Pappas Helps Introduce Freedom to Vote Act, Legislation Includes Pappas Provisions to Increase Transparency

This week, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped reintroduce the Freedom to Vote Act, which includes key democracy reforms led by Pappas in the DISCLOSE Act. The DISCLOSE Act would end the scourge of dark money in politics, bring greater transparency to our elections, and hold our government more accountable to the will of voters. Introduced by former Representative Cicilline earlier this Congress, Pappas now leads these provisions in the House. 

“Washington Republicans continue to look for ways to allow even more dark money into our elections, but we can put an end to big money politics by passing the Freedom to Vote Act. This legislation would limit the influence of dark money and corporate special interests and protect Granite Staters’ freedom to vote,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m especially proud that it includes provisions I’m fighting for from the DISCLOSE Act that require dark money groups to disclose who their donors are and stop billionaires and corporations from secretly buying our elections. We must put the power of our democracy back in the hands of the people, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this common-sense legislation.”

The DISCLOSE Act:

In the 13 years since Citizens United, spending by corporations, ultra-rich ideologues, and secretive front groups has exploded. Many of those groups are not required to disclose their donors, allowing wealthy corporations and individuals to spend unlimited, undisclosed – or “dark” – money without being tied to the television attack ads and other electioneering activity the groups carry out. Even foreign enemies can try to corrupt American democracy through dark money channels. 

Dark money in particular has skyrocketed, with dark money groups pouring over $2.6 billion into federal elections since 2010. At least $3 out of every $10 in outside spending reported to the Federal Election Commission since Citizens United can be traced to dark money groups. 

The DISCLOSE Act requires organizations spending money in elections – including super PACs and 501(c)(4) dark money groups – to promptly disclose donors who have given $10,000 or more during an election cycle. In addition to election disclosure requirements, the bill requires groups that spend money on ads supporting or opposing judicial nominees to disclose their donors.

The DISCLOSE Act also contains a number of other important safeguards against special interest influence. The bill includes measures to prevent foreign governments and their agents from interfering in U.S. elections, including in state and local ballot measures. It includes provisions to crack down on the use of shell corporations to hide the donor's identities by requiring companies spending money in elections to disclose their true owners. It also contains a “stand by your ad” provision requiring organizations to identify those behind political ads – including disclosing an organization’s top five funders at the end of television ads.