FEC Must Not Undercut Donor Disclosure Requirements
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is set to take up a proposal to scale back disclosure requirements, offering exemptions to donors who say they fear intimidation. In response, transparency advocacy organizations Public Citizen and Transparency International U.S. filed a letter of comment to the commission, vigorously opposing the proposal, saying it undermines the FEC’s core mission of transparency and accountability in federal elections.
The letter says the proposed regulation is a solution “in search of a problem that does not exist, and would have the consequence of setting back the Federal Election Campaign Act’s – and the Commission’s – primary mission: enhanced donor disclosure of money in politics.” A petition circulated by Public Citizen opposing the proposal also garnered 4,000+ signatures in 24 hours.
“This incomprehensible proposal would set back the nation’s hard-fought campaign finance disclosure system.,” said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, adding: there is simply no justification for obstructing voters’ right to know who is financing and influencing their federal elections.”
“It is unthinkable that the world’s oldest democracy, a mere month after the most expensive elections in world history, would even entertain the idea of further weakening the American people’s right to know who is influencing their elections,” said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International U.S. “The United States must continue to lead the global fight for democracy, and the FEC’s rejection of this wrongheaded proposal will help ensure it can do so with credibility.”
Read the full complaint letter here.