Christopher Shays: “Under Meehan-Shays, we require disclosure by both unions and corporations. Current law requires only a very narrow…”

“Under Meehan-Shays, we require disclosure by both unions and corporations. Current law requires only a very narrow disclosure by unions and corporations of money spent on internal or in-kind activities. Under current law, unions do not have to disclose money spent on voter registration drives or get-out-the-vote drives aimed at their members, nor do corporations. Under our bill, they would. Under current law, unions and corporations do not have to disclose money spent on setting up or administering their PACs. Under our bill, they would. Under current law, unions and corporations do not have to disclose money spent on a communication to their members urging the election or defeat of a candidate. So, for instance, if a union has a two-page ad urging a vote for a candidate in a 16-page newsletter, it would not have to be disclosed. Under our bill, any communication to members for the purpose of influencing an election would have to be disclosed. Our bill significantly expands the disclosure requirements on unions and corporations by their internal activities. Further, disclosure under current law is on a quarterly basis; under our bill, it is on a monthly basis, and within 24 hours in the last 20 days of the election on the Internet.”