DISCLOSE Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3369
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Business records
Congressional elections
Corporate finance and management
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Labor-management relations
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-10
text: 
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2012 or DISCLOSE Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidate's character, qualifications, or fitness for office.
 
Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
 
Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA (but only with respect to such accounts).
 
Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-24
text: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Hearings held.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S5072)
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 45. Record Vote Number: 180.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Motion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 179) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5071-5072; text: CR S5071)
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 179) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S5051-5052, S5057-5064, S5065-5066, S5066-5071, S5071-5072)
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Motion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 179) entered in Senate. (consideration: CR S5008; text: CR S5008)
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 179.
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4985, S4985-4988, S4988-4991, S4993-4994, S4995-4998, S4999-5003, S5007-5008, S5010-5023, S5025-5044)
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4942-4943; text: CR S4942)
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S4938-4943)
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4919-4932)
action_date: 2012-07-11
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 446.
action_date: 2012-07-10
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate