Tester wants names of major campaign donors made public

Sen. Jon Tester introduced legislation on Nov. 18 aimed at revealing the names of major donors who fund secret organizations that try to influence American voters.

Tester’s bill would make public the form that lists donors to independent political organizations that claim tax-exempt status and which engage in electioneering.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United allowed these groups to raise and spend tens of millions of dollars without voters knowing who was providing the money.

Under Tester’s bill, the names of public donors who give more than $5,000 to tax-exempt groups that engage in election activities would be made public.

“We need to get big money out of elections, but until we do, the American people deserve to know who is paying for the ads on their TVs,” Tester said. “When a candidate runs an ad, folks know who donated to their campaigns. Voters deserve to know who is behind these outside groups, too. Transparency is not a political issue. My bill will make our elections more transparent and empower all Americans.”

Tester also expressed concern about some nonprofit groups that claim to be tax-exempt social welfare organizations but spend significant time conducting political activity. His bill will require the IRS to put 990 financial information forms for nonprofits online in a searchable format. Accessing this information now is expensive and time-consuming for journalists and the public, he said.

The Center for Responsive Politics reports that the 2014 midterm elections were the most expensive midterm elections in history and included the first Senate race to top $100 million in total spending. Spending by groups that do not disclose all of their donors jumped from $161 million to at least $219 million.

Tester’s proposed Constitutional Amendment to give Congress and states the authority to regulate elections failed to overcome a Senate filibuster in September.

Tester also is promoting an amendment that says “corporations are not people,” and he recently launched a social media campaign to build support called #CorpsArentPeople.