Shine the light

Over the last few years, the Supreme Court has repeatedly undermined even the most reasonable attempts to limit the corrupting influence of money in politics. In desperation, Democrats L.A. Times in Congress have tried at least to open the shadowy campaign finance process to public view. Yet even that has failed so far.

Twice, they have sought to pass the Disclose Act, whichwould shine a welcome beam of light into the realm of “dark money” that governs American political campaigns. A third iteration of the bill, recently introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., would require unions, corporations, super PACs and any other organizations that spend $10,000 or more on a “campaign-related disbursement” to file a report with the Federal Election Commission within 24 hours, detailing each expenditure over $1,000 as well as the names of all of the organization’s donors who gave $10,000 or more.…

Voters deserve to know who is trying to influence their votes.… In 2008, in the last presidential election cycle before the Supreme Court’s troubling Citizens United decision, independent spending from undisclosed sources was $69 million … In the 2012 cycle, that figure exceeded $310 million.…

In 2003, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told NPR’s “Talk of the Nation”: “Money is essential in politics, and not something that we should feel squeamish about, provided the donations are limited and disclosed, everyone knows who’s supporting everyone else.” He and his party should stand by those words today.