Litigation

Report: Better Disclosure Laws Urgently Needed

By Peter Hardin

There is an “urgent need for states to improve their disclosure laws” in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United campaign finance ruling last year, concludes a new report by the Brennan Center for Justice.

The report, entitled “Transparent Elections after Citizens United,” was written by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, counsel for the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center.

The report examines the impact of Citizens United for state-based laws, and it says  recent Supreme Court decisions reaffirm the constitutionality of disclosure.

Among policy suggestions for states, the report urges states to consider whether existing laws capture the increasing use of non-profits to veil political spending; and urges consideration changes to encourage accountability for corporate political spending.

The report also urges state laws to capture the funders of independent expenditures, and disclosure for electioneering communications.

The Brennan Center is a partner of Justice at Stake.

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 24, 2011 (boomark / email).