the issue of timely disclosure and transparency, which both parties say they support. Somehow, however, when it has come to action, the move to require the Senate to live by the rules for everyone else seems to fail.

The Campaign Legal Center has strongly supported the bill since its introduction more than a year ago and welcomes the growing number of groups who have joined the effort. We are also encouraged that an unlikely left-right coalition of bloggers - from Daily Kos and Leftword to RedState and Huffington Post - has set its sights on moving this legislation forward. This measure, like earmarks last week, is not to be confused in any way, shape or form with the promised lobbying and ethics reforms. But it is an important step forward that, if both parties live up to their rhetoric, should pass by a quick voice vote. We strongly urge the Senate not to let the American people down again on this basic disclosure bill.

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