Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Senator Whitehouse re-introduced the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act. The DISCLOSE Act of 2023 would strengthen our democracy by shining a brighter light on outside groups that spend money to influence legislation, elections, and judicial nominations, by requiring them to disclose the names of polluters and wealthy donors who contribute more than $10,000.
Since the disastrous 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, dark-money expenditures increased from less than $5 million in 2006 to more than $300 million in the 2012 election cycle and topped $1 billion in 2020. Dark Money has had a direct impact on our ability to achieve our environmental priorities. Recent reporting in the Washington Post shined a light on how conservative dark money groups in Ohio led the effort to falsely redefine fracked gas as “Green Energy”. Additionally, the Heritage Foundation spent over $5 million on lobbying efforts to block passage of common sense democracy and voting reforms in the Freedom to Vote Act.
A robust Senate floor debate and vote on the DISCLOSE Act was filibustered by Senate Republicans last fall.
In response, Sierra Club Democracy Program Director Courtney Hight issued the following statement:
“The Sierra Club thanks Senator Whitehouse for re-introducing this critical legislation and continuing to work to put an end to dark money in politics. Every person in this country -- no matter their skin color, their income, their zip code, or their political affiliation -- has the right to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and be free to exercise their democratic rights to make their voice heard. The voices of the American public must no longer be drowned out by the tidal wave of dark money spent each election cycle by corporate polluters and the fossil fuel industry seeking to block our ability to tackle the climate crises.
“The Sierra Club calls on the Senate to swiftly pass the DISCLOSE Act of 2023 and for the House to do the same.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.