If CA-SB 52, the California Disclose Act passes, the momentum towards overturning Citizens United through a constitutional amendment will increase. And as Joan McCarter says; California could lead the fight against Citizens United.
SB 52 is simple, all it asks is for transparency on political advertising funding. This from the California Clean Money Campaign;
California DISCLOSE Act Provisions
. Requires the three largest funders of political ads to be clearly identified for five seconds at the beginning of the ads, so voters know who is actually paying for them.
. Applies to all television ads, radio ads, print ads, mass mailers, online ads, billboards, and websites for or against state and local ballot measures, to third party ads for and against state and local candidates, and to issue advocacy advertisements. It applies whether ads are paid for by corporations, unions, or millionaires.
. Tells voters where to find the details — Requires ads to list a website that prominently lists the ten largest funders and a link to all funders of $10,000 or more (for state races).
. Proposed Follow-the-Money Disclosure will require organizations that spend or transfer politically-available funds to report the actual original corporate, union, or individual contributors — not misleading committee and non-profit names.
A no brainer IMO.
This is one of the three specific things the March for Democracy was about. We do what we can so we also did some freeway blogging to encourage Assemblyman Gatto to help get it on the floor with some unexpected results.
So who opposes this and is working behind the scenes in Sacramento to get a NO vote? After all we have a Democratic majority in this blue state, don't we?
Mercury News editorial: Truth in campaign advertising should be the law
Powerful opponents empowered by Citizens United to wield unlimited financial influence would prefer to do it anonymously, and they are besieging their bought-and-paid-for pawns in the Assembly.
No, it's not the Koch Brothers. It's not Chevron or the NRA. Here's a hint: this is a Democratic Assembly.
That's right. It's unions. Specifically the Service Employees International Union and the California Teachers Association -- which happen to be among the largest campaign spenders in the state, according to Maplight, the nonpartisan research group that tracks money in politics.
Say what? SEIU and the teachers? Yes. Ouch! I am all for unions but when they are wrong they are wrong. I am having a hard time finding unions supporting SB 52 and for that matter opposing Citizens United (all I found was conservative websites highlighting how unions benefit from Citizens United). Unions need to understand that they'll never be able to compete dollar for dollar with the
Koch types. If they want to grow and be relevant they need to join the
Money out of Politics movement.
California Kossacks understand the importance of this vote and many can reach out to SEIU and California Teachers. This is a good time to do so.
Certainly calling your Assemblyperson can help.
We are in a pivotal moment. If SB 52 fails, two weeks after Proposition 49 was scuttled by the California Supreme Court, politics as usual will be our punishment.