With record big, secret money spending in this election, the most expensive midterm ever is a good lead-in to some reform. A record $193 million was spent by outside interest groups, most of secret money. That sets the stage for a comeback of the DISCLOSE Act in the lame duck, if Senate leadership will push it. There's a hint that they might, with newly elected Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) sounding like he'd support it. (Note, because this was a special election to fill President Obama's old seat, Kirk will finish out the remainder of the term.)
Sen.-elect Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) could buck his Republican leadership in his first two weeks on the job and vote in favor of a campaign-finance transparency bill that the GOP’s top brass ardently oppose.
...
Kirk takes his seat later this month after his win in the special election to replace appointed Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), who filled President Obama's former Senate seat. When asked whether Kirk plans to vote in favor of the Disclose bill, spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski pointed to comments her boss made in his last campaign debate.
“I broke with my party early. I think we should continue with further reforms,” Kirk said. “Federal candidates should disclose all of their campaign contributions within 24 hours on the Internet. I hope we can get that done in the next Senate and Congress. Also, for all of these outside groups we don’t want to silence any political voice ... we should have them disclose all of their donors, both from the left and the right.”
....
Kirk could have more support in a Senate lame-duck from other Republicans fed up with the aggressive, undisclosed outside spending that took place in their own campaigns. After losing the GOP primary to Tea Party-backed Jeff Miller, Murkowski launched a write-in candidacy to retain her seat. But she was pummeled early on by spending from independent outside groups, most notably the Tea Party Express and the Senate Conservatives Fund backed by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
That's speculation about Murkowski--there's no direct indication from her that she'd support it. However, given that the GOP and the NRSC is prepared to fight for Joe Miller during the upcoming write-in ballot counting. She might just be in the mood to buck her party leadership.