Litigation

Corporate Disclosure Bill Defeated in NH House

By Peter Hardin

The New Hampshire House has defeated a Senate-passed bill to require corporations to disclose their spending to support or oppose political candidates.

In response to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in January, a number of states have enacted new disclosure laws to help citizens follow the money spent by corporations for political purposes.

But a similar measure was defeated in the New Hampshire House on a bipartisan vote of 184-135, the Associated Press reported.

Democratic Rep. David Pierce argued that corporations “have the right to say whatever they want,” and voters “have the right to know who’s saying it.”

But critics argued that free-speech rights would be infringed and that measure’s constitutionality was questionable.

Under the bill, corporations would have been required to file with the state if they spent large sums to influence elections.

In Citizens United, the Supreme Court struck down prohibitions on corporate spending for elections and opened the door to unlimited election spending by special interests. By an 8-1 vote, the court also ruled that all groups that spend to influence elections can be forced to disclose their financial sources.

You can read Justice at Stake said about the ruling by clicking here, or click here to see the JAS amicus brief in the case; you can visit Gavel Grab to learn how legislators and other executive branch officials have responded.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 04, 2010 (boomark / email).