Disclose Act wins backing from key watchdog group

A bipartisan piece of campaign finance legislation won support from a key good-government watchdog on Thursday.

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to express support for the Disclose Act, a piece of legislation being pushed by Democrats to mitigate the effects of a Supreme Court decision freeing up corporate and labor spending on elections.

"CREW believes it imperative that the Congress pass legislation as soon as possible to respond to the Supreme Court’s misguided decision in Citizens United," wrote Melanie Sloan, the group's executive director, in a letter to Pelosi. "Although CREW strongly preferred the earlier version of the bill, we are cognizant that both progress and politics frequently require compromise."

The letter adds key support to the Disclose Act, which Democrats are hoping to move through Congress as quickly as possible. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said when the bill was introduced that Democrats hoped to move it through the Senate by the Fourth of July.

But while the bill has some bipartisan support, it's been met by opposition from most Republicans — notably Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — who view it as an encroachment on free-speech rights.

Still, Democrats have boasted a growing list of good-government groups to come out in support of the legislation, even after House Democrats made a controversial concession to the National Rifle Association (NRA) by exempting the gun-rights group from certain disclosure requirements.

Some 45 liberal groups, some state affiliates of the same organizations, did come out in opposition to the Disclose Act on Wednesday, however, until the NRA carve-out is removed.