“Enough Is Enough.” DISCLOSE Dark Money And Clean Up American Elections
We Need the DISCLOSE Act to “Shine A Bright Light of Transparency” on American Elections
QUICK READ: We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on federal politics and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of American elections.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI-01), and 163 additional colleagues from both houses of Congress to support the 2023 DISCLOSE Act. This legislation addresses the profoundly destructive influence of dark money upon U.S. elections.
The dark money problem has become ever more serious since the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision that allowed ultra-rich ideologues, corporations, and even foreign interests to undermine fair elections and democracy. These groups have spent nearly $3 billion on federal elections since the SCOTUS decision. Nearly one in three dollars of outside spending recorded by the Federal Election Commission since 2010 comes from dark-money groups.
According to Senator Wyden, “Oregonians and people nationwide are rightfully disgusted by the preposterous amounts of dark money billionaires flood into our elections.”
The DISCLOSE Act would require organizations including super PAC’s and 501(c)(4) dark-money groups to disclose donors spending over $10,000 in an election cycle. It would also address shell corporations used to hide donor identities and impose a “stand by your ad” requirement to disclose the top five funders of any political ad.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need Congress to pass the 2023 DISCLOSE Act to address the destructive influence of dark money on U.S. elections and prevent billionaires, corporations, and foreign interests from secretly buying the outcomes of our elections.