WASHINGTON — Democrats plan a showdown in the Senate this week on a new campaign-disclosure bill, hoping to win Republican support with legislation that eliminates some exemptions for unions.
Sen. Charles Schumer, DN.Y., filed a proposal in the Senate last week that would impose new donor and contribution disclosure requirements on nearly all organizations airing political ads independently of candidates or the parties.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has scheduled a vote to begin debate on the bill for Tuesday. It requires 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to succeed.
The bill is a response to a Supreme Court ruling in January that permits corporationsand unions to spend their own funds on television commercials, mass mailings to the general public and other political activity that advocates for the election or defeat of candidates.
Schumer’s version revises a House bill passed last month by removing a carve-out for transfers between a national organization and its state affiliates and between separate organizations, provisions aimed at helping unions.
The Senate proposal, however, preserves a contentious House exemption for large organizations such as the National Rifle Association and the AARP. It also adds a requirement that campaign money disclosures by Senate candidates be filed electronically, as they are by House and presidential candidates.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 07/25/2010