Greg Ganske: “I rise in support of truth in advertising, in support of Shays-Meehan and in opposition to this amendment in the nature…”

“I rise in support of truth in advertising, in support of Shays-Meehan and in opposition to this amendment in the nature of a substitute. This substitute does not address a fundamental problem, and that is sham issue ads. The Hutchinson substitute requires disclosure of expenditures that exceed $25,000 per candidate or $100,000 per multiple candidates. The Shays-Meehan bill strengthens the definition of express advocacy to include any communication that contains unambiguous and unmistakable support for or opposition to a clearly identified Federal candidate and requires disclosure of the expenditure that exceeds $1,000 within 20 days of election or those aggregating $10,000 at any time leading up to 20 days before the election. I fully support organizations to make their positions known and to report on the voting record of elected officials, but I do not support organizations that hide behind this right to advocate the election or defeat of particular candidates. Shays-Meehan does not take away the rights of organizations to express their views. It does require them, when advocating the election or defeat of a specific candidate, to play by the same rules as official campaigns.”