Representative shines spotlight on ‘dark money’

A Tulsa lawmaker on Friday asked the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to require those sponsoring advertising designed to influence official action to disclose their involvement.

Although the fivemember panel took no official action on the request from Rep. Meloyde Blancett, members did indicate a willingness to address it in a rule requiring disclosure.

Blancett said lack of disclosure is a serious issue across the country. “Cloak and dagger” organizations, she said, funnel millions of dollars into advertising aimed at influencing policy without disclosing the voice behind them, making it difficult for average citizens to know whose voices they are hearing.

Blancett said it is a significant and disturbing use of “dark money” to influence policy.

“Things are set up with the objective of completely cloaking who is behind the campaign,” she said.

Commissioner Karen Long said the commission has a good understanding of the issue but that she doesn’t think many people have paid much attention to the problem.

“It is a problem I am certainly ready to tackle,” Long said.

Commissioner Charlie Laster asked Blancett what she thought the panel could do on the matter, and Blancett said she originally considered writing legislation to address it.

She said her goal in approaching the Ethics Commission was to make the people behind the advertisements more transparent and mandate immediate and full disclosure.

Oklahoma Ethics Commission Executive Director Ashley Kemp said it is an issue the agency can address, but she noted that the commission can regulate disclosure but not expenditure amounts. The commission would need to be careful in how the wording is crafted, she said.