WASHINGTON–U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act (DISCLOSE), legislation to require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors:

“This feels pretty basic – for democracy to work, Americans have to know who is behind the millions and millions of dollars being spent to block progress on lowering health care costs, tackling climate change, protecting reproductive rights, and making sure big corporations pay their fair share. Billionaires and special interests pour money into American politics, picking winners and losers while hiding their identities behind innocuously-named political action committees. This is terrible for our nation. The DISCLOSE Act would lift this veil of secrecy and let the American public see who is responsible for the uncontrolled spending that poisons our politics. It’s disappointing – albeit unsurprising – that Republicans blocked a commonsense way to bring greater transparency to elections,” said Murphy.

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