During the 110th Congress OMB Watch was a part of a campaign, pass S. 223. The Campaign Disclosure Parity Act would simply require senators to file their campaign finance reports electronically. And now ten groups have joined in the same effort which has become pass S. 482, where everyone can help us to get the bill passed. There is a list of all senators and information regarding whether they support the measure. You can find instructions on how to call your senators and instructions on how to report back on how they stand on the issue. Unfortunately, the same amendment that prevented the bill from passing last time is likely to be introduced again by Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS). The amendment would force nonprofit organizations to disclose the names of anyone who gives $5,000 or more to the organization any time the group files a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee.

Help us stop this effort! Urge your senators to support S.482 and to oppose the potential poison pill amendment.

In regards to the amendment, a New York Times editorial recalls, "the last time the electronic filing measure came up, Republicans [. . . ] pushed a poison pill amendment requiring that any good government group that dares to file complaints about members with the Senate Ethics Committee disclose its donors to the Senate. These groups are already required to file that information with the I.R.S., but not to any other agency under protections dating back to the civil rights era when segregationist lawmakers tried to obtain the N.A.A.C.P.’s membership lists. It's time for the Senate to get past such pettiness. Hit the enter key; step into the sunshine."

The Sunlight Foundation has also started a twitter campaign, where they will send messages to the 17 senators currently on Twitter to try and get their support for the bill or thank them for cosponsoring. Two new co-sponsors have been added to the bill, which Sunlight attributes to the twitter efforts since both Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Clair McCaskill (D-MS) announced their support over twitter.

Openthegovernment.org has an action alert here. Or visit the Pass 482 site and make sure your Senator supports the bill!