Legal Center Urges House Members to Cosponsor the Leadership PAC Disclosure Act

March 30, 2007

Dear Representative:

The Campaign Legal Center strongly urges you to join as a cosponsor of the Leadership PAC Disclosure Act, H. R. 347, introduced recently by Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-NC). This measure would require leadership PACs to include in their statements of organization, and the reports they file with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the identification of each candidate or officeholder with whom the committee is associated. The FEC would then be required to make this information publicly available over the Internet.

Current law permits lawmakers and candidates to maintain and operate leadership PACs without disclosing which candidates or officeholders are affiliated with those PACs. This lack of transparency not only undermines the current campaign finance system, but also sends the message that Members of Congress are not willing to fully disclose their political fundraising and spending. Disclosure of the officeholders and candidates affiliated with leadership PACs will enhance the public's ability to determine the receipts and disbursements made to and by a particular candidate, officeholder, or political committee. Without this change in current law, leadership PACs will continue to operate with little or no oversight.

To cosponsor H.R. 347, please contact the office of Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-NC).

Thank you for your consideration of this issue.

Sincerely,

Meredith McGehee

Policy Director