bobbyw24
06-24-2010, 04:28 AM
By Russell Berman - 06/23/10 07:50 PM ET
House Democrats moved closer to a Thursday vote on their signature campaign finance bill despite ongoing concerns from liberal members of their caucus.
Democratic leaders were whipping votes throughout Wednesday and proclaimed the Disclose Act “on track” for passage Thursday. The House Rules Committee was meeting Wednesday to finalize floor guidelines for the bill.
The legislation tightens disclosure requirements for corporations and unions in response to a January Supreme Court decision that overturned limits on their political campaign spending.
House liberals revolted last week after an exemption was tailored for the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Authors of the legislation later widened the provision to exempt other groups, but the change did not satisfy all members’ concerns.
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who led efforts to amend the NRA exemption, took to the floor Wednesday morning to protest the final version of the bill.
“As an early co-sponsor of Disclose, I am dismayed that we’ve fallen prey to bullying and threats from one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the country,” Edwards said. “Carving out an exception on behalf of one big group like this is just not the way to do reform. Shame on us.”
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also said Wednesday he was leaning against voting for the Disclose Act. “I continue to lean no, but it’s a very difficult vote, because I realize what’s at stake,” Grijalva told The Hill.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/105183-dems-move-closer-to-thursday-vote-on-disclose-act
House Democrats moved closer to a Thursday vote on their signature campaign finance bill despite ongoing concerns from liberal members of their caucus.
Democratic leaders were whipping votes throughout Wednesday and proclaimed the Disclose Act “on track” for passage Thursday. The House Rules Committee was meeting Wednesday to finalize floor guidelines for the bill.
The legislation tightens disclosure requirements for corporations and unions in response to a January Supreme Court decision that overturned limits on their political campaign spending.
House liberals revolted last week after an exemption was tailored for the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Authors of the legislation later widened the provision to exempt other groups, but the change did not satisfy all members’ concerns.
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who led efforts to amend the NRA exemption, took to the floor Wednesday morning to protest the final version of the bill.
“As an early co-sponsor of Disclose, I am dismayed that we’ve fallen prey to bullying and threats from one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the country,” Edwards said. “Carving out an exception on behalf of one big group like this is just not the way to do reform. Shame on us.”
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also said Wednesday he was leaning against voting for the Disclose Act. “I continue to lean no, but it’s a very difficult vote, because I realize what’s at stake,” Grijalva told The Hill.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/105183-dems-move-closer-to-thursday-vote-on-disclose-act