See Confusing Political Ads – time for “California DISCLOSE Act” SB 52 for background information.

The following is a message from “California Clean Money Campaign”

The second victory on the road to transparent elections happened on Thursday, as the Senate Appropriations Committee passed SB 52, the California DISCLOSE Act, on a vote of 5-2.

SB 52, authored by Senators Mark Leno and Jerry Hill, and sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign, will end big secret spending in California campaigns by requiring political ads to clearly show their top three funders — right on the ads themselves.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) are to be thanked for their leadership in voting Yes and making sure SB 52 passed out of the committee.  Senators Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach), Alex Padilla (D-Van Nuys), and joint author Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) also voted Yes.

Senators Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) and Ted Gaines (R-Redding) voted No on SB 52.  They voted against the wishes of the 84% of Californians who want more information about who funds ballot measures, according to multiple polls.  Their No votes show that we have to fight as hard as possible to pass SB 52, since it needs a 2/3 vote to pass.

Co-Authors of SB 52

Author
Senator Mark Leno
Senator Jerry Hill

Principal Co-Authors
Senator Lou Correa
Senator Mark DeSaulnier
Assemblymember Paul Fong

Co-Authors
Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett
Senator Jim Beall
Senator Marty Block
Senator Noreen Evans
Senator Loni Hancock
Senator Fran Pavley
Senator Lois Wolk
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano
Assemblymember Rich Gordon
Assemblymember Kevin Mullin
Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski

Update: May 29, 2013

Californian State Senate Bill 52 the “DISCLOSE Act” Passed the Senate today!  Senator Mark Leno saw an opportunity to get the 2/3 vote we’ve been striving for, and engineered a full Senate floor vote on SB 52 a day early.  The bill passed by a vote of 28 – 11, with yeah votes from all Democrats except Rod Wright, and one yeah Republican vote, Anthony Cannella, making it officially a “bi-partisan” bill.
See Historic Victory for Transparency as California DISCLOSE ACT, SB 52, Passes Senate Floor for details.