On the recordSeptember 22, 2022
I am now going to turn to the next item on my agenda before we all adjourn, and that is a speech in support of the DISCLOSE Act and the need to take action to get secret money out of our elections. I want to thank Senator Whitehouse for his leadership on this legislation and testimony at the Committee on Rules and Administration hearing I held on it this summer. Senator Whitehouse has championed this bill since 2012, and I have been proud to support it alongside him in every Congress. I also want to thank Leader Schumer for holding a vote to advance this bill today. While the vote was ultimately unsuccessful, it is important that the people of this country understand that Senate Democrats--and only Senate Democrats, it appears--remain committed to addressing secret money in our election. This vote could not have come at a more important time, as we are seeing an unprecedented flood of money into our elections. Over $14 billion was spent during the 2020 election, the most expensive in our country's history. As we approach the general election in November with 48 days left, this is already--and we still have 48 days left--the most expensive midterm election ever. One estimate expects that nearly $10 billion will be spent just on political advertising this election cycle, more than double the $4 billion in the 2018 midterm elections. As spending on elections increases, the sources of the spending are less accountable than ever before.…
