WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have blocked Democratic-backed legislation requiring organizations pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into campaign ads to disclose their top donors and the amounts they spend.
Republicans united in preventing Democrats from getting the 60 votes needed to bring what is known as the Disclose Act to the Senate floor. The vote was 51-44.
Democrats revived the act during a presidential election campaign in which political action groups and nonprofit organizations, funded by deep-pocketed contributors, are dominating the airwaves with political ads. It would not have affected this year's election.
Another version of the Disclose Act passed the then-Democratic-controlled House in 2010 but was similarly blocked by Republicans in the Senate. Republicans cite First Amendment rights and say the bill favors unions in opposing the legislation.
