Senate Democrats drop bill to toughen political ad disclosures

A group of six Democratic Senators led by Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL), introduced a bill to make super PAC spending more transparent by compelling the disclosure of the major donors behind radio and TV ads. The bill, the Sunshine in Sponsorship Identification Act, would direct the Federal Communications Commission to update its sponsorship identification rules. As part of the FCC’s deliberations, the bill recommends the FCC consider placing detailed sponsorship online or in “another form more readily accessible to the public.”

A similar bill was introduced in the House by Rep John Yarmuth (D-KY) and is backed by 16 other Reps including including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA). The bill carries the politically-charged name, The Keeping Our Campaigns Honest Act (as in KOCH brothers, Act). Although both bills are going nowhere in the GOP-controlled Congress, Democrats hope that the political ad disclosure bills could spark the FCC to update its rules without Congressional action. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is unlikely to act on his own. In a House communications and technology subcommittee hearing, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told Democratic members that he would update the rules if Congress passed a bill. Other co-sponsors of the Senate bill include Sens Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Gary Peters (D-MI).