House Passes DISCLOSE Act by 219-206 As Transparency Battle Shifts to Senate

The House June 24 passed a bill (H.R. 5175) that would respond to a major campaign finance court ruling by beefing up disclosure provisions for campaign spending and restricting campaign money from government contractors and foreign-controlled companies.

The 219-206 vote, largely along party lines, followed weeks of heated discussion and failed efforts to secure enough votes to bring the measure to the floor.

Democratic leaders touted the legislation as a major victory for transparency, while Republicans called it an assault on the First Amendment.

“You vote no on this,” the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D-Md.), said during ...