Today, the Senate GOP succeeded for the second time in filibustering the DISCLOSE Act, a measure that would ensure the disclosure of corporate political spending in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC.

Michael B. Keegan, President of People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

“When the Supreme Court opened up our elections to a corporate spending free-for-all, even the majority of Justices agreed that such spending should be promptly and thoroughly disclosed to the public. Instead, what we have experienced this year has been the worst of both worlds—unlimited corporate spending on elections without any means of holding corporations accountable for their political activities.

“The Senate Republicans’ united refusal to support—or even permit a vote on— the most basic measure to bring corporate political spending into the sunlight shows just how powerful that spending has become. While the DISCLOSE Act would have been an important way to empower voters with information, today’s vote just confirms that we ultimately need to fix the root problem of unlimited corporate spending in elections. Majorities of voters in both parties support a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United. It’s time to pass an amendment and put elections back in the hands of voters.”

Over 60 congressional candidates have pledged to work toward a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United, signing People For the American Way and Public Citizen’s Pledge to Protect America’s Democracy. To learn more about the pledge, and to see who’s signed, visit www.pledgefordemocracy.org.

###