DISCLOSE Act May Move to House Floor by Friday

After the House Administration Committee marked up the DISCLOSE Act last week, the House Rules committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow (May 27) to report a rule that would send the bill to the floor. H.R. 5175 may be slated for floor action on Friday, May 28, just before the congressional recess begins.

Nevertheless, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce promises to work to prevent the bill from passing and predicts it will not move in the Senate. During a press briefing, Bruce Josten the Chamber of Commerce executive vice president for government affairs said, "It is a job-protection bill for incumbent lawmakers in Washington."

Josten denounced the DISCLOSE Act as politically motivated and indicated that it could hinder the Chamber's plans to sponsor political ads in the upcoming congressional elections. He also suggested that the group may challenge the bill in court if it is enacted. Josten was joined by the group's attorney Eugene Scalia of the firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. Scalia, the son of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, said that bill will chill free speech.

The Chamber also continues to argue that the DISCLOSE Act favors unions. The Hill quotes Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) spokesman Doug Thornell defending the bill. "The Disclose Act treats labor unions and corporations the same, plain and simple. The ban on political expenditures by federal contractors, for example, includes any entity that has a contract with the federal government, whether it is a corporation or a labor union."

back to Blog