On the recordMarch 6, 2019
As you know from the discussion today, we obviously feel very strongly that there needs to be as much disclosure as possible and transparency and accountability when it comes to how money flows into the political arena. I think the public has a particular apprehension about how insidious spending can be when it has to do with government contractors. The public deserves to know who is spending in their politics and, particularly, if contractors--who are the ones who are going to get these government contracts--are spending in a way that could potentially influence the contracting decisions. In a sense, what is happening is people are leaning on the government potentially using money and influence in a way that cuts against what the public interests might be. That is why prohibiting the executive branch from even considering-- that is what this rider does. It actually prohibits the executive branch from even sitting down and considering whether there should be certain rules that should govern what happens in the contractor space in terms of political spending. That doesn't make any sense. That doesn't make common sense that the executive branch ought to be able to figure out some rules so that that transparency is in place. That is why we want to repeal it. That is why we have that in H.R. 1. I oppose this amendment that would strike the repeal.
