and America takes another one in the........
rlmorel
Posted on 06/21/2010 1:12:21 PM PDT by Qbert
Washington is shocked top Democrats gave the National Rifle Association – one of the most powerful lobbies in town – its own loophole in legislation designed to increase disclosure requirements on campaign spending following the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
The untold story is that Democrats assuaged organized labor’s early opposition to the bill by tailoring its provisions to eke out space for unions.
For example, restrictions on companies that received government bailouts during the financial crisis apply to businesses, but not unions: Under the DISCLOSE Act, General Motors can’t tell you who to vote for, but the United Auto Workers union can.
And consider the bill’s laborious record-keeping rules for certain types of donations. Corporations, unions, non-profits and 527 groups will, for the first time, be required to report donors who give more than $600 if they engage in “express” advocacy — urging voters to support one candidate or another by name.
Conveniently, as Republican staff on the House Administration Committee point out, average union dues in 2004 were $377 – below the $600 threshold. Since unions get the vast majority of their funds from member dues, “the new threshold for reporting is likely to have little effect on unions … but a huge effect on associations and advocacy groups,” a GOP summary of the bill says.
Government contractors with contracts of more than $7 million are not permitted to engage in express advocacy. Unions that receive their dues from the taxpayer-funded salaries of public sector employees face no such restriction. Neither do recipients of grants.
The bill includes strict rules on foreign-owned businesses engaging in express advocacy. The rules are so strict, critics fear, they will ensnare American companies with American employees and revenue. For instance, if a foreign entity owns, directly or indirectly, 20 percent or more of a company’s shares, that company isn’t allowed to urge citizens to vote for candidates, even if it’s based in the U.S.
No such restrictions are placed on unions. Under the bill, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions could have a heavily-regulated field day if they really wanted to.
Neither Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, nor House Administration Committee Chairman Robert Brady, Pennsylvania Democrat, responded immediately for comment. Van Hollen, the key architect of the bill, said June 15, “Our key objective in responding to the Supreme Court’s radical ruling in Citizens United has been to increase transparency and disclosure, and the final bill achieves that goal.”
Interestingly for a transparency bill, the process of writing it was kept secret, even from key Democrats.
Insiders say the bill was primarily driven by the White House, with Van Hollen and Sen. Charles Schumer, the New York Democrat, spearheading the effort on Capitol Hill. In private conversations, House Administration Committee Chairman Brady revealed that even he was being kept in the dark as the White House, Van Hollen and Schumer crafted the bill. One thing Brady did know was that organized labor was part of the talks, which he repeatedly mentioned in hearings about the bill.
In Van Hollen’s defense, the DISCLOSE Act does apply some of its requirements evenly. Top union officials must certify, as must corporate executives, that express advocacy spending is not coordinated with political parties or candidates and is otherwise kosher.
Hmmmm, what does the NRA have that needs to be hidden?
Their membership list.
Years ago, one of the left/anti-gun groups tried to get it, but the NRA won and it remained “secret” (for now).
The new tactic of the left is to attack the supporters of the right. It was ugly when they went after the supporters of traditional marriage in California. You are a restuarant owner or manager who supported the traditional marriage proposition effort with a donation... pickets at your front door. A art museum director who is a closet conservative... forced to resign.
and America takes another one in the........rlmorel
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