We’re struggling to make the connection: Passage of the DISCLOSE Act will create jobs, how exactly?

From Hotline on Call, “DISCLOSE Act Will Get Second Look”:

Senate Dems plan to bring up a campaign finance measure once again, according to the bill’s supporters who hope to win cloture by wooing key GOP senators.

The DISCLOSE Act, which could not clear Senate hurdles when it came up just before the Aug. recess, will head back to the floor for a vote when the Senate returns next month, according to spokespeople for Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the bill’s lead sponsor.

The DISCLOSE Act is to free speech as the Employee Free Choice Act is to freedom of association.

That is, antithetical.

On July 27, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on S.3628, the DISCLOSE Act, by a vote of 57-41. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid voted no in order to retain his parliamentary ability to bring the measure back up.

To again quote from the National Association of Manufacturers’ “Key Vote” letter in opposition to the bill:

Put simply, this bill threatens First Amendment freedoms and is a direct assault on the U.S. Constitution. Its purpose is to hinder the ability of organizations, including associations such as the NAM, to give a voice to their members’ views and priorities. The U.S. Supreme Court repeatedly has recognized that voluntary associations are key participants in the public debate, and that government’s attempts to curb participation in associations in order to stifle their voice in the public debate violate the First Amendment. There need be no further discussion on whether First Amendment freedoms should apply to some and not to others.

(Hat tip: Center for Competitive Politics, which posts, “DISCLOSE back from the dead?”

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jan. 21 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, members of Congress have introduced the following bills and one constitutional amendment. Some are targeted at campaign contributions by foreign corporations, which were not affected by the Supreme Court’s decision, contrary to President Obama’s assertion in the State of the Union. See Hans von Spakovsky, Heritage Foundation, “The Truth About President Obama and Citizens United.”

• H.J.RES.68 : Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibiting corporations and labor organizations from using operating funds for advertisements in connection with any campaign for election for Federal office.
  Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 1/21/2010)
• H.R.4510 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to apply the ban on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to domestic corporations in which foreign principals have an ownership interest.
  Sponsor: Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] (introduced 1/26/2010)  
• H.R.4511 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit corporations which employ or retain registered lobbyists from making expenditures or disbursements for electioneering communications under such Act, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] (introduced 1/26/2010)
• H.R.4517: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to apply the ban on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to domestic corporations which are owned or controlled by foreign principals, to increase the civil penalties applicable to foreign nationals who violate the ban, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 1/26/2010)    
• H.R.4522 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to apply the ban on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to domestic corporations which are owned or controlled by foreign principals.
  Sponsor: Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] (introduced 1/26/2010)      
• H.R.4523 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to apply the ban on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to domestic corporations whose shareholders include any foreign principals.
  Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 1/26/2010)
• H.R.4527 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require certain campaign-related communications paid for by a corporation or labor organization to include a statement identifying the chief executive officer of the corporation or the president of the labor organization, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 1/27/2010)     
• H.R.4540 : To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend the ban on election activity by foreign nationals to election activity by domestic corporations which are subsidiaries of foreign principals.
  Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 1/27/2010)  
• S.2954 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to apply the ban on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to domestic corporation which are owned or controlled by foreign principals.
  Sponsor: Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] (introduced 1/26/2010) 
• S.2959 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to protect Federal, State, and local elections from the influence of foreign nationals.
  Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (introduced 1/27/2010)